News
Armed Forces Week 2026
This week we mark Armed Forces Week (22nd to 27th June): a national opportunity to recognise and celebrate the contribution of the Armed Forces community. The week culminates in Armed Forces Day on Saturday 27th June, a day dedicated to showing our support for currently serving personnel, service families, veterans and cadets.
We are proud to have a valued and growing community of Service leavers across the business. Their experience, discipline, commitment and problem‑solving skills bring huge value not only to the business but to the wider highways industry. We continue to strongly highlight and encourage applications from Armed Forces leavers within our recruitment process and remain committed to supporting their transition into civilian careers.
As part of Armed Forces Week, two of our colleagues are taking on the 13 Bridges Challenge in support of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. On 27th June, they will join a wider Balfour Beatty team walking 10 miles across 13 of London’s iconic bridges, helping to raise awareness of the vital support SSAFA provides to serving personnel, veterans and their families.
We’re also grateful to colleagues with Armed Forces backgrounds who continue to share their insight and experience. This year, two of our ex‑Service colleagues, Wayne Bovelle and Kevin Cuthbert, have reflected on why this industry can be such a strong fit for those leaving the Armed Forces. From the clear sense of purpose and teamwork to the structured environments and opportunities to solve real‑world challenges, many of the qualities that define military life translate naturally into the highways sector.
“This industry is well‑suited to Armed Forces veterans because it values discipline, teamwork, and adaptability, with transferable skills such as leadership, problem‑solving, communication, and the ability to perform under pressure being highly important.”
Wayne Bovelle, Night Supervisor
“What makes this industry ideal for Service leavers is the variety and scale of the work - it feels purposeful and plays to the strengths we built in the military.”
Kevin Cuthbert, Technical Supervisor
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Notes to Editors
About Connect Plus and Connect Plus Services:
- In 2009, National Highways awarded Connect Plus a 30-year contract to operate and manage the M25 and its key arterial link roads. It continues to be National Highways’ flagship public finance initiative (PFI) and is the largest highways PFI project ever awarded in the UK.
- Connect Plus is a consortium that includes Edge Orbital Holdings Ltd, Balfour Beatty and Egis Investment Partners - a unique partnership with a collective strength in highways maintenance and management.
- Connect Plus Services (CPS), is Connect Plus’ specialist and strategic supply chain partner responsible for operations and maintenance, bringing together the collective strength and expertise of its parent companies, Balfour Beatty, AtkinsRéalis and Egis.
- With a workforce of 780 people, based at seven locations around the network, CPS carries out routine maintenance, and whole-life management of thousands of M25 assets. CPS manages the operation of the network 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including a severe weather season maintenance programme.
- For further information please visit: https://www.connectplusm25.co.uk/
