Meet John Littler: From RAF to Mechanical Engineering
At Arc Partnership, members of the Forces community – veterans, reservists and Armed Forces families – are part of our everyday workforce, and bring valuable skills, perspectives and dedication to the business.
In the second instalment of our “Three Services, Three Careers, One Partnership” series, we speak with John Littler, one of Arc Partnership’s Mechanical Engineers. John spent six years in the Royal Air Force (RAF) after joining as an Engineer at the age of 19 and shares how his military career and the skills and qualifications he gained, helped him transition into building services engineering.
Tell us a little about how you came to join the RAF?
I didn’t intend on joining the Forces. I was undertaking an apprenticeship at the time, which started on my 16th birthday – that date is ingrained in my head. I did that for about three and a half years.
At the time [I enlisted] I wasn't particularly happy at work and I bumped into someone I knew from school. He told me how he’d joined the RAF, how brilliant it was in terms of training opportunities and the chance to travel. I thought that sounded great, so I decided to sign up too.
Looking back, if I’m honest, my time in the RAF was really good in some ways and challenging in others, but overall it made me who I am today.
Which skills or qualifications from the RAF transferred most directly into mechanical engineering?
I gained about 12 NVQs during my time in the RAF, which is brilliant, although I’ve forgotten what half of them are by now.
The most valuable qualification on paper was my HNC in mechanical engineering. Beyond qualifications, it was the skills that I’ve developed that have stayed with me because there's tonnes that you develop in the forces; discipline, attention to detail, and integrity, just to name a few.
How did engineering within the RAF prepare you for the work you do today?
It's tricky really, because what I do now on the day-to-day, is very different from what I did in the RAF, but there is a big cross over particularly around attention to detail.
Everything has to be carried out and completed to a very high standard. I'm a bit of a perfectionist which can be both a strength and a challenge. The reality is that if you chase perfection all the time, nothing ever gets completed. I’ve had to learn that when something is completed to a high standard, and work is finished on time, it’s ready to move forward - otherwise I'd still be working on projects from years ago.
Was there anything you had to relearn or adapt when moving into your civilian engineering role?
Yes, I had to completely relearn my job.
Before joining the RAF I undertook an apprenticeship. In the RAF, I was a hands-on engineer, working to fix vehicles such as fire engines, Land Rovers, and aircraft lifting components.
After six and a half years, I left the Forces and moved back into building services. Moving from practical engineering into projects and the built environment, in many ways felt like I was starting again.
Luckily, I had quite an understanding boss, who gave me the responsibility straight away and I was involved in project work from the beginning. He simply just said “this is your project, do your best – and if you struggle, come and let me know.” So, I went away and just got on with it.
How has Arc Partnership supported your continued development or accreditation?
If I'm honest, Arc Partnership are the first company where I've worked where development is genuinely taken seriously.
A lot of companies, you'll develop on the job through experience, which is fine. At Arc Partnership, they take it seriously and there’s a real focus on personal development. I've got a development plan that will help me build on my strengths and improve in areas that I can develop further.
Can you share an example where RAF-style problem-solving has helped on a project?
Pretty much every day, there is a different problem to solve. It's difficult to give a specific example, because problem solving is just a daily basis.
One of the biggest things the military teaches you is how to stay calm under pressure. It teaches you not to rush into decisions, even when it's quite tempting. In my experience, rushing decisions is when you tend to make mistakes, so taking a considered approach is something I’ve carried with me.
How does working at Arc Partnership compare to engineering in the Armed Forces?
Arc Partnership is quite similar in lots of ways.
There is a lot of teamwork, which is great. In some previous companies I've worked for, there has been more of an ‘every person for themselves’ mentality - which is it's fine, it's just how it is sometimes - but at Arc Partnership, we do really work together and support one another.
I enjoy the multidisciplinary environment. We've got the architects, structural engineers, mechanical engineers, and electrical engineers all working together, which is a big difference.
I like to always try and help people whenever I can because I believe in what goes around, comes around. If you help someone today, you never know when you might need help in the future. That collaborative culture is something I really value.
In 2018, Arc Partnership signed the Armed Forces Covenant, showing its commitment to supporting those who serve or have served, and their families. That commitment was recognised with the Ministry of Defence’s Bronze Employer Recognition Scheme Award in 2021, followed by the Silver Award in 2022.
John's journey from the RAF to Arc Partnership demonstrates how military experience can provide a strong foundation for a successful civilian career. As we mark Armed Forces Day 2026, we are proud to celebrate colleagues like John whose experiences and dedication help strengthen Arc Partnership and the communities we serve.
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