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THE JOURNEY DOES NOT HAVE TO END
PROJECT FIREFLY
THE SEAMLESS THE TRANSFER SEAMLESS SCHEME
TRANSFER SCHEME
FROM THE REGULAR SERVICE TO THE MARITIME RESERVES FROM REGULAR TO MARITIME RESERVE
Leaving the service? You could apply to transfer from Regular to Maritime Reserves by using PROJECT FIREFLY’s “Seamless Transfer Scheme” for more information call 023 92628677 or e-mail navypers-restpa@mod.uk.
YOUand ARE LEAVING THE SERVICE HAVE Office. THE DESIRE TO Ex–Regulars may alsoIFapply are processed through their nearestAND ArmedSTILL Forces Careers REMAIN CONNECTED WITH A NAVAL WAY OF LIFE, GET IN TOUCH!
RNR CALL 02392 628677 OR E-MAIL NAVYPERS-RESTPA@MOD.UK MARITIME RESERVES – The force of highly trained civilian volunteers who when called upon ably support the RMR CALL 02392 625534 OR E-MAIL NAVYPERS-CMRMR@MOD.UK Royal Navy’s wide ranging operational commitments. FURTHER DETAILS CAN ALSO BE FOUND IN 2014DIN 01 – 130. All this and much The rewards include – more for an annual navygraphics 14/583 • Excellent rates of pay commitment of just • A generous tax free bounty 24 days for Naval • Pension Reserves and 26 Days • The added benefit of a 2 year harmony period. for Marine Reserves. • Remain part of Naval Family with its special camaraderie.
THE JOURNEY DOES NOT HAVE TO END!
Hello! »Welcome
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pring is nearly upon us! It’s a time of year that makes us think of renewal and opportunity, so this month’s issue is packed with positive thinking. Columnist Melanie Pullan shares her tips for boosting confidence, and CV expert Sian Richardson helps you on your path to choosing your perfect new career. Business start-up expert Ren Kapur of X-Forces talks about building your personal brand - a hot topic in these times when we must all learn to market ourselves! We cover intriguing training opportunites from NUCO Training and Heriot-Watt University’s spectacular Orkney campus-based courses. We explore career paths in hospitality, aerospace and medical fields, including an interview with Master Chef Peter Gorton who gives you the skinny on a career as a chef. We are thrilled to have cover man David Hammond in this issue sharing his knowledge of the Reserve Forces. He talks about the many rewards of being a reservist; financial and otherwise. And don’t miss the job, career and training fairs listed on page 62, including the BFRS events where you can meet up with employers and training providers.
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WELCOME TO OUR MARCH ISSUE
EQUIPPED MARCH 2015
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3 MUST READS
1 RESERVE FORCES FOCUS David Hammond explores the options. P30
2 POPPY FACTORY The remarkable charity that helps veterans with disabilities into work. P40
3 COOK UP A NEW CAREER Master chef Peter Gorton on becoming a chef. P16
COVER IMAGE: DAVID HAMMOND
Caroline Equipped Media Group Ltd Office 5, 19 Underwood Road, Paisley, PA3 1TH Telephone 0141 840 4902 Interim Editor CAROLINE JONES CARRICK editor@equippedmedia.co.uk Designer/Media & Communications Mgr. BLAIR CARRICK blair.carrick@equippedmedia.co.uk
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» MARCH 2015 30
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Inside
46
This issue 6
36
BIG PIC The ultimate helmet 8 NEWS Latest updates 11 LOST IN TRANSITION Transition advice with insight from hindsight 15 SELF DEVELOPMENT Boost confidence 16 HOW TO Become a chef 18 CV What’s your thing? 20 FAMILY LIFE Never forgotten: Gordon Gentle 22 ENTERPRISE X-Forces on “Brand You” 24 FRANCHISING The good life 28 BFRS Career support 30 COVER: DAVID HAMMOND Reserve Forces focus 34 NUCO First class first aid training 36 EDUCATION Study in Orkney 40 CHARITIES Poppy Factory 46 MEDICAL Transition to nursing 48 AEROSPACE High flying jobs 50 ELC How to claim 54 MOTORING Fiat L500, Jaguar 60 CLASSIFIEDS jobs and training 62 CAREER EVENTS Upcoming employment & training fairs 64 CTP FACTFILE More situations vacant 66 LETTERS Get in touch
40
54
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CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE SIAN RICHARDSON Former military spouse and career transition expert Sian founded Career Master 4 Military Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
RAY JACKSON Freelance journalist Ray Jackson is our ace interviewer and researcher on career topics
ANDREW NOAKES Our motoring editor test-drives the Maserati Ghibli and the new MG3 March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 5
»Bulletin
TRAIN TO DRIVE » MENTAL HEALTH » ST DAVID’S DAY » NEW LOOK RED ARROWS » RALLY FOR CHARITY
6 | EQUIPPED | March 2015
A head of its time This means he can see the information even when he is looking out of the cockpit. This image was a winner in the 2014 Royal Air Force Photography Competition.
A Royal Air Force Typhoon pilot’s helmet showing the Mounted Symbology System, which allows the pilot to see information from his instruments displayed on the visor of his helmet.
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March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 7
Train to drive
A
logistics company in Northampton is set to train and recruit up to 100 new delivery drivers in the next 12 months. Set up by the directors of Northampton based Action Express, AE Driver Training and Recruitment will fund the full cost of Category C+E licences and provide a guaranteed full time job for those who pass. The company is working with the British Forces Resettlement Services (BFRS) to provide roles for local service personal due to come out of the military. The move follows Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin’s warning of driver shortages ahead of Christmas, which saw consumers urged to shop earlier to
FACTOID
100
New driving job opportunities in next 12 months
avoid disappointment. Building on 33 years’ experience in the logistics industry, the new company will provide professionally trained delivery drivers for local businesses. Elaine Harries, who setup the new company with business partner Syed Ziaullah, said about the types of candidates the new firm is looking for: “We’re open to any applicant with the drive and determination to do well however, we are
particularly interested in young people. With more than 250,000 drivers expected to retire in the next 15 years we hope that by offering to pay the £2,500 cost of a licence application we can encourage more people age 21 and up to consider a career in logistics.” As well as working for Action Express, drivers will be made available to other businesses in the local area. Concluding the reasons why she decided to
launch the new company Elaine remarked: “We often find it difficult to find good quality drivers. After more than 30 years of working in the logistics industry and with the lack of drivers reaching crisis point, we thought who better to train and recruit reliable professional drivers for the local area.” For more information please contact BFRS: www.bfrss.org.uk
New focus on veterans’ mental health The NHS is set to benefit from a charitable grant of £75,000 to review the mental health needs of military veterans. The Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT), has awarded the money to fund a national review of Health Needs Assessments for veterans’ mental health and other health related needs. Carrying out a systematic review of the health issues facing veterans will give the NHS the information it needs to ensure valuable resources are spent wisely and the right services are provided in the right place; for example, a needs assessment can look at the pattern of illness that affects veterans and whether
8 | EQUIPPED | March 2015
patterns of illness vary between veterans and the general population. Kate Davies, Head of Armed Forces Commissioning at NHS
England said: “It is vital that we use our dedicated funds to the best effect, and that we take into account the views of users of the service. This survey will
support GP led Clinical Commissioning Groups and the national team to respond to evidence and the experience of patients and carers.”
Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
»News NEWS IN BRIEF
SHANE WILKINSON/ CPL STEVE BUCKLEY - MOD CROWN COPYRIGHT 2015
Doing a bang-up job for charities
T
he Banger Rally started as an idea formed by St Austell Round Table members Gary Warren and Tom Marshall (former Royal Marine) who were looking at the idea of entering another Banger Rally as; forgive the pun, a vehicle to raise money for local charities. Since then the Banger Rally has gone from strength to strength, growing from 41 teams in 2011 to 120 teams in 2014. 2015 has a limit of 130 teams, the cash raised to date is over £350,000 with the hope to burst through the half a million barrier this year. Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
The plan for 2015 is to revisit some favourite parts of the previous rallies with the odd new route thrown in. France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland and Italy are all planned. 60 teams are already confirmed after the January 2015 announcement. Though it is limited to 130 this year, a reserve list will be held in case any teams withdraw.
LAND OF OUR FATHERS Nearly 600 soldiers from 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh gathered for a celebration of St David’s day, the national day for Wales, in their Barracks. All Royal Welsh personnel were presented with a leek to be worn by all ranks during a full day of festivities, beginning with a formal military parade and followed by a Regimental rugby tournament in true Welsh style. St David’s day has been celebrated for hundreds of years. Even while the Regiment was recently deployed on operations in Iraq and Afganistan the odd leek would appear on the battlefield to honour the tradition. RED ARROWS UNVEILS NEW JET DESIGNS The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red
Arrows, has revealed a new Union flag-inspired design on its worldfamous jets. Tailfins on the team’s Hawk aircraft are brandishing the fresh look. The team, which comprises fast jet pilots, engineers and support staff with frontline operational experience, is currently preparing for its new display season. Last year the Red Arrows celebrated their 50th season, performing more than 80 displays across the country and in nine other countries. SHARE YOUR NEWS If you want to use this space in future editions of equipped for any news stories, announcements or events that you think worth sharing, please contact the editor (editor@ equippedmedia.co.uk)
Visit www. bangerrallychallenge.co.uk for more informaiton. Entrants are able to raise money for the good cause of their choosing. March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 9
I’m not just a Faulty Meter Team Leader.
I’m also a charity runner, and a chilli lover.
Opportunities in the energy industry Do you want to apply the skills you’ve learned in the Forces to a new challenge – in a multinational organisation that will really value them? Then come and join RWE npower. We’re one of the Big 6 energy companies, with around 6.5 million customer accounts and over 10,000 employees. In fact, we produce about 10% of the entire electricity used in Great Britain. We want to recruit focused, responsible people like you who share our values of respect, accountability and team spirit. People who can deliver on their promises, give and receive ideas and work in partnership to achieve results. You’ll find our culture is business oriented – but with a real emphasis on looking after our employees. That’s why we provide an excellent work/life balance and outstanding training and development [including leadership programmes]. Our huge, multinational status means we can also offer career opportunities not just here in the UK but overseas as well. And whatever your ambitions, our friendly, supportive approach will help you realise them. To find out how and where you can join us, visit www.npowerjobs.com
Stay switched on
»Lost in transition
ALEX COOPER
n the 80s sitcom ‘Sorry!’, a 40-something Timothy Lumsden (Ronnie Corbett) is prevented from making his way in the world by his over-protective mother Phyllis. In the early years of service the Armed Forces have a partly parental role – unfortunately they tend to be rather too like Phyllis Lumsden. I’m not saying that soldiers, sailors and airpersons are prevented from developing; but relatively unburdened by ‘nifnaf and trivia’ (food, accommodation, council tax, etc.), they can miss out on key areas of growth. And many servicemen and women rarely think beyond the next payday, let alone about their next career. The upshot is a cohort of 30-something teenagers who are masters of their respective trades, but who don’t understand the civilian work environment and can’t fill in a tax return. Air Marshall Lumsden is quite happy for you to immerse yourself in service life, giving minimal thought to life after the mob. There is a school of thought in the MoD that if you are well prepared to leave, you’ll leave - and nothing gives the senior leadership sleepless nights like retention, particularly of pinch-point trades. Yet my research over the last couple of years has convinced me otherwise; it is not that easy to step into a well-paid and satisfying second career. It is common for service leavers to take a significant drop in salary for a couple of years until they knock the rough edges off and absorb some business knowledge. It pains me when I come across former military colleagues who haven’t achieved their potential on leaving; in most cases it is because they had neither thought about, nor prepared for, the next steps in their
I
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What’s the plan? Make the most of your future, starting now
careers. One of the most telling comments from a focus group conducted while researching The Veterans’ Transition Review was along the lines of: “The Education Centre was right next to my block, but I was usually too pissed to see it” If you read last month’s article you will hopefully have given some thought to identifying your own strengths, weaknesses and vision. This takes time so, while you are ordering your thoughts, there is plenty you can be doing; in addition to the courses and qualifications directly relating to your service (clearly some offer more than others), there is free education to be had. The free GCSE examinations and Standard Learning Credits (SLCs) have a
tiny take up rate (less than 10%) - I know the latter is only £175 a year, but it’s free money and adds up over time. You may well find that, if you ask nicely, you can get time for study from your chain of command. Get down to your Education
“YOU CAN’T IGNORE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE A ‘STINKING CIVVIE’ AT SOME POINT.” Centre and talk to one of the Learning Development Officers; they’ll help you put together a learning plan and can advise you on navigating the tedious Learning Credit application process. Hopefully you have registered for Enhanced Learning Credits (ELCs - if not, why not?) – up to £6000 over
three years and, unlike SLCs, available for use up to 10 years after you leave. If you have identified the location you wish to settle in and the most active industries there, you will hopefully have looked into the education and training requirements for them (join the relevant LinkedIn group, get onto the CTP website and read Equipped magazine to access further guidance). That’s the time for spending your ELCs and arranging work placements to start getting that essential experience. Trust me, it’s easier to get paid time off for this sort of thing while serving than afterwards. I came across many who balked at spending their own time and money on personal development – hopefully you are enlightened enough to see it as the investment in your future that it is. Putting difficult things off until ‘tomorrow’ is a common thing; I had no immediate plans to leave the Army so there never seemed to be any time pressure to develop myself for the job market. As a result I wasted valuable time and money on illconsidered resettlement courses not underpinned by a coherent plan. You can’t ignore the FACT that you are going to be a ‘stinking civvie’ at some point. Sure, it’s much easier to occupy yourself with something fun than to spend time, effort and money on learning stuff. But hopefully a passion for your intended career will carry you through....and prevent you from looking back at missed opportunities. Alex Cooper spent a middling career in the Infantry and had a great time, but wishes he had known then what he knows now about personal development, transition and resettlement. Alex was the lead researcher and cowriter of the Veterans Transition Review. March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 11
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»Personal development
MELANIE PULLAN High confidence situations
Boost your confidence
‘If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.’ Henry Ford
ur ability to perform in any given situation is mostly governed by our confidence levels. In some circumstances we are confident, we believe in ourselves, and we are able to cope well with anything that comes our way. But in other circumstances we cannot perform; our lack of self-belief hijacks us.
