Pathways Programme: A Decade of Supporting Veteran Careers in Cyber and Digital

For more than a decade, SaluteMyJob’s Pathways Programme has helped members of the Armed Forces community transition into rewarding civilian careers in cybersecurity, data and digital technology.

Developed with partners including IBM, Abertay University and industry employers, the programme was designed to bridge the gap between military talent and the UK’s growing digital skills shortage. Through free training, mentoring, employer engagement and work placements, Pathways has helped thousands of veterans explore new careers in fast-growing sectors.

Impact of the Pathways Programme

3,000+ Armed Forces community members supported

Through training, mentoring and employer engagement, Pathways has helped veterans and service leavers explore careers in cybersecurity, data analytics and artificial intelligence.

The programme has delivered:

• 3,000+ Armed Forces community members supported

• Free cyber, data and AI training opportunities

• Mentoring and employability support for transitioning veterans

• Work placements and engagement with Forces-friendly employers

By aligning training with employer demand, the programme has helped participants gain valuable technical skills, industry insight and the confidence to pursue careers in the digital sector.

Veteran Success Stories

Many veterans who joined the programme have gone on to build successful careers in cyber and digital roles. Including Men Gurung who is making his mark at IBM, and former Royal Marine, Rich Barratt, whose journey demonstrates how military experience combined with the right training and support can open the door to new opportunities in cybersecurity.

Who We Worked With

The success of the Pathways Programme has been built through collaboration with leading technology organisations, universities and cyber security employers committed to supporting the Armed Forces community. Over the years, SaluteMyJob has worked with partners including IBM, Abertay University, Click Start, the Institute of Coding, Nominet and cyber security specialists such as Securious, alongside a growing network of Forces-friendly employers. 

These partners helped shape the programme by contributing training, mentoring, work placements and real-world industry insight, ensuring the skills developed through Pathways aligned directly with employer needs and the realities of the cyber and digital workforce.

See what cyber SME Securious had to say about the programme and the two recruits they hired below:

Who We Worked With

The success of the Pathways Programme has been built through collaboration with leading technology organisations, universities and cyber security employers committed to supporting the Armed Forces community. Over the years, SaluteMyJob has worked with partners including IBM, Abertay University, Click Start, the Institute of Coding, Nominet and cyber security specialists such as Securious, alongside a growing network of Forces-friendly employers. 

These partners helped shape the programme by contributing training, mentoring, work placements and real-world industry insight, ensuring the skills developed through Pathways aligned directly with employer needs and the realities of the cyber and digital workforce.

See what cyber SME Securious had to say about the programme and the two recruits they hired below:

Creating a Pipeline of Veteran Talent

By bringing together training providers, employers and the Armed Forces community, the Pathways Programme has helped create a pipeline of skilled veteran talent for the digital economy.

Veterans bring qualities that are particularly valuable in cyber and digital roles, including:

• A strong security mindset

• Analytical thinking and problem-solving

• Leadership and teamwork

• Discipline and resilience

Through Pathways, employers were able to engage directly with veterans during their transition journey, helping many participants move into digital roles through placements, training opportunities and employment.

Continuing the Journey with IBM SkillsBuild

While the original university pathway delivered with Abertay University has now concluded, the Pathways Programme continues through SaluteMyJob’s partnership with IBM SkillsBuild, providing free online learning opportunities for members of the Armed Forces community.

IBM SkillsBuild is a global digital learning platform designed to help people develop the skills needed for careers in technology.

Through SaluteMyJob, members of the Armed Forces community can access a range of free online courses, including:

• Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals

• Cybersecurity Fundamentals

• Data Analytics Fundamentals

These courses offer flexible, self-paced learning and provide recognised IBM digital badges that can support the first steps into cyber and digital careers.

The Legacy of Pathways

Our Pathways Programme has demonstrated what is possible when industry, education and the Armed Forces community work together. By supporting thousands of veterans to gain new digital skills and connecting them with employers facing critical skills shortages, Pathways has helped create a sustainable pipeline of talented, security-minded professionals for the UK’s cyber and digital economy.

Its legacy lives on not only in the careers of the veterans who have completed the programme, but also in the growing recognition among employers that the Armed Forces community represents one of the UK’s most capable and underutilised sources of digital talent.