This Reserves Day, we’re recognising two special BakerHicks colleagues whose commitment to serving in the Army Reserves sits alongside their roles in our team.
With the Reserve Forces making up around one sixth of the UK’s Armed Forces personnel, Reserves Day is an opportunity to celebrate the dedication of those who give up their spare time to serve. This year, we’re proud to highlight a couple of our colleagues who balance their civilian careers with service in the Reserve Forces.
Danny Seeley, HV Engineer
Danny currently serves as a Lance Corporal in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). There, he’s an armourer, with responsibility for inspecting, repairing, maintaining and cataloguing the weapon systems used by the British Army.
“Whether I’m working in a workshop, providing live support on a shooting range or deployed in the field, I need to be ready to apply my trade in any environment.
I joined the REME Reserves directly as an armourer because I wanted to stay within the field of engineering while exploring something new. My background was in electrical, and the role gave me the chance to develop mechanical engineering skills as well as experience the ‘green’ side of the Army, including the core soldiering elements.
I also chose to remain a soldier rather than take the officer route, as I felt it would give me better exposure to the kinds of experiences I wanted from the military.”
Danny’s time in the Reserves has combined traditional soldiering experiences, such as fieldcraft and outdoor exercises, with the development of specialist trade skills across a range of weapon systems. He’s also had the opportunity to deploy overseas, including to Germany, and to pursue a passion for rock climbing, winning the Army Rock Climbing Championship in 2023.
“Being a Reserve has absolutely benefited me outside of service, not just physically but in terms of mental resilience too. It’s no secret that military service involves doing some pretty tough things that you wouldn’t experience in civilian work, often when you’re already tired, wet and fed up. But there’s real value in learning to get the job done regardless.
Joining the Army Reserves has helped build my resilience and confidence through opportunities such as public speaking and leadership. You won’t even notice it happening, but your confidence develops by doing adventurous, physically challenging roles as part of a close-knit team of motivated people.”
Andrew Woodhouse, Principal Design Manager
Andrew currently serves as a Lieutenant in 42 Engineer Regiment (GEO), 135 Geographic Squadron, and is Troop Commander of 338 Troop (Reading), where he leads a detachment of more than 30 soldiers. His role involves designing and delivering training programmes, mentoring personnel and providing leadership in barracks and in the field.
“I joined the Army Reserves in 2019 as I wanted to contribute to the security of the country while developing my leadership abilities. Since joining, I’ve had plenty of amazing opportunities, including deployments on exercises to Gibraltar and Albania to conduct LiDAR scanning of tunnel complexes.
One of the most rewarding parts of my Army Reserve experience is seeing the soldiers under my command achieve the success they deserve. I genuinely love my second job and particularly enjoy life in the field, planning manoeuvres, briefing troops on orders and being part of a successful mission.”
Paul Barden, Director, Business Development - Nuclear & Defence, said:
“It’s great to hear first-hand from colleagues who are living these experiences. Armed Forces pathways can both support and lead into a wide range of civilian careers, bringing transferable skills that complement professions in engineering and project delivery.
The benefits are clear on both sides. Individuals build resilience, leadership and adaptability, while companies gain skilled, committed colleagues who bring valuable perspective and discipline to their teams.
It makes us proud to be an ERS Gold employer, supporting Reservists, Cadet Forces and Veterans who are valued members of our team.”
