It is not just engineers with the skills it is also engineers with the qualifications. These aircraft will be maintained to civil standards and licensed engineers will be required.
One of the reasons for poor take up of jobs on military contracts has been poor pay.
Looking at one of the aviation job sites today gives an idea of what the difference can be.
Senior technicians for a military contract GBP30,000. S92 engineers for Scatsta GBP 54,000.
North sea pay for someone with multiple types sits at around GBP 46-50,000.