Sunbelt Rentals Hits a High Note for Veterans with UK-First Skills-Based Platform

If you’ve ever danced in a field under fairy-lit bunting, marvelled at the sheer magic of a festival stage appearing in what was definitely just a cow pasture two days before, or charged your dying phone at a solar-powered station while inhaling a £10 portion of loaded fries—chances are, you’ve got Sunbelt Rentals to thank. These guys are one of the biggest suppliers of festival rental equipment in the UK, making sure stages rise, lights shine, and power flows at some of our favourite summer shindigs.

But Sunbelt isn’t just about keeping festivals running smoothly—they’re now setting the stage for something even bigger: career opportunities for veterans. And in a UK-first for the hire industry, they’ve just launched a skills-based hiring platform to help ex-military personnel transition into civilian roles.

From the Frontlines to the Festival Front Row

Leaving the military and stepping into civilian work can be a daunting leap—especially when your CV doesn’t quite translate “elite-level logistics, precision planning, and surviving on two hours of sleep” into standard job descriptions. That’s where Sunbelt’s new partnership with Oplign comes in.

Oplign is a real-time online platform designed to match veterans’ skills with relevant roles at Sunbelt Rentals. Veterans simply enter details about their service—rank, years of experience, and job title—and the system does the heavy lifting, mapping their expertise to Sunbelt’s job openings. If there’s a match? Boom. Guaranteed screening interview. No corporate jargon, no hoops to jump through—just a direct path from service to career.

And let’s be real—who better to help keep the festival scene running than people who know how to operate in high-pressure environments, plan logistics like pros, and build structures that don’t fall over when the bass drops?

Bridging the Gap, One Job at a Time

Jimmy Scott, Social Sustainability Manager and UK Veterans Programme Lead at Sunbelt Rentals, is pretty chuffed about the whole thing:

“We are proud to support veterans in finding new job opportunities as they transition into civilian careers. Oplign is a fantastic tool that makes it easier for veterans to discover roles where they can really thrive. With over 150 veterans already part of the Sunbelt Rentals team, this partnership will help us connect with even more veterans looking for their next career move.”

The beauty of this initiative is that it doesn’t just help veterans find jobs—it helps companies like Sunbelt find top-tier talent. Veterans bring a work ethic like no other, serious problem-solving skills, and a can-do attitude that’s basically essential when setting up huge-scale events. Whether it’s erecting festival infrastructure, keeping power running in the wildest weather, or ensuring event sites are safe and secure, ex-military personnel are the perfect fit for the high-energy, high-stakes world of event logistics.

A Standing Ovation for Sunbelt

So while Sunbelt Rentals might be best known for making festivals happen (we see you, sturdy staging and all-weather power solutions), they’re now making a real impact off the festival field, too. By making it easier for veterans to step into new careers, they’re proving that skills earned on the frontlines can be just as valuable behind the scenes of our favourite events.

And who knows? The next time you’re at a festival, staring in awe at a perfectly constructed main stage, sipping a pint under twinkling festoon lights, or charging your phone so you can find your lost mates—just remember, there might be a veteran behind the scenes making it all happen. Now that’s something worth raising a reusable cup to. 🍻