O
14 | EQUIPPED | March 2015
Low confidence situations
and our confidence dwindles. Our self-belief is more of an emotional than an objective evaluation of our capabilities. However, our emotions will take-over our ability to think rationally, and will ultimately influence our behaviour. Confidence is one of the biggest influences on our performance - and low confidence one of the main barriers to performing well. We therefore need to find a way of boosting our confidence to help us perform better, especially in these unfamiliar settings. To achieve a greater sense of stability in our confidence it is important to know exactly what causes our confidence to fluctuate. This simple exercise is designed to build awareness of what makes us feel more – or less – confident. Divide a piece of paper into two columns. Label the first column ‘High Confidence Situations’ and the second column ‘Low
Confidence Situations’. In the first column list all of the situations or circumstances that make you feel completely confident. In the second column, clearly identify the situations that make you feel uneasy. Really think about each situation. What you are being asked to do; who are you with; how experienced or knowledgeable are you; how much you have prepared; what are your emotions; and, how do you behave? This list should start to increase your awareness of things that influence your confidence levels. The next step is to be objective and really reflect on your strengths and weaknesses. Use the questions in the table below to help put together a plan to boost your confidence.
What am I really good at? Where do I need to improve? What am I doing well that I need to continue? How can I use my strengths in new or unfamiliar situations? What other skills do I need to develop and use? What do I need to stop doing?
These ‘other circumstances’ tend to be more frequent when transitioning from one career or organisation to another as we enter an unfamiliar environment. This new territory comes with different language and jargon; people dress in a different way; there are new social and behavioural norms; and, the whole culture seems foreign. We are out of our comfort zone Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
Gain a degree you can be proud of Kick-start your business career by studying online with a world top 1% university As a current or former military employee you may be eligible for an ELC scholarship of up to £6,000. If you are eligible for this ELC funding, then the University of Liverpool Online offers you an additional special scholarship of up to £6,000 across six online postgraduate programmes : • Master of Business Administration • MSc in Project Management • MSc in Operations and Supply Chain Management • Postgraduate Certificate in Information Systems & Technology • Postgraduate Certificate in Psychology • Postgraduate Certificate in Management
Your education officer can advise on your ELC entitlement
Find out more about the programmes and the offer: www.university-liverpool-online.com/military
» Your questions answered
LAURA JOINT
HOW TO
COOK UP A NEW CAREER IN HOSPITALITY Laura Joint gets the skinny from master chef Peter Gorton ot many career options can offer the camaraderie, team ethic and high-pressured environment that many people look for after being in the forces. But one area that fits the bill perfectly is the hospitality sector and, according to one of Britain’s top chefs, people with a background in the armed
N
16 | EQUIPPED | March 2015
services have all the key skills that are needed – and that can give them an advantage over other applicants. Peter Gorton is a ‘Fellow’ of the Master Chefs of Great Britain and is one of the country’s top chefs. Peter, who is based in Devon, has been a chef for 35 years and has run his own Michelin starred Country House Hotel and five
other successful restaurants for many of those years. Later this year, he plans to link up with the Help For Heroes’ Recovery Centre at HM Royal Navy base at Devonport to provide training for injured ex-servicemen and women so that they can learn cooking skills for use at home and in a work environment. And he says he’s happy to offer
advice to forces personnel considering a career in catering. In January, he launched The Kitchen Academy, a new traineeship scheme in Plymouth. Aimed currently at young people aged 19-24, the course in a waterfront restaurant setting involves four weeks of learning all elements of hospitality – in the kitchen and front of house – followed by a six week work
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placement culminating in a guaranteed job interview at the placement employer. Peter has some great tips for Equipped readers who, until now, might have ruled out a career as a chef through fear that it’s too late to learn: “You are never too late to retrain for a career in catering and hospitality,” he said. “If you love cooking and have a bit of a flair, give it a go.” Peter added: “My first piece of advice is simply to phone around or pop into a few restaurants. Ask if they are looking for someone to perhaps work one day a week. Tell them ‘I don’t want to be paid in the beginning. I want to learn and I want to see if this is for me’. “There’s nothing “Getting an better than to opportunity is make something you’ve got everyquite often down that people can thing we need in to luck, but you all enjoy around an employee – and need to put yourthe table” what you don’t know, self into the position we can teach you’. where you can get that “People with these life skills bit of luck. If a restaurant hapare better placed than someone pens to be looking for who is an excellent chef but someone, then that’s your lacks all of those qualities that chance to sell them your skills. you have. If you can bring other Don’t be frightened into thinkqualifications, too, such as First ing this is a job you can’t do. Aid or health and safety, these “If someone from the armed are real selling points.” forces came to me at my resWhether it’s in the kitchen or taurant, I would look at front of house, earning qualifieverything they could offer. cations while on the job is They’re disciplined, they’ve probably the best route for sergot good communication and vice leavers as they’ll be earning people skills, they’re team while learning – even if they do players, they have a strong have a short trial period at first. work ethic, they’re used to The alternative is to go to colworking unsocial hours, they lege and study for NVQ 1&2, have incredible life experiencbut that will take two years. es, and they thrive under And what about those peopressure. I’d say ‘brilliant,
Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
ple who want to set up their own café or restaurant? What are the dos and don’ts for them? “The secret to success is consistency,” says Peter. “Make sure the dish tastes the same every time because people will always have their favourite dish and if it tastes different every time, that’s a complete no-no. You’ll get mixed reviews, which can be fatal. “Transparency is also important. If you list a set price, don’t charge for lots of extras which will add £10 to the bill. That’s a quick way to lose loyalty. “The other vital thing is customer service. You can be serving the best food in the world but if you have poor customer service and the customer feels they’ve had a bad overall experience, then
they won’t come back. Customer service should never be under-estimated. Look smart, smile and address customers correctly at all times.” For those who do make the switch, the good news is that there are some fabulous rewards: “Catering is more of a lifestyle than a job,” said Peter. “It’s very sociable and there is a lot of job satisfaction in making food that people enjoy, especially when you get good feedback from customers and they keep coming back. “To me, there’s nothing better than to make or serve something that people can all enjoy around the table together.” For info on Peter’s work visit his website www. petergortonmasterchef.co.uk
March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 17
Who do you think you are?
You are contemplating your career transition and you know you need a good CV to get the job you want. But what job is that? mbarking on a new career path doesn’t begin with perfecting your resume. It begins with knowing what you want. As simple as that sounds, most of us struggle to gain clarity on our career goals – particularly after the highly structured work environment of the military. It’s time to have a little fun. Grab a pen and paper – here are 7 questions to ask yourself at the start of a new career search:
E
What 1 motivates you?
There’s no wrong answer – just write down what comes to mind. Be honest.
What are your strengths and key skills? 2
Don’t just make a list of training you’ve completed. Instead, be clear on what you are REALLY good at. Perhaps you were promoted because of a particularly good performance, or maybe you have hidden talents. Think back to moments of achievement and make a note of the highlights.
What sort of work do you know best? 3
Make note of any areas of
18 | EQUIPPED | March 2015
expertise you have. They may come from outside the workplace if you are heavily involved in something extracurricular – or perhaps you’ve become an expert in a particular field. 4
How much do you need to earn?
Notice the question says need to earn rather than want to earn. You may have family obligations or other reasons to maintain a similar income to what you’ve been used to for your standard of living – or maybe you would you be willing to earn less if it meant that you would enjoy your job more. Use this question to establish a target income range.
What kind of pace and stress level do you seek out? 5
While some seek a fast-paced, constantly changing environment, others find it exhausting and would prefer a more laidback place of work. If tight deadlines, targets and highpressure scenarios excite you, make a note. And if you can’t stand anything like that, make a note of that!
What type of organisation would you like to work in? 6
Both company type and corporate culture should factor into your answers. Certain hierarchical, larger corporations may offer similar environments to your military experience. Alternatively, small, agile start-ups might offer you the opportunity to see and feel the value of your contribution more. Working from home might be your ideal, while others thrive being part of a team day to day.
Are there any hopes or dreams you’d love to explore further? 7
It could be anything; from wanting to work abroad to wanting to work with animals. Maybe you really want to start your own business rather than pursue a ‘job.’ Don’t hold back - you never know where this could lead!
“ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, EXPRES YOURSELF, HSA V FAITH IN E YOURSELF.” - BRUCE LEE
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»CV assistance
Sian Richardson
Founder & Career Transition Expert, Career Master 4 Military
Sian is a former military spouse with firsthand experience of military-to-civilian career transition. Before establishing Career Master 4 Military, Sian spent 20 years with a FTSE 100 company and left after being headhunted by the chairman of a national financial services organisation to manage his UK operation. Having managed HR and trained as a specialist recruiter, Sian has hired and fired personnel at all levels. If you are struggling to decide on your next career move, if marketing your skills and experience doesn’t come naturally and you’re getting nowhere fast writing your CV, or even if you just need some confidence to nail that interview, contact Sian and the team today to see how they can help. Email: MyCV@ careermaster-cvs.co.uk
Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 19
Rose is a supporter of: Soldiers off the Street www.soldiersoffthe street.org Maxine and Pamela attend an SSAFA siblings group www.ssafasupport groups.org.uk An annual memorial walk for Gordon aids Combat Stress: www.combatstress.org.uk Rose did a parachute jump for Pilgrim Bandits www.pilgrimbandits.org Rose loves her garden with its bench provided by Forces Support www.forcessupport.org.uk
20 | EQUIPPED | March 2015
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»Family life
Never forgotten Rose Gentle honours the memory of her beloved son Gordon ose Gentle lost her son Gordon when he was just 19. The family, including Gordon’s two sisters Pamela and Maxine, struggled to cope with their loss, and over time they channelled their grief into helping others. Now a guiding force in numerous military charities, Rose tells us about the boy who inspired it all.
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Joining the Army
It was unemployment that led Gordon to join the Army. He went to the employment office and the Army recruitment boys were there. Gordon started talking to them. Gordon thought he was going to be able to travel - see the world basically. He ended up being in the front line but he never, ever thought of that signing up. He just wanted to get a decent job and training. He wanted to be a mechanic some day and save up to buy his own garage. To be honest, I didn’t want him to join up. I kept saying to him: “you’ll get something, don’t worry about it, you’ll get a job.” But I needed to stick by him. It’s what he wanted to do. When I saw him passing out, I was really proud of him. Oh aye, I was proud of him in his uniform he was as smart as hell!
out here - we’re dodging bullets and everything.” It wasn’t what he expected. He talked about bullets were flying by his head. His dad spoke to him more at that point because it’s not something a mother wants to hear. We didn’t have much time to talk. He was only out there about 3 weeks. I found out that he was killed on the telly. I saw it on the news that a British soldier had been killed and you could see the side of his face in a picture and I thought: it looks like my Gordon, but if so, why haven’t I been told? I kept thinking about it. Then while I was at work, the army came to the door. The liason officer came. I already had that feeling - I knew. They took me to their car in the carpark and told me that Gordon had been killed. Gordon in uniform
Dealing with loss
As a family we’ve tried to deal with our grief by getting involved with a number of military charities. At first, we didn’t believe he should be in Iraq at all. What were they there for anyway? Then we starting fighting to get the boys the equipment they need. If Gordon had the equipment he needed he would still be here. It was away in a store room instead of in his Landrover. I set up a group that used to
be called Military Families. That was to get the boys the equipment they needed. I also work with Combat Stress some of the boys call me mum. My wee grandson just turned 4 and he always asks who that is in the pictures. And we’d say “that’s uncle Gordon. It’s Uncle Gordon, he lives up in the sky. He’s a big star.” And he said to us the other day: “Nan, I think we should get you wings and you can go up to see Uncle Gordon.” Gordon Gentle
“TO BE HONEST, I DIDN’T WANT HIM TO JOIN UP. BUT I NEEDED TO STICK BY HIM . IT’S WHAT HE WANTED TO DO. I WAS REALLY PROUD OF HIM.””
