Equinix rallies troops for armed forces recruitment drive

Datacentre services provider launches armed forces hunt for mechanical engineers

Datacentre services provider Equinix is working with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to recruit staff who have left the armed forces.

News of the initiative follows last week's announcement about armed forces job cuts, which could see up to 1,000 RAF and army personnel being made redundant.

Equinix, which has datacentres in the UK, Netherlands and US, said the scheme was the result of a successful work experience placement involving former armed forces team leader Wayne Ginders.

Speaking to ChannelWeb, Russell Poole, UK managing director at Equinix, explained: "We were contacted by Wayne when he left the army about the possibility of doing work experience with us.

"We offered him a six-month placement and, within two months of him starting work, we offered him a permanent position."

The firm will use the scheme to recruit customer support engineers and fill positions in its mechanical and electrical teams.

"One of the reasons we are doing this is because it puts the company in a light that we would like to be seen in," explained Poole. "Also, this is going to give us a competitive advantage because of how highly trained people who work in the armed forces are."

Equinix has also launched an apprenticeship scheme to offer on-the-job training to school leavers. Its first two participants will start work at Equinix next week.

"There are lots of people who leave school after completing their GCSEs or A-levels who do not want to go into higher education, to whom we can offer career development opportunities," said Poole.

"If it is successful – and there is no reason so suggest it will not be – we will open it up to more candidates," he added.