MILITARY veterans could be guaranteed job interviews at a North-East authority if a new scheme aimed at helping them get into work after leaving the armed services is approved.

Durham County Council is considering introducing the scheme, which would guarantee interviews for all veterans if they fit the minimum requirements for the role.

Gordon Elliott, the council’s head of partnerships and community engagement and chair of the Armed Forces Forum, set up to stop people being disadvantaged because of military service, said: “Those leaving the armed forces often face a number of challenges within the job market and this is something that must be changed.

“This scheme demonstrates our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and as one of the largest employers in the county it is important we do all we can to help veterans get into work.

“We know veterans have many skills and qualities they can bring into our organisation and gaining suitable employment is an important step in their transition to civilian life.”

If agreed, those who are currently serving in the regular armed forces and are within 12 weeks of their discharge date would be guaranteed an interview should they meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

Veterans whose last long-term employer was the armed forces and where no more than three years has elapsed since they left would also be given an interview where they meet the minimum criteria.

The scheme will not guarantee those candidates are given jobs.

The council says there are around 61,000 working age veterans in the North-East, which is 3.5 per cent of the overall regional working population.

The council’s cabinet is due to discuss the proposal at a meeting next week.

The scheme is aimed at reducing the barriers experienced by veterans trying to get into work, which include employers finding it difficult to understand an individual’s military experience to identify transferable skills and talents.

The council says that it wants to be a more veteran friendly employer, and hopes that as well as supporting individuals, it will attract more quality applicants with transferable and useful skills.

Disabled veterans who meet minimum criteria are already guaranteed an interview through the council’s “disability confident” scheme.

The council signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2012, which is pledge to treat those who have served in the armed forces fairly.

If approved, there will also be a review of the council’s advertising practice, which is aimed at increasing accessibility for veterans to the authority’s external job adverts.