Off to Iraq
He went straight out there from training. We didn’t have a lot of contact while he was in Iraq. I think we got two phone calls while he was away: one to let us know he was there, one the Friday night before he was killed. He said “it’s crazy
Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
Rose Gentle
March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 21
Brand YOU
Your start-up begins with what you stand for, by Ren Kapur, CEO at X-Forces
“
there has been a complete culture change in our attitude to entrepreneurship and small firms. In the last five years I have met countless numbers of inspiring entrepreneurs and small firms – from all ages and backgrounds and all reporting that starting a business is the most exciting and challenging thing they have ever done.” - Lord Young, the Prime Minister’s Advisor on Enterprise: It has been a remarkable start to the year for Enterprise and for those who want to start up their own businesses. Lord Young, the Prime Minister’s Advisor on Enterprise, just delivered his Report on Small Firms, which has many eye-catching facts that show how the landscape for setting up in business has not only changed, but has never been better. And in our own experience at X-Forces, the support for enterprise particularly for those from
22 | EQUIPPED | March 2015
the Armed Forces - just keeps on growing.
So where can you start?
There are two key essentials that you need to establish before you embark upon your next career, whether that is in employment or enterprise: Q
What is your personal brand?
This is not a vague, philosophical question that is meant to turn you off. It is to help you to recognize who you are and what you stand for, and then make sure that everything that you do supports this identity. You need to be clear on your personal brand. This applies to you as an employee, and it absolutely applies to you as an entrepreneur. When you go into a clothes shop to buy some jeans, or into a supermarket to buy some food, what is it that you are looking for? Is it the label – Levis, White Stuff, George or F&F, Heinz, Branston or own label, or is it the price, the quali-
ty, the look and feel or taste? The choices you make are guided by your values, and that decision tells you something about you just as the brand on the product tells you something about that product. A simple example of this came up last week talking to Mike. Over the weekend, he went into Costco to buy some jeans with some birthday money. There was a limitless stock of 38” waist name-branded jeans, but none in his size. There was a plentiful stock of other labels in his size, but from unknown brands. They seemed like good value for money, but they might not look good for long, nor last, and which would soon look shapeless like the ones he was currently wearing (his words!). As a result, he didn’t buy anything. The brand
was important: buy a branded label and there is an expectation of quality, of durability, of style – and of course they are well-known and associated with a certain image. And you too have to consider your branding. Think about it this way: what areas of “Brand You” are the key things that are extremely important to you, and what are you prepared to be more relaxed about? For Mike, he didn’t want to compromise on his branded jeans – they create an image and said something about him, which is important when meeting clients and customers in more relaxed occasions . As the military say, you are always on parade! One of the important things to understand when you set up on your own, is that people will buy you! Yes, you have to be
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»X-Forces
selling something they need, but, given that they have a need, their decision to buy from you comes down to how they feel about you. X-Forces has just spent a fantastic 4 days working with the first cadre of entrepreneurs to come through our enterprise programme with a major charity supporting the wounded, injured and sick community. During this programme, we went to lengths to put the importance of “Brand You” to these entrepreneurs. My message was that Brand You “…is what you trade on, it is what you become known for, it is your reputation, and it is why people trust you and therefore why they buy from you.” It is more important than your idea.
Your idea what are you passionate about? Q
You need to be passionate about your idea to get behind it 100%. You can’t sell something that you are not passionate about! Here’s how to think about the impact of passion. Say the following sentences with your lips almost closed and in a single tone and with one single speed…. “Hi, welcome to my big idea. My idea is going to change the world, save the lives of children, and bring peace to all the warring communities in the world where they live with death and destruction as a daily occurrence. Buy it now!” And now think about the
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words and the message, stand up, smile, raise your voice, feel the message, understand the opportunity that it brings, and shout it from the rooftops SELL me the idea! Which of these two approaches appealed to you most at an emotional level? Now think about the person or people that you love, and what you would do for them – perhaps your parents, your partner or your children. What mountains would you move to support these people about whom you care, particularly when things are tough? Nothing would get in your way. This passion is essential: you have to feel it about your idea. You have to believe in it because, if you don’t, nobody else will. The road ahead will be hard – there will be potholes and obstacles and long hours and doubting voices – your own as well as those of others – and there will be false starts and false hopes. But just as if you were heading down this road to save those whom you loved, so, if you believe in what you are offering and selling, nothing would get in your way. You can have the best idea in the world, but if you don’t sell and support that idea with outstanding customer service – with a deep understanding of who the customer is and what they expect and deserve, then you will struggle. The idea is of course important, and the most important quality of that idea is that you
have to be passionate about it. It is worth saying here that your idea does not have to be original: Richard Branson has made his reputation latterly by doing what other people do, but by doing it better. That makes the idea more easy to come up with. What do you find irritating or disappointing about something you enjoy and wish was better? Why not take that thought and see how you can turn it into a business? In summary, our time earlier this month with our first cadre from the WIS community validated exactly why X-Forces does what X-Forces does – and it’s all about brand and brand values. We heard about the sense of isolation when you’re trying to find a way into a meaningful career when you’re faced with additional challenges, and how, through the belief and support that an apparently removed third party can bring, a partnership can form, helping an idea to blossom, a passion to be released, and a brand to be born.
The great news for you is that Brand You is already built on a sure foundation – because it is about your values and how you deploy them, and your values have been shaped by your time in the Armed Forces. DO NOT underestimate the value of the career that you have just moved on from, and the values that service in the Armed Forces has given you. You are disciplined, selfless, honest, respectful and courageous, and you have an amazing work ethic – use these values as your own, advertise them, market them, capitalise on them, and, most importantly, live by them. If you want to know more about setting up a business, contact Ren Kapur or Mike Mackenzie at X-Forces; we will be only too delighted to tell you more and see how we can help you. www.x-forces.com 0207 811 3236
X-Forces update: ■■ 291 entrepreneurs launched into new businesses since November 2013 ■■ £3.2m of seed funding lent ■■ The age range of start-up loan recipients is 18 to 75. 45% were unemployed before they obtained their loan ■■ 70% of start-ups that receive mentoring survive for five years or more. This is double the rate
of those that don’t ■■ Small businesses create jobs, innovation & economic growth ■■ Ex-service personnel are motivated and highly trained with specialist knowledge and technical skills that can have commercial application ■■ Over 19 out of 20 firms in the land today employ under ten people.
March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 23
THIS IS THE LIFE Franchising can give you a second career as your own boss by Ray Jackson ere at Equipped, we get a lot of requests to explore the opportunities which are available for service leavers within the franchising industry. Let’s delve further into some of the possibilities out there, and look ahead into a thriving small business market which should also act as inspiration for those making the leap back into civillian life. Franchising is widley accepted as an effective method of entering the world of self employment, especially when a service leaver decides to leave the forces. It is a key option for those who have entrepreneurial traits and wish to run their own business. The right franchise can utilise the skills
H
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and training acquired by individuals whilst in the Armed Forces, allowing them to lead a successful second career as their own boss - something many people dream about. The franchising concept allows an individual to use the brand and business
“FRANCHISING ALLOWS YOU TO USE THE BRAND AND BUSINESS KNOW-HOW OF AN ESTABLISHED BUSINESS” know-how of an established, proven company and follow that organisation’s step-by-step formula to successfully run their own business. A franchise opportunity will usually require an initial lump-sum
investment from the franchisee. Now, that may seem daunting, but nine out of 10 franchisees report profits within two years of starting their business. Sean Mayers joined the RAF on a university cadetship in 1989 and after graduating, was commissioned as an Air traffic Control officer and enjoyed a productive career thereafter. In 2007, Sean exercised an option to leave and set himself on a course to achieve success in business. He said: “Most of my secondary duties in the RAF had a business angle to them – OIC of crèches, day-care centres, bowling alleys and station bars. Some of the businesses we run on camps would do very well on the high street.” Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
»Franchising And going into franchising? “It made perfect sense. I didn’t have many good ideas of my own for a new business, so adopting someone else’s tried and trusted system was a pretty sensible idea. ActionCOACH offered the chance to be my own boss, control my own income and reap the reward for hard work, but without many of the risks that come with starting up a business without the help of mentors and a proven business model. There’s also a great sense of community and support, something that independent business owners don’t always have. The hardest decision you will make is the initial decision to do it. Once you’ve decided to do this, commit to the journey and don’t be limited in your aspirations.”
BE THE BOSS, MAN
‘Be the Boss’ is a service from The Royal British Legion and Poppyscotland aimed at supporting UK service leavers to plan, fund and start their own small businesses. It opened to applicants on 14th June 2010 and was funded by a £5million grant from the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). BtB has three main components: ■■ Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) on starting a business and selfemployment, including assistance in writing a business plan and financial forecast ■■ Loan Funding of up to £5,500 to assist in the launch of a business ■■ Mentoring and business health-check to help ensure continued success and growth
Barry O’Connell, Champion of the programme, said: “After being left disappointed by major banks because of the current economic climate, Be the Boss made all the difference by helping to secure all the funding required to establish a training studio for my business. Simultaneously, Be the Boss has also offered a support scheme ensuring that I put together an efficient, effective and realistic business plan.”
And elsewhere?
Ex-Army Captain, Rob Douthwaite, formerly of the Duke of Wellington’s infantry regiment, took the franchise route and set up a successful Granite Transformations showroom on the south coast, marketing a quality range of granite, quartz and recycled glass surfaces for kitchen worktops and bathroom interiors. Granite Transformations’ parent company and franchisor, Rocksolid Granite Europe (RSG) is currently recruiting new franchise owners and Rob considers that service leavers are well equipped for the role. He said: “military people have massively Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
franchise network is rather like that, with transferrable skill sets in areas like leaderthe franchisor, franchise advisory council, ship, project management, administration, technical support team, individual frantraining and logistics. They are used to chise owners, their agencies and staff, all instant problem solving and dealing with working toward a common goal.” the unexpected, which are invaluable capabilities in business.” “In areas like marketing and “9 out of 10 sales, where we need support, franchisees RSG has all the necessary report profits expertise and makes the right within tools available to us. Military people will be familiar with the two years” concept of mission-oriented commands, a decentralised leadership principle in which people at all levels of command share the burden of mission accomplishment,” he continues. “Well, a March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 25
Who are BFRS? British Forces Resettlement Services (BFRS) is a non-profit company working for the sole benefit of the armed forces community. It provides help, advice and support throughout the transition from military to civilian life, and beyond. BFRS acts as a bridge to help veterans, servicemen and women, and spouses find employment. For more information visit www.bfrss.org.uk
Total transition assistance We help with the full range of career change challenges at BFRS
ritish Forces Resettlement Services (BFRS) are a Community Interest Company here to help those from the Armed Forces Community in their transition from military to civilian life. We know it can be hard to make that transition as you take those first steps towards changing careers and dip your toes into the civilian working environment. That’s why we are more than happy to help you in any way that we can. BFRS work closely with a wide range of companies who are also there to help and support. Whether you are still serving, going through the resettlement process, a veteran, serving with the reserve forces or the MOD as a civilian, or you are a family member/spouse of someone in the forces, there are plenty of people and organisations out there to help you. The BFRS website is a great platform for you to find out more about opportunities available to you and engage with potential employers. Create yourself a profile, upload your CV and apply with just one click to the vacancies updated daily on the website! By uploading your CV and completing your profile, you increase your chances of your profile being searched by companies that are recruiting. You will also receive
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“WE KNOW IT CAN BE HARD TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION AS YOU TAKE THOSE FIRST STEPS TOWARDS CHANGING CAREERS AND DIP YOUR TOES INTO THE CIVILIAN WORKING ENVIRONMENT. THAT’S WHY WE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP YOU IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN” 28 | EQUIPPED | March 2015
regular updates from the team at BFRS about the various events, open days and opportunities that are out there for you to take advantage of. Visit the website now at www.bfrss.org.uk to sign up! Being a member of BFRS provides you with many benefits;
■■ Be the first to hear about prize draws and competitions from BFRS Partner companies ■■ Apply directly to vacancies and courses updated daily on the website ■■ Upload your CV and create yourself a personal profile to be searchable by potential employers ■■ Receive regular updates direct to your inbox about various opportunities available
Case Study
Paul Read found job success after becoming a member of BFRS when he applied for a job with Elm. He is now the Training Validator and Verifier in the Middle East with a very competitive package. Elm are regularly advertising for a variety of roles on the BFRS website, and they are currently looking for an SME for Special Forces. Log on to the BFRS Jobs Board to find out more! If you have any questions or would like to talk to a team member at BFRS in more detail, don’t hesitate to get in touch on 0116 254 5477.
Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
»Our partners
Job hunting?
Forces friendly company
Recruitment experts are ready to help
andstad Engineering, Randstad CPE and Qualitair are part of the Randstad Group, the second largest recruitment company in the world. Having built a solid reputation on core values and quality of service, we specialise in the provision of permanent, temporary and fixed-term recruitment services in the following industries:-
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■■ Aerospace & Aviation ■■ Automotive ■■ Construction & Property ■■ Civil Engineering ■■ Facilities, Property and Estate Management, Housing ■■ Logistics ■■ Mechanical & Electrical Engineering ■■ Oil & Gas (Up, Mid and Downstream) ■■ Power & Energy (Generation, Transmission and Distribution) ■■ Rail - White & Blue Collar ■■ Renewables (Offshore Wind, Wave and Tidal) ■■ Trades & Labour ■■ Water & Utilities
With 40 years recruitment experience we can guide, advise and negotiate on your behalf to help you find your career path when you leave the Armed Forces. All consultants are sector and industry specialists expertly working with you and the client to match skills and qualifications. Whether you are looking for work in the UK or internationally, we are able to assist you. Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
Seeking Inspiration?
If you seek inspiration for your next career move please visit our websites and view our “How I Became” campaign for examples of how people made the transition into their dream job. You will also find live engineering and construction jobs, recruitment advice, salary guidance and industry knowledge. www.randstadcpe.com www.randstadcpe.com www.qualitair.com Have you considered a career as a Recruitment Consultant? We are actively looking for people throughout the UK to train with drive and ambition to complement our sales teams.
Working in Other Sectors – Assistance for You and Your Family
Our companies specialise in recruiting for quality staff in the following sectors and can help you and your families find your next job:-
■■ Care ■■ Education ■■ Financial ■■ Legal ■■ IT ■■ Business Support/Secretarial ■■ HR
Please visit the Randstad UK website containing all live vacancies and supporting information www.randstad.co.uk
UK Trades Training met Joseph Vincent at a BFRS Tidworth Event last year. Joe undertook the 5 week “Multi Skilled” course with us learning tiling, plastering and plumbing skills with full business knowledge and hasn’t looked back. Joe got his van signed up as he left and started his own business. Joe is now sending us his staff from London to train with us to multi skill at the same professional standard he was trained to! If this sounds like the career change that interests you please check out our dedicated forces Resettlement page
www.uktradestraining.co.uk or call 01914274591
Events diary 12th Mar 2015
Hampshire Military Community Career Fair
14th May 2015
North Yorkshire Military Community Career Fair
2nd Jul 2015
Gloucestershire Military Community Career Fair
10th Sep 2015
Tidworth Military Community Career Fair
February March 2015 || EQUIPPED | 29
No reservations: David Hammond discusses the huge appeal of Reserve Force service Transition experience
For me, the process of leaving the Army and taking up a civilian role were straightforward and without any hitches. Sadly I was ineligible for the full transition support package (due to a 5 month period of broken service) so despite almost 25 years total service I could not access the training grants that are normally on offer. Notwithstanding this, access to the Officers’ Association jobs board proved to be useful and it was through this channel that I found my first job. I accepted a board-level appointment as group Operations Director of a newly formed group of companies within the renewables sector. The role meant I was involved in a wide range of general management activities, making use of the training, leadership and operating experience that I had gained during my Army service. As a new enterprise, the challenge was to establish structures and working protocols to support the rapid growth and expansion of overseas projects and a diverse portfolio of research and development programmes in the UK and Europe. I applied problem-solving methodologies learned in the Armed Forces, and produced the necessary resource and operating plans which then allowed me to recruit the necessary talent to deliver results.
Current role
My current role is the SaBRE (Supporting Britain’s
David Hammond
Reservists and Employers) Campaign Director for Wales. In essence I act as the ‘honest broker’ between individual reservists, their civilian employers and their part time military employers (the units and independent sub-units of the Royal Naval Reserve, Army and Royal Air Force). I have had the opportunity to engage with numerous public, third sector and private sector enterprises ranging in size from large global multinationals down to micro enterprises of fewer than 9 employees. The consistent message that I get from employers is that they recognise the benefits that the training and experience of their reservist employees bring back to the workplace.
What would encourage exregulars to join the reserves? Q
Readers will be well aware of the restructuring of the Armed Forces with the relative growth in size of the trained component of the Reserve Forces, especially the Reserve Army. For many the last thing that they wish to consider is joining the reserve, particularly if they have been made redundant as a consequence of this rebalancing process. My advice would be to give reserve service fair consideration. Dependent on length of previous regular service, qualifications, rank and resettlement location, access to well-paid and
interesting spare time reserve employment can be an attractive option. For example, in a number of locations in post -industrial South Wales the availability of meaningful, well-paid work is limited and a sizeable proportion of the workforce are forced to maintain ‘portfolio’ careers. Reserve service may well offer a really useful element in the employment mix and of course comes with significant training and personal development benefits as well.
Financial Incentive Packages
Currently there are numerousfinancial incentive schemes in place for ex-regulars seeking to join the reserve. For example the Army is offering a commitment bonus that is worth up to £10 000 for ex-regular junior officers (captain and below) and ex-regular other ranks who join the Army Reserve. Other reserve service financial benefits include:
■■ Paid annual leave entitlement/tax-free bounty for completing annual training. ■■ From April 2015, all paid training, including Man Training Days, will pensionable for Part Time Volunteer Reserves under Armed Forces Pension Scheme 15. ■■ From April 15 certain reserve personal can claim Standard Learning Credits to enhance educational and vocational achievements.
What value can Reserve Force service bring to the workplace? Q
Reservists are truly put to the test as the demands made on them throughout their military careers are extremely high. Exceptionally committed individuals, their specialist
training enables them to develop core skills such as teamwork, leadership, loyalty, and the ability to work under the utmost pressure. All valuable qualities that any employer would prize and respect. It’s important to understand what skills your Reservist employee has so that you can really use them to your advantage. Reservists make ideal employees for any organisation. Not only are they likely to be hardworking, committed individuals, but they also undergo specialist military training, developing many transferable skills which can be of direct benefit to their civilian role in the workplace. Decision-making, communication skills, leadership, team building and practical skills are all areas where Reservists can add value to an organisation. They also have a great deal of experience of dealing with a diverse range of people from all ranks, nationalities and cultures. Much of Reserve Forces training takes place in realistic and demanding situations. Reservists develop vital skills to enable them to cope under pressure. Reservists are also given high levels of responsibility from the earliest stages of their military careers, often earlier than in their civilian careers, which again can prove very useful in the workplace. Practical training goes on to focus on evaluation, decision-making, planning and communication skills. All key areas of competence which employers can capitalise on, no matter what their industry.
Value to the bottom line:
Reservists develop a broad range of skills through their Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
»On the cover
Cpl Si Longworth RLC (Phot)-mod crown copyright 2015
Cadet Force Adult Volunteering
military training which help them in their civilian jobs and which are valuable to their employers. Research by SaBRE, endorsed by the Chartered Management Institute, found that an employer would have to purchase over £8,000 of commercial civilian training to provide the same amount of development which an average Reservist’s military service provides in a year. This research relates only to the skills that are relevant to the civilian workplace. Experience gained from an average period of Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
mobilisation, including predeployment training, is worth around £8,300 for a Private, £14,600 for a Sergeant and £18,400 for an Officer. It’s worth noting that this research data is a few years old so the actual value of training is now considerably higher. Military Career facts:
■■ Joined the Army 1983 ■■ Commissioned in 1984 ■■ Last job was Commanding Officer of 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery ■■ Left the Army in summer 2007 on conclusion of my regimental command
If reserve service is not for you, getting involved in MoD-sponsored youth work may be something that those in transition might wish to consider. A number of years ago I was asked to get involved with the Army Cadet Force and since 2012 I have been the Commandant of Dyfed and Glamorgan ACF. The ACF, like its sister MODsponsored uniformed cadet forces, the Sea Cadet Corps and the Air Training Corps, is a thriving youth organisation. My particular ACF County has around 1100 young people, 250 officers and adult Instructors and 12 full time staff. The officers and adult instructors are drawn from all walks of life but a fair number are former regular or reservist personnel. Getting involved in really worthwhile youth work, whilst enjoying the support and ethos of the military environment, has great rewards. It was certainly not on my radar but now that
I have had the opportunity to work with some great young people and adult volunteers I would certainly encourage folk in transition to consider it. The commitment is different to that demanded by the Reserve Forces. There is some remunerationt (normally a maximum of 40 days per year) but the rewards of giving up some spare time in order to develop some great young people is really what it is all about. Having said that there are a range of National Vocational Qualification awards available and here in Wales a partnership with a local FE college allows adult instructors to attain postgraduate level awards in youth leadership. Irrespective, all employers value employees who give something back to their communities and the ability to evidence voluntary work on a CV and to talk about it passionately at interview should not be underestimated.
March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 31
Set your sights higher
Benefits Low cost. The OU is ELC approved. Flexibility. Our flexible materials let you study around shifts and postings, even when on active duty. Support. You’ll have a personal tutor to guide you through, and feedback on your studies. Quality. The OU is ranked amongst the top UK universities for the quality of its teaching.
You know the importance of looking ahead. Not only in your Service role but in your career. Whatever your role, wherever you are stationed, you can develop your career or your interests without disrupting your professional and personal commitments. So can your dependents. All you need to do is take advantage of the special relationship between The Open University (OU) and the UK Armed Forces. Pick from over 600 OU and Open University Business School modules and make the most of the cost, flexibility and quality benefits on offer. More than 1,200 of the British Armed Forces and the Merchant Navy are already doing that.
For further information visit the OU Forces (open.ac.uk/forces) and ELCAS (enhancedlearningcredits.com) websites.
The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC 038302). The Open University is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Tel: +44 (0)1432 850223 Email: specialisttraining@uk.g4s.com www.g4sspecialisttraining.com
LAND. SEA. AIR. ROAD? Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
Whether it’s as a roadside patrol, a recovery driver or one of hundreds of other jobs around our business, here at the AA we offer challenging careers for service leavers. Visit theAAcareers.co.uk to see our latest vacancies.
March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 33
»Our partners
Take no prisoners
Darren Mitchell took charge of a new training career with NUCO’s help
t the age of 21, I joined Her Majesty’s Prison Service at a time when the Government were doing mass recruitment of new officers, increasing the number of staff in establishments so that prisoners could have more purposeful activity hours out of cell. I gained many skills in my 22 year career with the service. I was promoted to a wing manager, managing the day to day activities of both staff and prisoners. In my last 4 years of service, because of my passion for exercise and leading a healthy lifestyle, I became a PE Officer. Throughout my career I have taught many courses. For many years I taught the staff how to deal with violent and refractory prisoners, and assisted the national team in teaching the specialist riot training. I have also taught prisoners sports qualifications. I get great satisfaction in standing in front of a group and teaching them new things. It is rewarding to pass knowledge on, and see individuals succeed in achieving new qualifications. To aid with my teaching, I obtained a level 3 teaching award and my A1 assessors award. I didn’t just want to be able to stand out at the front and teach, I wanted to learn how to teach in different ways to maintain
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Darren Mitchell
interest within my learners. I then attained the level 4 CTTL’s teaching qualification.
“THERE IS LIFE AFTER THE SECURITY OF A LONG CAREER. ALL YOU NEED IS THE DRIVE AND ENTHUSIASM TO GO OUT THERE AND DO IT.” In 2011 I started my own business MJD Training LTD. I was aware of the respect that NUCO Training had as the profession-
al provider to Her Majesty’s Prison Service, so when I decided to teach first aid as part of the business, I signed up to their first aid instructors course. NUCO provide excellent support for all their instructors. They are only a phone call away and will help in any way they can. They have loads of instructor tools to help you regardless if you are employed or self employed. Within the last year I have also become one of NUCO’s lead trainers, travelling around the country, teaching first aid, AED, oxygen therapy, anaphylaxis and also getting learners through their level 3 qualification in education and training. Recently I have taken on the role for NUCO as one of their trainers in the level 3 Health and Safety Compliance training course. There is always something new with NUCO. They have helped me immensely not only with my own company and development of my business, but also with the work that I do for them. There is life after the security of a long career. All you need is the drive, and enthusiasm to go out there and do it. It does not happen overnight. But with determination and the help from NUCO, for me it has become a reality. For more information on Darren’s company go to www.mjdtraining.com Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
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Extraordinary Orkney
Heriot-Watt’s Orkney campus offers a range of fascinating education options in the island idyll ith a focus on the marine environment and renewable energy there is no better place in the world to learn about the evolution of this new industry and contribute to its future development. The Heriot-Watt University Orkney Campus, in Stromness, is a base for research activities associated with the School of Life Sciences and the International Centre for Island Technology as well as other Schools across the University. It is a truly global University with its other campuses in Edinburgh, Borders, Dubai and Malaysia. Celebrating 25 years at the Orkney Campus, Heriot-Watt University provides the opportunity for postgraduate study in Orkney’s Living Laboratory full time, part time or by distance learning. With a focus on the marine environment and renewable energy there is no better place in the world to learn about the evolution of this new industry and contribute to its future development. “Year after year we see students coming to Orkney from around the world, as well as Scotland and Orkney, and then using their time here as a springboard to a successful career. We now have an impressive network of former students working here in Orkney as well as internationally and 98% of our oncampus students last year would recommend their programme to someone else. Teaching success has been mirrored by our performance in the recent national research assessment exercise pushing Heriot-Watt up into fourth place in Scotland and into the top third in the UK”. Sandy Kerr appointed as Director of ICIT in August 2015.
