Serco awarded landmark contract for
UK Armed Forces Recruitment Service
Serco Group plc ("Serco" or the
"Company")
6 February 2025
Serco, the international provider of
critical government services, has been selected by the UK Ministry
of Defence to deliver its next-generation recruitment solution for
the Royal Navy, the British Army, the Royal Air Force and Strategic
Command. The contract will see recruitment for the military
brought together for the first time.
Serco's mission to bring together
the right people, the right technology and the right partners has
underpinned the development of the new Armed Forces Recruitment
Service (AFRS) solution. It will place the candidate at the
heart of the recruitment process, ensure the Armed Forces achieve
the right number and quality of candidates to satisfy their
requirements, while remaining agile and responsive to
change.
The contract has an estimated value
of £1.0bn over the initial seven-year term and up to £1.5bn should
the Ministry of Defence elect to exercise all three one-year
extension options beyond the initial term. A 21-month
mobilisation period is expected to begin in April 2025 with most of
the costs charged to profit as they are incurred. The new
service is scheduled to commence in early 2027.
Serco will be the prime contractor
and, in conjunction with a strong team of delivery partners, will
provide an end-to-end service from candidate attraction through to
assessment, enlistment and onboarding into initial
training. The new recruitment service, including
management of all Armed Forces Career Offices across the UK, will
operate with a blended workforce that incorporates military service
personnel AFRS is underpinned by best-in-class
integrated technology, designed to improve the overall candidate
experience at the same time as modernising and speeding up the
current recruitment process.
Mark Irwin, Serco Group Chief
Executive, said: "It is a true privilege to be selected to partner
with the UK Ministry of Defence in service of the nation's current
and future Armed Forces. Serco has been working with the MOD
for over 60 years, and we fully recognise the critical importance
of recruiting and retaining the right number of well-trained
personnel willing to serve and defend their country. Along
with our partners, we have invested in the development of this
solution since the procurement for AFRS was launched in 2021 and we
are fully committed to ongoing collaboration with the MOD to ensure
we adapt to current and emerging needs."
Anthony Kirby, UK & Europe Chief
Executive, said: "This contract reflects our broader ability to
support members of the Armed Forces on their career journey, from
recruiting the right personnel, to providing assessments, medicals,
and onboarding, leading into their military training. I am
proud of the significant and strategic partnership we have with the
MOD and look forward to building upon this as we enter this new
service."
Ends.
For further
information, please contact:
Paul Checketts, Head of Investor Relations |
+44 (0) 7718 195 074 | paul.checketts@serco.com
Scot Marchbank, Group Communications and
Marketing Director | +44 (0) 7958 675 706 |
scot.marchbank@serco.com
About Serco
Serco brings together the right
people, the right technology, and the right partners to create
innovative solutions that make a positive impact and address some
of the most urgent and complex challenges facing the modern
world.
With a primary focus on serving
governments globally, Serco's services are powered by more than
50,000 people working across defence, space, migration, justice,
healthcare, mobility, and customer services.
Serco's core capabilities include
service design and advisory, resourcing, complex programme
management, systems integration, case management, engineering, and
asset & facilities management.
Underpinned by Serco's unique
operating model, Serco drives innovation and supports customers
from service discovery through to delivery.
More information can be found
at www.serco.com
LEI: 549300PT2CIHYN5GWJ21