From military service to renewable energy: Tom Clayton's journey

Tom Clayton, Project Manager, reflects on taking a chance on a new opportunity and his journey from the Royal Engineers to renewable energy.

When I left the military, I thought I had my next chapter planned. What I didn’t realise was that it would take me somewhere I hadn’t expected – into project management and renewable energy with Scottish Water Horizons.

My military career began in 2012 when I joined the Royal Engineers. I spent 12 years serving alongside some incredible people and had a colourful career that taught me far more than technical skills. It taught me resilience, leadership and teamwork, but perhaps most importantly, the importance of looking after the people around you.

Being a Royal Engineer meant no two days were ever the same. You learn to adapt quickly, solve problems under pressure and lead when circumstances are challenging. The military becomes more than just a career – it’s a family, an identity and a way of life. That’s what makes leaving both exciting and incredibly difficult.

Taking a chance on something new

When I left the military, I was looking at starting fresh through an engineering apprenticeship. During my search, I happened to come across a Project Management apprenticeship at Horizons.

It wasn’t something I’d ever considered for myself and, if I’m honest, I didn’t have all the qualifications they were looking for.

In what can only be described as an impulsive decision, I threw my hat into the ring anyway.

At the time, I saw it as a long shot. What I didn’t realise was that my future Team Leader, Debbie Henderson, saw something in me that I couldn’t yet see in myself. She looked beyond the qualifications on paper and recognised the transferable skills, values and potential that my military career had given me.

That opportunity changed the direction of my career.

Since joining Horizons, I’ve gone from strength to strength both professionally and personally.  I’ve developed new skills, gained qualifications and found a sense of purpose again through the work that we do. I’ve completed my APM Foundation qualification and I’m continuing to build my professional knowledge.

More importantly, I’ve learned that sometimes we’re our own harshest critics. If I’d talked myself out of applying because I didn’t tick every box, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Joining Horizons taught me that potential isn’t always measured by what’s written on your CV; sometimes it simply takes someone believing in you until you’re able to believe in yourself.

Finding my feet after the military

If I’m honest, starting my first civilian role was much harder than I expected.

Veterans are often described as resilient and adaptable, and whilst that’s true, we’re still human. Leaving the military means leaving behind your routine, your identity and your support network all at once.

I put a lot of pressure on myself to succeed immediately. I felt I had to prove that I deserved to be here. Looking back, I wish I’d been kinder to myself during that process.

Transition isn’t something that happens when you walk out the barracks for the last time – it’s something that continues long after you’ve left. Horizons has played a huge part in helping me find my feet again.

What surprised me most was realising that I could feel both proud of my military service and still grieve leaving it.

I found it difficult to slow down and accept that I wasn’t going to know everything immediately. The military teaches you to be mission focused, and I carried that mentality into civilian life. I was my own biggest critic.

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is that resilience isn’t about carrying everything yourself. It’s about recognising when you need support and having the courage to ask for it.

Many of the skills I developed during my military career have helped me enormously in my project management role. Problem solving, patience and communication have undoubtedly helped me most. The military teaches you to remain calm when plans change and to focus on solutions rather than problems.

Bringing my experience into a new career

Project management is fundamentally about people. No project succeeds because of one individual – it succeeds because teams work together towards a common goal. Looking after people, building relationships and communicating effectively are skills that have transferred seamlessly into my role at Horizons.

At the same time, I’ve had to learn a completely new industry.

Renewable energy was completely new to me, but I’ve really enjoyed learning what it takes to deliver projects – from planning submissions and environmental survey through to grid applications, stakeholder management and governance.

One thing I’ve learned about myself throughout my time here is that I will always jump at opportunities to learn and develop, even if they initially feel outside of my comfort zone.

Joining Horizons has reignited my passion for learning. Whether that’s gaining new qualifications, developing technical knowledge or simply learning from the incredible people around me, I don’t think that process ever really stops.

Seeing renewable energy come to life

I’m currently working on renewable energy projects across the North of Scotland, helping to deliver solar developments that support Scottish Water’s ambitions around sustainability and net zero.