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■■ Opportunities exist to study the following MSc programmes: ■■ Renewable Energy Development ■■ Marine Renewable Energy ■■ Marine Resource Management ■■ Marine Spatial Planning ■■ Environmental Impacts of Marine Renewable Energy
Dr Kerr encourages ex-services to consider applying for a Masters programme at ICIT, with funding available for this year, it is a 36 | EQUIPPED | March 2015
Saul Thackeray
fantastic opportunity. SFC (Scottish Funding Council) scholarships are available, as well as Fred Olsen Scholarships which welcome applications from international students. ICIT boasts a positive relationship with industry, and its graduates from 2013/14 have gone on to secure positions in the renewables industry. Aquatera, EMEC, Scotrenewables, European Wind Energy Association, Community Energy Scotland and Natural Power Consultants Ltd are a few of the companies that graduates have secured employment with. Orcadian Danny Bain, who graduated last year explains: “Studying an MSc in Marine Renewable Energy in Orkney gave me great insight into the world emerging energy sectors. We were introduced to many industry professionals and organisations as well as receiving academic support throughout the course. After receiving a sponsorship placement for my dissertation with Scotrenewables Tidal Power, I was delighted to be given the opportunity to begin working as Project Co-ordinator for the construction of their SR2000 Device, which is set to be the world’s largest and most powerful tidal turbine”. Although there are many benefits to learning on-campus the ability to learn in a more flexible way is often more appealing to those considering a career change or need to continue to work whilst studying. ICIT currently has over 150 Distance Learning students from all over the world from a variety of different career backgrounds. Saul Thackeray, a current distance learning student on the MSc Renewable Energy Development programme, explains: “I am currently studying for an MSc in Renewable Energy Development with Heriot-Watt University, through the ICIT Orkney Campus. I joined the RAF in October 1986 and completed over 25 years, leaving in January 2012. I was primarily an aircrew surveillance sensors operator, flying in the Nimrod MR2 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, from Kinloss, an RAF base in the North East of Scotland. My
career took me from operator to team manager, instructor, Squadron executive and finally chief instructor on the replacement MRA4 aircraft, which was unfortunately cancelled in the Strategic Defence and Security Review of 2010. After achieving all I could in the RAF I began looking outside the Service for a second career. Hoping to remain living and working in Scotland I began to research developing sectors and identified the potential of renewables. My interest lay in the relative infancy of the sector, the obvious importance of its development and the great possibilities it offered. Prior to leaving the RAF, I was able to complete a Professional Development Award in Renewable Technology, with Lews Castle College, Stornoway and the Moray College. This gave me an appetite for more study and after talking to a number of individuals from within the industry, I decided that a suitable route into the renewables sector, without direct experience, was with a credible qualification. I applied to join the MSc RED programme with Heriot Watt University and the ICIT Orkney Campus, as a distant learner in October 2012. The military provided me with a generous funding program (Enhanced Learning Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
»Education
Credits) which paid up to £2000 per year for any 3 years study. After using 1 of these Credits to part fund the Prince 2 Project Managers qualification, I maximised the other 2 for this MSc. Whilst applying for this Degree I managed to transition into a job that required many of the skills obtained in the RAF and specifically in the airborne surveillance role. I began working for a private company providing primarily airborne surveillance for the fisheries industry, flying in aircraft owned and controlled by the Scottish Government through Marine Scotland. For the past 2 years I have been working through the Master’s Degree and have already completed the first 7 modules, assessed by examination and recently the Project Module. I will shortly begin the final dissertation module to complete the full Master’s Degree, hopefully by summer. Throughout my RAF career, like many in the military, I was constantly learning new skills and completing courses, so the return to academia and study was not such a shock. The nature of the work I do allows me time but the whole work, study, life balance is a challenge and luckily this MSc allows a very generous 7 years to complete. I found the exam diets provided specific time goals and encouraged me Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
to set myself challenging study programmes but of course it will depend on individual’s personal circumstances. I have enjoyed the study material immensely. It covers a wide variety of subjects from production of energy, economics, ecology, specific renewable technology, development appraisal and much more. Throughout the Course you are encouraged to conduct research and expand on the material provided which opened my eyes to the wealth of invention and success that has already been achieved across the globe. Last year I attended the All Energy Conference, in Aberdeen and was excited to see the wealth of industry and research that is being conducted in pursuit of renewable energy development. It also spurned me on to identifying the potential roles I might wish to fill. As a non-engineer you may think that the ‘energy’ industry is out of reach but although the sector relies heavily on engineers there is a host of other essential roles for those with the soft skills military personnel take for granted. I hope to move into either, education, consultancy or an aspect of the project planning regime, where I can adapt my management and organisational abilities, developed in the RAF, to an emerging industry I believe I will find interesting,
challenging and immensely rewarding”.
Research
ICIT also offers opportunities to study for research degrees (PhD and MPhil). As Associate Professor David Woolf explains, “Fully funded studentships are available on a competitive basis for specific research projects. Projects currently on offer include investigations of the tidal dynamics of Orkney and integrated studies of marine renewable energy and planning. There are also opportunities for students to undertake research degrees with their own funding or the support of employers. Those conducting research in appropriate areas (e.g. renewable energy) as part of their employment may be able to undertake an MPhil on the basis of that research. We encourage potential students and sponsors to contact us.” ICIT (International Centre of Island Technology), Orkney Campus, Heriot Watt University - Back Road, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3AW Telephone: Ask to speak to PJ Dewar on (01856) 850605 Email: icitmsc@hw.ac.uk Website: http://www.ic March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 37
Challenging Rewarding Worthwhile
Are you ready to start a new chapter in your life? If you have the following skills we’d really like to talk to you:
together with strong relationships and a balance between treatment and continuing an active life.
• Able to encourage, evaluate and involve • Capable of working in fast-paced environments, often under pressure • Great listening and communication skills • Excellent team working
With a diverse range of fulfilling jobs such as Consultants, Clinical Support Workers, Mental Health Practitioners and Technical Instructors, check out our website www.nsft.nhs.com/work-for-us or follow us on Twitter @NSFTjobs to find your next career opportunity.
At Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, we are one of the largest mental health Trusts in the country. Employing over 4,000 staff we provide mental health, secure, substance misuse and learning disability services across Norfolk and Suffolk. Our mission is to promote recovery and wellbeing, physical health,
LIFE CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR CHILDREN OF SEAFARING FAMILIES WITH GENEROUS BURSARIES ON BOARDING PLACES YOUR CHILDREN CAN BENEFIT FROM AN OUTSTANDING, YET AFFORDABLE, EDUCATION. As a result of the School’s 300 year old links with the Royal Navy, bursary places are available for children of both serving and retired naval personnel. In addition, those eligible for the MOD Continuity of Education Allowance pay from just £721 per term for full boarding.
The Royal Hospital School provides an outstanding all-round education for more than 700 boys and girls aged 11 to 18 years old. Excellent pastoral care is at the heart and, with nearly 500 full time boarders, it is a vibrant place to be 7 days a week. With exceptional resources and dedicated staff, pupils are encouraged to aim high and achieve their personal best. The curriculum is broad and balanced, combining the finest of academic traditions with the latest technologies. But learning goes beyond the walls of the classroom and the co-curricular facilities and opportunities are exceptional; in particular a highly acclaimed reputation for music and unrivalled provision for sailing.
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Pembroke House is the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust’s 55 bed residential and nursing home located in Gillingham, Kent. We are looking for confident and passionate RGNs committed to delivering high standards of care to ex-service personnel their spouses. Fully trained andolder dedicated staff providing 24and hour nursing and residential well furnished rooms with en-suite facilities • An extensive care • Good sized, We offer excellent, modern working conditions, flexible hours, a good benefits packagecommunal and range of day rooms, dining rooms and other comfortable areas generous holidays. gardens • Full programme of outings, • Panoramic views and landscaped functions and in-house activities with strong links to theolder Royalpeople, Naval, Royal If you are dedicated to working with an uncompromising approach to quality and Marine and otherhave ex-Service organisations and associations. think you can achieve the standards we require, get in touch right away. Telephone: 01634 852431 Pembroke HouseE-mail: Recruitment@ 11 Oxford Road, GilliNGHAM,pembrokehouse-rnbt.org.uk Kent ME7 4BS T: 01634 852431Web-site: F: 01634 281709 www.rnbt.org.uk E: enquiry@pembrokehouse-rnbt.org.uk Closing date – 30th April 2015 W: www.rnbt.org.uk
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March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 39
Poppy stars The Poppy Factory helps vets with disabilities shine
he Poppy Factory was originally founded in 1922 to provide employment for wounded soldiers returning from WW1. Major George Howson believed that every disabled veteran who wants to work should have the opportunity to do so. In its heyday, the charity employed over 350 men to hand-make the poppies and wreaths for the British Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal (which we continue to do today). Howson was an innovator, and the factory was designed around the needs of his disabled employees. Fast-forward most of a century and the Poppy Factory has evolved around the
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“ANY VETERAN WITH A PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION CAN REGISTER” changing requirements of ex-Service personnel. They want careers that utilise the wide variety of skills and experience are gained in the Armed Forces, and they want to find work in a location near their friends and families. Thus the Poppy Factory’s disabled employability expertise was taken on the road. A dedicated team of regional consultants work with each veteran to create a personal career plan, give free CV and interview training, and source local job opportunities with supportive employers. A network of volunteer mentors and ongoing in-work support ensures that Poppy Factory ‘clients’ thrive in their new workplace. Any veteran with a physical or mental health condition can register, as long as they are no longer being supported through the Career Transition Partnership as part of their resettlement. The Poppy Factory’s Getting You Back To Work service has already helped hundreds of disabled veterans into meaningful and sustainable work. To find out how you can benefit from their life-changing service (or if you would like to support the programme), visit www.poppyfactory.org L(PHOT) JAY ALLEN - MOD CROWN COPYRIGHT 2015
40 | EQUIPPED | March 2015
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ÂťCharity
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March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 41
Please don’t ignore this. If you know somebody who is struggling to find work due to a medical condition sustained during or after Service, IT IS YOUR DUTY to point them in our direction. The Poppy Factory helps support wounded, injured and sick veterans into rewarding jobs across the country. Our personal, ongoing service ensures our clients thrive in their new workplace. Find out more about our employability service at: www.poppyfactory.org GARY’S STORY:
“The Poppy Factory helped me with my anxiety, putting me on the right courses before I started employment. They organised an open day with Transport for London, and supported me through an interview which then led to a job offer. I start on Monday!”
#YourDuty A
: ThePoppyFactory
: @PoppyFactory
member, registered charity no. 225348. Veterans must no longer be supported through the Career Transition Partnership as part of their resettlement.
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Emergency care nurses and doctors Join a fantastic team during an exciting time of change!
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With strong nursing leadership, including a dedicated matron, a professional development nurse and a nurse consultant for minor injury and illness, we provide high quality emergency care and actively support the professional development of all our nurses. We also have several exciting posts at the level of Senior Clinical Fellow (ST4 with MCEM and above). Applicants are invited to join our dynamic team of 7 consultants and 24 junior EM doctors. For suitable candidates, there is scope to offer a post with extra study leave and/or funding in order to pursue an interest of their choice out of toxicology, ultrasound, research or international emergency medicine.
We invite applications to the following posts in our Emergency Department: • Band 7 Sister/Charge Nurse Ref n°289-JC-006391 • Band 6 Junior Sister/Charge Nurses Ref n°289-JC-006392 • Band 5 Staff Nurses Ref n°289-JC-006393 • Band 8a Emergency Nurse Practitioner (1-yr fixed term) Ref n°289-JC-006390 • ST4 Senior Clinical Fellow Ref n°289-AD-006550 For further information please contact Clinical Lead Dr Claire Emerson at claire.emerson@chelwest.nhs.uk or by calling 020 3315 8015. Apply online at www.jobs.nhs.uk.
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Looking for your next challenge?
NHS Dumfries & Galloway offers a wide range of opportunities for those who want to live and work in an area with excellent schools, reasonable house prices and within 2 hours (maximum) travel time to Glasgow, Edinburgh, the Lake District and Newcastle. NHS Dumfries and Galloway serves a population of 148,190 within a large geographical area of approximately 2,400 square miles. Dumfries & Galloway stretches from Langholm in the East to Drummore in the West, and from Kirkconnel and Carsphairn in the North down to Sandyhills on the Solway Coast. The Health Board employs around 4,500 staff excluding GPs and Dentists. The main secondary care centre is Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary (DGRI). The region offers a wide range of outdoor activities and indoor facilities, as well as an excellent calibre of restaurants, gyms, parks and forests. You would be joining the Board at an exciting time as we plan to move to our ‘New Build’
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hospital in 2017. Information on DGRI redevelopment can be found www.nhsdg.scot.nhs.uk We have a number of roles available across all staff categories and across all areas of the Acute and Community units. Check out our vacancies at www.nhsdg.scot.nhs.uk If you do not see what you are looking for please feel free to make enquiries to dg.recruitment@nhs.net quoting “Equipped”. Our current vacancies are all published at www.nhsdg.scot.nhs.uk alternatively please call Susan Hunter, Workforce Administrator on 01387 246246 ext 34944 to discuss the type of role you are looking for. If you are a medic and are looking for a new challenge please call Nicola True, Workforce Support Officer on 01387 272782 quoting “Equipped”. We look forward to hearing from you.
March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 45
Scrub up
Ex-RAF Ric Glynne-Owen talks about a new career in nursing
ICU or A&E, the kind of frontline sector which was charity focused ic Glynne-Owen was in the sharp end stuff. - it’s quite difficult to do well in RAF just shy of 12 years and I’m at Stirling University because it’s purely based on spent his time working “the country and quite new to it. I started funding; the lack of stability within operations before is always last September and currently with that was quite difficult. going on to become an going to in my second semester, in When you’re in the instructor. Equipped caught up need nurses” order to get on that I had to do forces you’re not realwith Ric to talk about how he an access course. Although I’d ly ‘on your own’, so to settled on pursuing a career been to university in the RAF, my speak. In the forces within the medical industry, qualification was out of date and to there’s a lot more sense of what he learned during his time attend uni you need to have a qualification community and outside of it you in the forces, and how a mixture kind of lose that. It wasn’t so bad for from the last 3 years. The access course was of education and military life a 2 day a week night course for people who me because I was already married has helped him see what path to Ric in his to a civilian and I was only in for 11 either have no qualifications or have one choose. Here’s his story. greens that’s out of date. years, but yeah, I did find it difficult. People I know who have also I joined the RAF for left do say that they also miss the camerade- For me, the resettlement family reasons. rie of the forces. process began before I left. My dad was the main reason for me initially joining the military, and although he I benefitted hugely by getting qualificahimself wasn’t part of it, he had family tions while I was in the forces because I had I didn’t know what career members who were in the Armed Forces path I was going to take when known I was leaving for a while before I so I kind of grew up assuming that’s what did. I got a Diploma in further education I left the RAF. I’d do. and that really helped me make the transiLooking back now, I didn’t really, I had an idea but it was quite short sighted. My wife tion and of course equip me for education as a civilian. had managed to get a good job and we I enjoyed my time in the RAF If you come from a job that already relocated to Edinburgh and bought a and learned a lot. exists in the civilian world, say, if house up here, and I managed to get a role My trade was initially aerospace systems in the third sector, but it didn’t last because you’re a mechanic in the RAF, you operator (ASOS) and my time in the RAF can obviously get a mechanic job, of funding being withdrawn. So I kind of taught me a lot - all of the clichéd type of bounced around until I decided what I stuff. Communication was a big thing which but because I was doing something wanted to do. Initially, it was just getting I learned, talking to people all the time. quite different, quite bespoke, I didn’t some kind of direction, I didn’t want a job When I became an instructor, communicareally know what I wanted to do. I knew so much as I wanted a vocation. tion was really the cornerstone. Working in I wanted to go down the training route and operations taught me the ability to assimilate that was my initial plan. information from different places into a I decided to pursue a plan. There was a lot based around plannursing degree. It’s good that the government ning as an instructor, as well as things is encouraging a more The biggest reason I’m going into nurslike lesson preparations etc. ing is because the country is always proactive transition. going to need nurses, so it bears well It sounds really obvious but transition is for the future and it opens a lot of what you make of it. I think in the RAF I faced some big doors for me. Having a degree is a big they realised that they needed to give peochallenges in my career thing for me. Plus a nursing role is ple qualifications before they left instead transition. so diverse; there are literally of a person getting to the end and suddenI think the security of the hundreds of different things ly thinking “oh no, it’s too late.” So they forces was very imporI could do. At the moment introduced a lot of NVQ’s while I was tant: you’re part of a I’m quite open minded there in training. I think that was really big organisation it’s just about getting important. It does depend on the role a which has many through one semester person wants, but for me, from an acafunding avenues. at a time - but I would demic sense, gaining more qualifications Initially, when I left like to go into areas like has really helped. I went into third
R
46 | EQUIPPED | March 2015
Ric at Stirling University
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ÂťMedical
Ric fundraises for the children’s autism charity Speur Ghlan, founded by his wife
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March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 47
Reach for the stars High-flying careers in aerospace
ritain’s aerospace industry boasts a total of 17% of the worlds share making it the largest of its kind in Europe, and globally, second behind the USA. ADS, the UK’s premier trade organisation for all companies operating in the UK aerospace, defence, security and space industries, estimates that the country has around 2600 companies in the sector across all regions, providing over 100,000 direct jobs and indirectly supporting many more. ADS revealed that in 2011 the sector generated £24.2bn of UK revenue. A key characteristic of the industry is its large scale need for a broad range of high value skills and disciplines, including engineering and science, production, service, training and financial skills at all levels. With such a variety of career options available, those making the leap from military life onto ‘Civvy Street’ will find plenty of opportunities in this sector. ADS says that the UK aerospace industry is ‘well positioned to benefit from the continued rapid growth in the global aerospace market’ and that by 2032, estimates that 29,000 new large civil airliners, 24,000 business jets and 5,800 regional aircraft will be required - valued at over $5 trillion. In addition, by 2030, around 40,000 Aerospace Engineer civil helicopters will also be required - valued at $165 billion. the work of an aerospace The Royal Aeronautical Society is Figures released for 2014 engineer could also include the both well known and well from recruitment specialists design, manufacturing and respected within industry and Reed show the wider UK maintenance of certain spacecraft works to directly support its jobs market is maintaining and satellites. Day-to-day members and the growth of UK a strong recovery, with aerresponsibilities may vary aerospace. The Society is proud of ospace a high growth depending on specialism, but its members’ range of disciplines, employment category. As typical duties for an Aerospace which includes not just engineers the statistics show a Engineer could include: Supervising and pilots, but also doctors, legal demand for employees in the design and manufacture of specialists, bankers, air traffic this sector, many organisaaircraft; testing prototypes to check controllers, cabin crew etc. tions are doing their bit to they function correctly, and safely; The society describes the role as help, and if need be, give analysing testing data; developing follows: “aerospace engineers those interested the extra skills new technologies for use in design, build and test aircraft, or advice they might need in defence systems or satellites; ranging from commercial and order to make their way within ensuring that all projects passenger jets through to the industry. meet pre-determined types of military aircraft and
B
Job focus
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weapons systems.” “In its broadest sense,
quality and health & safety guidelines.”
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»Aerospace
Case study: Britten-Norman Britten-Norman is the UK’s only independent civil aircraft manufacturer and has been producing aircraft continuously for a period spanning six decades and continues to be a major supplier to the UK’s Ministry of Defence. They recently announced their intention to increase staffing levels at their main site at Daedalus Airfield, Leeon-Solent. A campaign begun in early February 2015 with a recruitment fair at the new Centre of Excellence in Engineering & Manufacturing Advanced Skills Training campus (CEMAST). The company revealed it’s seeking to recruit into a wide range of positions including aircraft
fitters and technicians, designers and systems engineers. A company spokesperson said “What we offer at Britten-Norman is unique. As a medium size privately owned enterprise, we are the UK’s sole independent civil aircraft manufacturer. Engaging all our disciplines including design, manufacturing, maintenance, flight test and certification, our employees take great pride and satisfaction in helping shape raw material through an interesting and sometimes complicated process that sees it turn into a fully certified flying aircraft destined for operations in some snowy, sun drenched or equatorial remote part of the world.”
Big players - the UK’s major aerospace and aviation employers Airbus directly employs 13,000 staff in the UK and many more through the supply chain. Airbus Wing Work employs staff at Filton working on the design, engineering and support of Airbus wings, fuel systems and landing gear. Assembly takes place at the Broughton site which recruits for manufacturing and engineering roles. www.airbus.com/work Boeing is a major manufacturer of commercial jetliners. Boeing Defence, Space and Security produce communication systems for military and government. Boeing directly employs 1700 staff throughout the UK. Boeing recruit for a wide variety of roles including design, planning, and service engineers, systems engineers, quality and project managers. jobs-boeing.com/ All-United-Kingdom
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GKN Aerospace employs around 12,000 staff and their Bristol site produces parts for both Airbus and Boeing. They also operate sites in Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and Yeovil. www.gkn.com/aerospace/careers Thales Aerospace division in the UK provides equipment and systems for both military and civilian aircraft. The company produces and supplies air safety and air traffic management systems as well as communications, navigation and cockpit display systems for military aircraft. Thales is a key player in the unmanned aerial vehicles market (UAV) along with BAE and also operates a state of the art Airbus avionics repair site in Leicester. www.thalesgroup.com/en/unitedkingdom/uk-careers
Rolls Royce employs 16,000 staff in the UK, manufacturing engines for the civil and defence market and the growing nuclear business. They recruit engineers from all disciplines of electrical, electronic, instrumentation and sensor engineering to specify, design, develop, test and support control, instrumentation and protection systems and equipment. www.rolls-royce.com/careers BAE Systems designs and manufactures fixed wing combat and training aircraft for the UK and overseas defence market. BAE is currently working on the Typhoon fleet. The company has ongoing recruitment requirements across sites, mainly in Warton, and RAF Conningsby for engineers across a range of disciplines. www.baesystems.com/careers
March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 49
Claiming ELC Funding Required reading for anyone wishing to claim ELCs nhanced learning credits (ELCs) can be your golden ticket to more opportunities for your transition, providing you with an upfront cash contribution towards higher learning. However, there are rules you must follow carefully if your claim is to be successful. Before registering for any learning activity, serving personnel must get authorisation from their Line Manager (part 4 of the claim form) and Education Staff (part 5) to ensure that their chosen course meets the MoD requirements for ELC funding. Ex-Service personnel must get authorisation at part 5 of the claim form from their Single Service Representative (full contact details can be found at www.goo.gl/nJ8rB4). There are then several factors to consider:
E
1
Plan your transition in advance
Do your research!
You must fully research both the Provider that you choose and the course that you wish to study.
TOP TIP: Providers may move on and off the approved list, so it is advisable to check your Provider is approved before you undertake any claim. 2
Does your course qualify?
ELCs are only available for courses that result in a nationally-recognised qualification at level 3 or above on the National Qualification Framework (www.goo.gl/rTCzTm) or level 6 or above on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (www.goo.gl/vN3Rdd). Just because an organisation is listed as an Approved Provider does not mean that all of their courses are of the required level. TOP TIP: A list of the references to help with course level research may be found here: www.goo.gl/kulBBf. You must refer to ‘Joint Service Publications 898 Part 4, Chapter 3’ for guidance with regard to eligible activities.
50 | EQUIPPED | March 2015
3
Get authorisation before the course starts
You must present your Claim Authorisation Note (CAN) to your chosen Provider in advance of your course start date. Sometimes circumstances change or you may change your mind about a course. If for any reason you can not undertake the course, you can submit a request to cancel/ reinstate the claim. Failure to do so may result in the loss of Scheme Membership, which will prevent any future claims.
TOP TIP: Keep a copy of your CAN as you will need the reference numbers for completing your Evaluation Form.
4
Think before you cancel or withdraw
You need to be aware of the implications of cancelling or withdrawing from a course of study funded by ELC. Always consult Education Staff before doing either, as it can have a serious effect on future ELC eligibility. 5
Still in the Service?
Then the proposed learning activity must be of benefit to the Service. You are required to demonstrate that your proposed course of study is as a result of careful planning (use Personal Development Records). If you have left the Service, this does not apply to you! Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
ÂťELC 6
ELCs only cover 80% of each course
You must contribute from your own resources at least 20% towards the total course cost. You must also cover costs for food, accommodation, course books, material, travel and subsistence.