The technical side of the role has been one of the most rewarding aspects for me. This year I’ve had the privilege of working on some fantastic projects. Camisky Water Treatment Works, our largest solar project of the year, has been particularly challenging. Watching a project develop from an idea on paper before finally progressing towards delivery has been incredibly rewarding.

One of the highlights was a final walkover at the Loch Calder solar scheme. Having invested so much time and effort into the project, being able to stand on site and see all that hard work brought to life was a proud moment for me.

We often spend so much time looking towards the next milestone that we forget to stop and appreciate what we’ve achieved.

Continuing to serve in a different way

Although I no longer wear a uniform, service remains incredibly important to me. I’m passionate about supporting veterans and continue to take part in fundraising events, including the Combat Stress March for March challenge and the Tommy Sleep Out, which I’ve now completed for four years.

Being part of the Armed Forces Network – one of Scottish Water’s Belong Groups and its veteran’s community – means more than I can probably put into words. There’s a shared understanding that exists between veterans that doesn’t always need explaining.

Transition can feel quite isolating at times, and it’s reassuring to know there are people around you who understand both the challenges and opportunities that come with leaving military service. Being part of the group has also been a reminder that asking for support isn’t a weakness – something many of us are still learning long after we’ve left the Armed Forces.

More than anything, it’s helped reinforce that although we may have left military service, we’ve not lost the values that made us serve in the first place.

A very special invitation

That became particularly clear when I was invited as a VIP guest to represent Scottish Water at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

To stand there representing both Scottish Water and the wider veterans’ community was incredibly humbling. The Tattoo celebrates service, sacrifice and tradition, and being there surrounded by people from across the Armed Forces community was something I never expected when I first walked through the doors of Horizons.

What really stood out to me was the incredible number of people I met who dedicate their time to helping others. There were civilians from completely different backgrounds, alongside veterans and serving personnel, all giving their time and energy to make a difference.

It was a powerful reminder that service doesn’t stop when you take the uniform off – and it doesn’t necessarily require you to have worn one in the first place.

I left the Tattoo feeling incredibly proud to have represented Scottish Water, but also inspired by the people I’d met. It reminded me that there are so many different ways to serve and that everyone has the ability to make a difference in their own way.

For a long time, I thought leaving the military meant closing a chapter of my life that I wasn’t ready to finish. Now I see it differently. I’ve simply started writing the next one.

Looking back and looking forward

If I could give one piece of advice to other veterans thinking about a career outside the military, it would be simple: you won’t tick every box and that’s okay – apply anyway.

More importantly, give yourself permission to find transition difficult. Leaving the military isn’t just changing jobs; it’s changing your identity, routine and community all at the same time.

Ask questions, accept support when it’s offered and remember that you’re not expected to have all the answers on day one. You’re bringing years of experience with you, even if it doesn’t always feel that way.

Outside of work, I’ve also rediscovered my love for the outdoors. Last month I climbed Ben Nevis, something that became far more significant to me than simply reaching the summit.

It reminded me that sometimes we spend so much time looking at how far we have left to go that we forget to appreciate how far we’ve already come.

Next on the list is Scafell Pike with my dad – an opportunity to make memories together that I know I’ll treasure for years to come.

Looking back, there are plenty of things I would tell myself on my first day at Horizons. But perhaps the most important would simply be: You belong here.

I’d tell myself to stop worrying about whether I was good enough, to be kinder to myself and not be afraid to ask for help when I needed it.

Most importantly, I’d remind myself that transition isn’t about leaving part of yourself behind. The values that made me successful in the military – service, integrity, resilience and compassion – don’t disappear when you take the uniform off.

For a long time, I thought leaving the military meant I had to become someone else.

I’ve realised that’s not true. I’ve simply become another version of myself.

Twelve years in the military helped shape who I am, but it doesn’t define who I’ll become. Joining Scottish Water Horizons has given me the opportunity to write the next chapter of that story, and for that I’ll always be grateful.