BE AWARE: MoD rules strictly forbid the acceptance of inducements from Providers including subsidies, free accommodation, travel and equipment. Learners who breach these rules risk forfeiting their ELC membership!
strate that you have completed previous courses to your Education Staff / Single Service Representative. 8
You must first ensure that you have completed the Evaluation Form (www.goo.gl/k8Br5B) for all previous courses funded using ELC. You must also provide documentary evidence to demon-
Taking courses in quick succession?
10
It may be necessary to submit a claim for a second or third course before the previous course has ended. In these cases the Evaluation Form can be submitted when you have completed enough study to effectively evaluate the Provider. 9
For second or third 7 claims
towards a continuous and recognised block of study which may extend into or start in the next financial year.
List your modules correctly
If your course is split into modules, list each module you are claiming for. However, for longer courses of study such as degree level, where the academic year is out of sync with the financial year, it is permissible to use one claim for several modules which count
Retrospective ELC claims are not permitted!
Claim forms must be received by ELCAS at least 15 clear working days prior to the course start date. Ensure that you have enough time to receive the Claim Authorisation Note to present to your chosen Provider before the course starts. (Please note that for courses with Open University the CAN must be presented to them by the final course registration date). You should not set up a loan/credit agreement for the full cost of the course under any circumstances. The original text for this guide can be found on the ELC website at: www.goo.gl/9JVWOa
CORPORAL ANDY REDDY RLC - MOD CROWN COPYRIGHT 2014
Claim timeline - your ELC guide Minimum of 25-30 working days before course registration deadline or course start date
Minimum 25 working days before course start/registration date
Read and understand JSP898-P4C3 and/or DIN 2009DIN07-042
Complete Calim Form
research course and Learning Provider including level method, precourse reading requirments
Education staff signs claim form and posts to ELCAS for processing or Education staff/ SSR processes claim form via online system
Send claim form to education staff/SSR for authorisation Do NOT send to ELCAS
ELCAS must receive claim minimum of 15 working days before course start date
Course start/ registration date
If claim is processed by ELCAS it may take up to 10 working days to process the claim once received
Education Officer/ Single Service Representitive post/fax CAN to learner or Learning Provider
ELCAS check claim
Claim correct?
Refer to Learning Centre staff/ SSR if necessary
Contact learning Provider to secure place on course
Minimum 20 working days before course start/registration date
Claim correct?
No
Make necessary corrections/ actions
Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
Claimant actions Education Staff/Single service Representitive (SSR) actions ELCAS actions
Yes Yes
ELCAS post CAN (2nd class) back to Learning Centre
Note: Claimants no longer in service must send their claim to their SSR - contact details on Ex-Service personnel page March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 51
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folder,Introductory starter equipment set worth overinformation £460 and a Qualification, substantial
2014/2015
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52 | EQUIPPED | March 2015
ELC
FITA has courses available for both commercial and domestic applications, to suit not only real beginners just getting started in the industry, but upskilling courses aimed towards seasoned professionals too! Our courses are presented by experienced instructors with specialist knowledge of the flooring industry.
Call today for more information on 0115 950 6836 or visit www.fita.co.uk Bespoke courses available on request
PROVIDER NUMBER
4229
FITA, co-founded by the Contract Flooring Association (CFA) and the National Institute of Carpet and Floorlayers (NICF)
Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
48029_Agency Drivers Advert:Layout 1
25/2/15
16:06
Page 1
LOOKING FOR A CAREER as a COMMERCIAL DRIVER?
Then look no further, because we can help you
Agency Drivers
Do you drive for the Army? We have local work opportunities for Drivers of all categories. We can offer you the following: Full time, Part time and weekend work at all grades and skills levels
• • • • •
Class 1 - C+E Class 2 - C 7.5t - C1 Van Drivers Lorry Mounted Cranes (HIAB)
• • • • •
ADR Drivers PCV Drivers Car Drivers Warehouse staff Forklift Drivers
We value your training and these placements will give you a chance to gain commercial experience and improve your skills - while earning some extra cash. We also assist good candidates to complete their CPC and other necessary skills to ensure their complete success. Many of our assignments are long term, and can lead to full time careers in driving and logistics management.
To find out more please contact Simon on:
Tel: 01483 30 20 30 Web: www.agencydrivers.co.uk Email: simon@agencydrivers.co.uk
DRIVERS WANTED
Culina, the UK market leader in food and drink logistics across the chilled and ambient temperature ranges, is recruiting drivers for its depots nationwide, including openings in Stafford, Bristol, Haverhill, Wolverhampton, Hereford, Leighton Buzzard, Hoddesdon, Market Drayton, Lutterworth, Milton Keynes, Middleton and Rotherham. If you have a Class C+E licence and you’re are looking to enhance your career by joining an industry leading player then visit our website - www.culinacareers.co.uk - or alternatively send your application to: Central Recruitment, Culina, Shrewsbury Road, Market Drayton, Shropshire, TF9 3SQ. Don’t have a Driver Certificate of Competence Card? Don’t worry, Culina provides all of its drivers with the training they need to become accredited and to ensure they’re fully compliant when out on the road.
Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
THIS IS NOT A HOLIDAY DESTINATION
THIS IS AN EXCELLENT ONE OFF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY We need someone capable of looking after Installation crews & to have the ability to meet with venue & event organisers and discuss prestigious events. You will be working with a well established company at the beginning of an exciting expansion with a UK Franchise network. This business is Challenging, exciting & fun. If this sounds interesting to you call us on 01483 211642 and talk to us about it.
March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 53
That’s amore
The Fiat 500L is more Fiat to love
54 | EQUIPPED | March 2015
Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
ÂťMotoring
Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 55
From £12,390
ell people you are driving a Fiat 500L and you quickly get involved in longwinded explanations about what it is, and is not. “That’s the cute little one, isn’t it?” they say, beaming at the
T
56 | EQUIPPED | March 2015
thought of the fun little 500 city car. The smile is replaced by confusion – and sometimes disbelief – when you explain that the extra ‘L’ on the designation means this car is quite different. Little it certainly isn’t, but then neither is the 500 – certainly not by the standards of the minuscule rear-engined
‘Nuova 500’ of the 1950s and 1960s which was the inspiration for its curvy styling. The 500L is bigger again, and adds a pair of rear doors to turn it into a car that can cope with family life. But there are still hints of the smaller 500’s cuteness, particularly from the front. Inside, too, it’s as much about
style as it is about practicality, with attractive finishes and materials that feel high-class. There’s plenty of leg room front and rear, though head room is a bit tight for adults in the back, and big doors make getting in and out easy. The 500L is available with a range of petrol and diesel engines from 85PS to 120PS. Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
ANDREW NOAKES
Fiat 500L
»Motoring
Our test car had the latest 120PS Multijet diesel, a goodnatured engine which delivered 46mpg over 600 varied miles in our hands. It pulls strongly from low revs, but could be smoother and quieter even when cruising. That’s a shame, because the 500L makes a pretty good motorway mile-muncher, with a comGo to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
FIT FOR A FAMIGLIA: MORE SPACE
fortable driving position and good ride quality at speed. In town and on country roads it’s less convincing: the suspension transmits smaller road imperfections to the cabin rather than smoothing them out, and vision in corners is compromised by the fat pillars and big
door mirrors. Other gripes include confusing switches, instruments that some drivers will find obscured by the steering wheel rim, flimsy picnic trays on the backs of the front seats and an auto stop-start system that sometimes has to try twice to get the engine running.
The 500L gets a lot of fundamentals right: it’s attractive, spacious and well-finished, with a good blend of performance and economy. But in the details it’s less well resolved than in some rivals and because of that choosing one over, say, a Mini Countryman, would take some explaining. March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 57
Cat power Jaguar’s F-type R coupé will make you meow Jaguar F-type R coupé From £85,000
ow to make a great car even better: Jaguar’s F-type was stunning in its original roadster form and the F-type R coupé adds power, sharpness and even more sublime looks to produce an irresistible package. Let’s deal with the shape first. The beautifully taut curves at the front are the same as on the F-type roadster, but at the back the coupé is even prettier than its open-top cousin. The new coupé roofline slopes down to meet muscular rear arches, and they blend together into a shape that has jaws dropping as it passes. Not that pedestrians will get much time to see it, thanks to a supercharged V8 petrol engine up front that develops 550PS, a good 10 per cent more than in the V8 S roadster. The extra power cuts the 0-62mph acceleration time to just 4.2 seconds, and boosts the top speed:
H
58 | EQUIPPED | March 2015
unlike German manufacturers who limit their performance cars to a ‘responsible’ 155mph,
Jaguar lets the F-type R run to its real maximum at no less than 186mph.
On the road it feels sharper and more poised than the roadster – which is a decent enough driving machine to begin with – thanks to the stiffening effect of the fixed roof. Carefully-tuned suspension gives the F-type immediate responses and rocksolid stability, while still delivering a ride supple enough for long-distance comfort. The F-type coupé isn’t a car for everyone. It’s a sports car with only two seats, and luggage capacity which is adequate rather than extravagant. It’s also available only with automatic transmission, and despite the excellence of the eight-speed auto and the speed of its gearchanges in manual mode, some enthusiasts will still insist that a manual gearbox is better. If you want to change gear for yourself, or you need more space, you will have to look elsewhere. But if what you want is a fast, powerful and supremely good-looking sports coupé the Jaguar F-type R is hard to beat. Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
Small torque This month’s motoring news ■■ The new Mini Sport Pack adds a host of equipment to Mini three-door and five-door models, including bonnet stripes, sport suspension, 17-inch Track Spoke alloy wheels in silver or black, John Cooper Works steering wheel (with cruise and multifunction control) and John Cooper Works spoiler. It’s also claimed to improve the resale value by as much as 25%. The Sport Pack costs from £3300. ■■ Skoda is hoping to win over business users by adding £1605-worth of new features to its Superb SE Business model, including 17-inch alloy wheels, sat nav, DAB radio, dual-zone air-con, power-fold door mirrors, cruise control, trip computer, Bluetooth and an umbrella in the rear door. All this extra kit comes at no extra cost. The Superb SE Business, powered by a 2.0litre 140PS diesel engine, starts at £21,090. ■■ Ferrari’s latest V8 super sports car is the 488GTB, which features a midmounted, turbocharged 3902cc V8 engine. With 670PS at 8000rpm, the 488GTB can accelerate from 0-124mph in an incredible 8.3 seconds. The new car also has a series of electronic systems which help to optimize cornering and traction, and aerodynamics which deliver more downforce than the previous model while at the same time reducing drag. The 488GTB will make its public debut at the Geneva motor show in March. ■■ Volkswagen will launch an estate version of its Golf GTD at the Geneva show, with sports suspension and styling reminiscent of the Golf GTI but with power coming from a 2.0litre 184PS diesel engine. The first customer cars are expected to be delivered in June. ■■ Bentley’s latest product isn’t a car – it’s a smell. Bentley Infinite is said to “appeal to those who are on a journey of self-discovery and want to make this a sensory and Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
New Mini Sport Pack
Skoda means business
Ferrari’s new 488 GTB
Estately new Golf
spontaneous experience”. It apparently gives the wearer “a sense of youthful, contemporary elegance and vitality”. The Bentley Infinite product line starts at a mere £24 and will be available in department stores from April. ■■ The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has blamed Government cutbacks and the resulting drop in visible policing for an increase in road deaths and casualties. “Recent transport ministers have been lucky,” said Neil Greig, IAM director of policy and research. “The recession had slowed traffic growth, new car technology has delivered safer roads year on year and most accident black spots have now been engineered out of existence. Technology can only deliver so much. If we don’t change policy we will still be killing 1000 people a year in 2030 – that is unacceptable. ” Andrew has been writing about cars and motorsport for 20 years, during which time he has tested everything from Citroen 2CV-powered three-wheelers to two-seat Formula 1 cars. He has written for newspapers, car magazines and automotive websites, and is the author of more than a dozen motoring books. Follow him on Twitter @ andrewnoakes March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 59
JOBS Southern Water Position
Senior Project Manager
Sellafield Ltd
£35,976 to £58,008
System, Equipment and Plant Engineering Opportunities
Cumbria 019467 72954 susan.hughes@ sellafieldsites.com
Salary
Location
Position:
Salary
Competitive
Location
East Sussex julia.franks@ southernwater.co.uk
Military Medical Personnel
Somerset Care
Dental Nurse
Salary
Position
Position:
Support and Care Workers
Salary
£9.56 per hour
Competitive
Location
Location
Wiltshire 01823 448 170 daniele.norton@ somersetcare.co.uk
South Glamorgan 0845 9000 196 jemma@militarymedicalpersonnel.com
Morson International Position:
Engineer Surveyor
Salary
£39500 per annum
Location
London 0161 707 1516 chrismoore@morson.com
Randstad Position
Manufacturing Engineer
Salary
Competitive
Location Warwickshire 01489 560 050 justine.wilkinson@ randstad.co.uk
Gap Group Position
Driver (Lifting)
Salary
Brandon Hire Position Fitter
Salary
Competitive
Location Leeds 0117 971 9119 paul.tonks@ brandonhire.co.uk
Treloar Trust Position
Bank Student Support Assistant
Competitive
Location
Kent 0141 225 4629 recruitment@gap-group.co.uk
Dairy Crest Position
Franchise Designate Opportunities
Salary
Salary
Location
Location
£7.94 - £8.52 per hour
Competitive
Hampshire 0142054 7400 lauren.cooper@treloar.org.uk
England 01372 472517 abi.evans@dairycrest.co.uk
ADVERTISE HERE CONTACT THE TEAM ON 0141 840 4902 OR EMAIL INFO@EQUIPPEDMEDIA.CO.UK
60 | EQUIPPED | March 2015
Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
TRAINING G4S Specialist Training
Close Protection Officer
Start date
06 July 2015
Location
Hereford 01432 850 223 specialisttraining@uk.g4s.com
»JobS & training classifieds The Surviellance Group
Level 4 BTEC Professional Award in Tactical Foot and Mobile Surveilance
Start date
29 June 2015
Location
Worcester 0800 587 0170 training@ thesurveillancegroup.com
Ubi-Tech
Wireless and Radio Engineering
Quanta
Developing Web Applications with ASP.Net
Start date
15 June 2015
Location Worcester 01905 738 716 amy-joy.dawson@quanta. co.uk
Oaktree Management ILM Level 3 Award in Leadership and Management
Start date
15 July 2015
Location
All Oaktree Training Centers 01284 763 040 steve@oaktree-training.co.uk
Corporate Risk Systems NEBOSH Certificate in Environmental Management
Start date
Start date
06 July 2015
Location
Worcestershire 01527 893 558 richard@ubi-tech.co.uk
Teeside University
HND Chemical Engineering by Flexible Open Learning
Start date
07 July 2015
Location
Distance learning 01642 218121 l.carney@tees.ac.uk
MTCS
ROV Induction Course
Start date
03 August 2015
09 November 2015
Manchester 012835 09175 rs@crsrisk.com
Windermere 01539 440 200 enquiries@mtcs.info
Location
Location
PIP Professional Training & Services Apple Training
Level 3 Award in Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS)
Start date
26 June 2015
Location Hertfordshire 01279 725361 info@appletraining academy.co.uk
NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Safety & Health Course
Start date
08 June 2015
Location
RAF Digby 0208 598 4253 harry@piptfw.co.uk
ADVERTISE HERE CONTACT THE TEAM ON 0141 840 4902 OR EMAIL INFO@EQUIPPEDMEDIA.CO.UK
Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 61
»Career events
Forthcoming job & career fairs
Don’t miss these events! All are open to the Armed Forces Community 2015 DATE 12th Mar
EVENT AND VENUE BFRS National Hampshire Military Community Career Fair Aldershot Princes Hall
CONTACT DETAILS 0116 2545477
14th May
BFRS National North Yorkshire Military Community Career Fair Catterick, Catterick Leisure Centre
0116 2545477
2nd Jul
BFRS National Gloucestershire Military Community Career Fair Gloucester, Hatherley Manor Hotel
0116 2545477
10th Sep
BFRS National South West Military Community Career Fair Tidworth, Tidworth Leisure Centre
0116 2545477
15th Oct
BFRS National North yorkshire Military Community Career fair Catterick, Catterick Leisure Centre
0116 2545477
26th Nov
CTP National South Employment Fair Newbury Racecourse
02031 624410
CTP EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING FAIRS DATE
EVENT AND VENUE
CONTACT DETAILS
19th Mar
CTP National North East employment Fair York Racecourse
02031 624410
9th Apr
CTP National East Midlands Employment Fair Lincolnshire Showground, Lincoln
02031 624410
14th May
CTP National Scotland Employment Fair dewars Centre, Perth
02031 624410
18th Jun
CTP National South west South West Employment Fair UWE, Bristol
02031 624410
16th Jul
CTP National Eastern Employment Fair Manchester Central
02031 624410
10th Sep
CTP National North West & West Midlands Employment Fair Manchester Central
02031 624410
9th Oct
CTP National South Coast Employemtn Fair AGEAS Bowl, Southampton
02031 624410
CTP event notes: Although the above military events are primarily for Armed Forces personnel who have not yet left, any ex-service person regardless of rank, service or time since discharge is most welcome to attend with their partner if they wish 62 | EQUIPPED | March 2015
ÂťSocial media
Military social network
job and training opportunities on social media
Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 63
»CTP FACT FILE
How to prepare for leaving the forces Making the transition
Even if you have a job to go to on leaving the armed forces, you are strongly advised to register for resettlement through the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) and not miss out on the wealth of guidance available to you. This includes the Career Transition Workshop (CTW), along with a range of other workshops such as Business Start-up, Interview Techniques or CV Writing. The purpose of these workshops is to help you to recognise and assess your options and learn skills in order to approach the civilian workplace and market yourself to a future employer. These are skills that are important to develop for life, and not just for your next job. If you don’t go – you won’t know.
T
hroughout our lives we are faced with choices or options and as you prepare to leave the services, you are potentially about to face some of your biggest ones yet. You can never start this preparation early enough so plan your resettlement carefully and thoroughly. In order to commence a successful self-marketing campaign one of the first things you should do is to decide what it is you wish to achieve.
What has changed since you joined the services?
Understand the world of work
■■ what has changed since you joined the services? ■■ how do those changes affect you? ■■ how do you effectively manage your own career? ■■ what are the different patterns of work? ■■ what do you want from a company? ■■ how do you negotiate a salary package?
What transferable skills do you have?
Identify your interests and skills ■■ what are your interests? ■■ what transferable skills do you have? ■■ what training or qualifications have you done? ■■ can you identify what you have achieved so far? ■■ does all this help you decide what to do next?
Proactive networking
■■ how do you establish a useful network? ■■ how do you use networks to help you research? ■■ how can networks help you into a job? ■■ how can networks help with career development?
Networking Advice
■■ start early ■■ create mutually supportive relationships ■■ use these at all stages of career development, not just at time of job change
64 | EQUIPPED | March 2015
Create mutually supportive relationships with social networking
■■ networks are useful information sources ■■ successful people develop networks ■■ use them to market yourself and your organisation The CTP can help you find the answers to these questions through attending workshops and one-to-one sessions with your Career Consultant. If you are not yet registered with the CTP, speak to your local Resettlement Officer or Service Resettlement Advisor for further advice.
Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
s route map A service leaver’ pleted at Ser vice leaver com e: least 4 years’ ser vic reer Registers with Ca rship (CTP) Transition Par tne
The self-marketing approach Based on the application of well established marketing concepts to the task of getting a new job. Marketing is about delivering products and services to meet customers’ needs. In this case, you are the product, the customer is your next employer. Your task is to persuade the customer that the range of benefits, which you bring, match his or her needs.
EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT PROGRAMME
Ser ved over 6 years?
No
Yes nsition Attends Career Tra uivalent eq or W) (CT p Worksho
Define the product
■■ identify as wide a range of your skills and experience as you can ■■ from these you can choose which ones match what the employer wants ■■ demonstrate your value to the employer ■■ list your successes ■■ focus on skills and attitudes rather than tasks ■■ identify transferable skills ■■ learn to think in terms of product (you) and customer (your next employer) ■■ remember, customers buy benefits ■■ define yourself in terms of unique selling propositions
Prepare self-marketing literature Your CV should include: ■■ a personal profile – your unique selling proposition ■■ major achievements – the benefits you brought to current and previous jobs ■■ a focus on your transferable skills Your CV should avoid mentioning: ■■ details of salary ■■ references ■■ any negative aspects of your career to date ■■ clichés, jargon, abbreviations and untruths
Research the market
■■ decide on sectors, geographical areas, etc ■■ use directories, databases, internet, etc ■■ ask for information ■■ use your personal network ■■ use industry associations, chambers of commerce, etc ■■ attend employment fairs and conferences
Implement a marketing campaign Use a variety of approaches including: ■■ responding to advertisements ■■ direct approaches by phone, email and letter ■■ networking ■■ employment agencies ■■ develop a system and keep records of all activities ■■ follow up approaches systematically ■■ learn from your mistakes Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
EMPLOYMENT CONSULTANT LE D
ettlement Prepare Personal Res eer Consultant Plan (PRP with Car
• • • • •
EMPLOYMENT CONSULTANT LE D Develops, reviews and actions PRP: Further advice on: • career options • self-employment • job finding • training • attachments • research activities • civilian work attachments
Attends hops further CTP works C training at RTC/RR achment Civilian training att External training briefings Financial/Housing ent Fairs and Attends Employm other CTP events
h • Prepares PRP wit Employment Consultant al • Receives region employment advice
Consultant supports ss and monitors progre
or Receives advice on tched job notification of ma opportunities
tions Makes job applica
ent Secures employm
ued for up to CTP support contin rge 2 years after discha port is sup g din fin job A RFEA/O ent age irem ret til un le ilab ava
Available to those vice with 4-6 years’ ser
Sell yourself on a face-to-face basis
■■ research the employer ■■ think about what skills the job involves and how you could demonstrate these ■■ prepare interview responses ■■ dress appropriately ■■ arrive early; impress everybody you meet ■■ smile ■■ avoid crossing arms and legs when sitting ■■ maintain eye contact ■■ answer questions honestly, but focus on the positive ■■ manage the interview to match your benefits to the employer’s needs ■■ prepare questions that you can ask the interviewer ■■ seek feedback and learn from mistakes
For the most up to date information, please visit www.ctp.org.uk March 2015 | EQUIPPED | 65
»Letters
Letters to the editor we want to hear from you
ere at Equipped, we want to cover the issues that matter to you. We need your help to make sure we’re on the right track.
H
In following issues, this page will feature a selection of comments and opinions from our readers. Whether you have something good to say, or bad, don’t hesitate to drop us an email at editor@ equippedmedia.co.uk and share your thoughts on what we produce.
The contents of your messaging will of course vary, and can range from things like what kind of features you’d like to see covered, organisations you feel would be appropriate to discuss, or even what you may or may not have enjoyed in a recent issue.
Space is limited, so please remember to keep your messages punchy and to the point. Depending on the volume of submissions, we may not be able to acknowledge unpublished correspondence; but please be assured that we appreciate all feedback. Anything published may be edited and shortened for clarity or space purposes. If you haven’t already done so, please check out our Facebook and Twitter pages. These social media sites are another gateway for you to get in touch and share some of your thoughts. Don’t be shy! Our goal is to create content that is relevant to you and to make sure you are getting all you can from what we produce. We look forward to hearing from you.
facebook.com/ equippedmagazine
@equippedmag
Ask the experts
Introducing our Equipped panel of professionals, on hand to serve you
Harry Dean CEO and Founder, BFRS
BUSINESS Harry left the Army in 1998 after some 30 years of service and became an entrepreneur, setting up numerous successful businesses and holding several directorships. Harry has a wealth of knowledge in many areas including military transitions, resourcing solutions, business start-ups, and business coaching/ mentoring.
66 | EQUIPPED | March 2015
Now we’re taking things a step further by providing personal expert assistance and advice for your individuals issues from our panel of professionals. If you have a question about business, personal Melanie Pullan Organisational Psychologist and Executive Coach
development, careers advice and writing your CV, or transition from the UK or Commonwealth Armed Forces, we want to hear from you! Write to us at editor@ equippedmedia.co.uk and
Sian Richardson Career Master 4 Military
your question could be featured the next issue of Equipped. As above, we may not be able to print every question we receive, and some questions may be shortened due to space limitations.
Dominic Hamberg Operations Manager, BFRS
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
CAREERS ADVICE & CV WRITING
MILITARY TRANSITIONS
Melanie holds a Master’s Degree in Organisational Psychology and is a Member of the British Psychological Society. She has a particular interest in personal development with a focus on addressing issues such as performance management, stress management, developing communication and interpersonal skills, goalsetting, and building
Sian is a former military spouse who spent 20 years with a FTSE 100 company and has managed the HR department of a top national financial services organisation. With additional training as a specialist recruiter, Sian has hired and fired people at all levels. Sian is now a military transition expert at her own company Career Master 4 Military.
Dominic has a mixed military and civilian background. He has spent a number of years in a managerial roles in the hospitality industry and military transitions industry. His current role sees him deliver briefings, presentations and one to one sessions regarding transition and the civilian job market place, and he has a wealth of experience to share.
Go to www.equippedmagazine.co.uk
LA(PHOT) DAVE HILLHOUSE - MOD CROWN COPYRIGHT 2015
Equipped has always been about helping Forces people planning or executing their transition by providing you with the latest training, resettlement and recruitment news and opportunities.
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