Quest August 2018 by Bulldog Publishing

THE HOME OF EVERYTHING ELC August/September 2018

BRISTLING WITH GOOD IDEAS Eco-toothbrush entrepreneur David Hutchings

PLUS Access Diplomas Civvy savvy Facilities management Meet the Reserves Self-employment Transition support

Healthcare special: Health-related and NHS careers Step into Health Access Diplomas for healthcare courses

INCORPORATING COURSES 4 FORCES COURSES I FUNDING I CAREERS I RESETTLEMENT

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OUR W ORK PLACE MENT FREE IS - GUA AND G RANTEED ENUI NE

Gastec has more than 18 years experience in the resettlement training of MoD Service Leavers, with over 1,000 successfully trained students now working within the industry. Other providers promise - we deliver!

NEW ENTRANT GAS Intermediate Domestic Gas Utilisation This course will allow you to register with the Regulatory Body "Gas Safe Register" to carry out Domestic gas installation and service work within the UK.

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COURSE CARRIES LEVEL 3 ACCREDITATION

ABOUT US

Gastec is a leading supplier of training and assessment services to the utilities industries, We have been providing training services at all levels for over 20 years. Gastec offer the full portfolio of training and assessment services for the countries leading Certification Bodies. Our state of the art training and assessment centre is just off the M1 in Milton Keynes. This purpose-built centre contains air-conditioned classrooms, Smart Board technology and a range of facilities to make your time with us enjoyable as well as productive. Together with our tailor-made workshops and refreshment facilities it all combines to make the learning experience as easy and as pleasant as possible. We at Gastec recognise the commitment you have made whilst serving and welcome the opportunity to ensure you have a prosperous future as you embark on a new career path. The Gastec New Entrant Gas Course will prepare you for an interesting and lucrative career in the gas utility sector.

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COURSE CARRIES LEVEL 3 ACCREDITATION

CALL +44(0)1908 587665 Gastec Training & Assessment Centres Ltd, 6 Newmarket Court, Kingston, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK10 0AQ

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www.gastectraining.co.uk

EDITOR WELCOME TO THE LATEST EDITION OF QUEST – your one-stop guide to courses, resettlement, funding and careers. In its pages we hope there’s all the information you need about claiming your ELC and getting the best from it. We also have advice for you on how distance learning could open up new study horizons for you, as could the Access to HE Diploma, which could help you get on to a course you might have considered out of reach. We investigate two career areas we know are popular with both Service leavers and those still serving but looking ahead to their transition: facilities management and healthcare-related careers. In connection with the latter, you’ll also find details of Step into Health ¬– the initiative that provides a dedicated pathway for the Armed Forces community to access the numerous career opportunities available in the NHS. In addition, on our website at www.questonline.co.uk you’ll find an in-depth look at careers in renewables as this issue’s special online-only feature. Our comprehensive education and funding planner, meanwhile, sums up your learning and personal development opportunities, with ideas for improving your career prospects and advice on accessing the available funding. Elsewhere there’s the usual QUEST mix of useful advice on resettlement issues. Regular contributor Steve Bulleyment is here with more of his invaluable tips for potential entrepreneurs, while Sarah tells us how she has benefited from the support of Veterans’ charity and housing association Stoll. Offering further practical pointers, Lynn Williams,

author of Ultimate Job Search, is on hand with the first in a new series offering advice on powering up your job search, and we have the first part of another new series, too: Meet the Reserves, with Army Reservist Vickie Bracken first up to tell her story. Our cover subject for this issue is Veteran Paratrooper and business owner, David Hutchings, who’s here to tell us about just one of his business enterprises, The Pearly White Company, which is aiming to clean up with its offer of a convenient plastic-free version of a product people can’t live without … the humble toothbrush. Holding all this together is ‘The Hub’. That’s where you’ll find useful information on courses and training options, alongside reader reports and transition news. We hope we have the answers to many, if not all, of your funding and resettlementrelated questions. Dip in and see for yourself!

Lynn Brown Editor

Quest and the Quest logo are registered trade marks of

Bulldog Publishing Limited Unit B4, Beech House, Melbourn Science Park, Melbourn, Herts SG8 6HB Telephone: 01763 268120 email: info@questonline.co.uk www.questonline.co.uk EDITOR Lynn Brown MANAGING DIRECTOR Bruce Hodge ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER David Lidbury Account Managers Tony Heathfield Tom Sheldrick ACCOUNTS AND DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Martin Sells DESIGN AND PRODUCTION CB Creative Limited Tel: 01223 750566 www.cb2creative.com Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of information at the time of going to press. The Publishers can take no responsibility for inaccuracies due to changes after that date, nor can they accept responsibility for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of any material in this publication. Whilst every care is taken with artwork or film supplies, the Publishers cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage. The opinions expressed are those of the individual authors and not necessarily of the Publishers. All advertisements are accepted only on the grounds that they comply with the terms of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 and all other relevant legislation. Inclusion of an advertisement cannot be construed as an endorsement for the advertiser or the product by the Publishers, their employees or agents. The Publishers cannot accept responsibility for any transaction between readers and advertisers. © All rights reserved. Not to be resold, lent, hired-out or otherwise reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the Publisher.

For all the latest information, visit our website: questonline.co.uk

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August/September 2018

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018 >>

Contents On this month’s cover:

ME THE HO

David Hutchings, The Pearly White Company

ELC YTHING OF EVER ING BRISTL OOD WITH G IDEASsh 8

ber 201

Septem

August/

bru Eco-tooth eur entrepren chings David Hut

PLUS

ployment Self-em support Transition lomas Dip Access vy Civvy sav Reserves Meet the

page 06

rse t on cou And ge careers: for these nagement Facilities

YOUR ELC

RCES SES 4 FO G COURRS I RESETTLEMENT ORATIN REE INCORP I FUNDING I CA

ma are Healthc

e.co.uk questonlin

COURSES

10 ELC 101: the basics 12 Are you eligible for ELC? 14 How to use your ELC funding 16 How to claim if you are still serving 18 How to claim after leaving 20 Avoiding queries or rejection 22 ELC dos and don’ts 24 Distance learning 28 Higher-level study 30 Lifelong learning at York St John University 32 Qualifications to further your Service career 34 On course: Facilities management

38 On course: Healthcare 44 The Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma: healthcare course options 46 Useful contacts 48 Education and funding planner

THE HUB 50 Course and training options, transition news and reader reports

YOUR RESETTLEMENT

54 Practical advice: launch the Ultimate Job Search 56 Civvy savvy: self-employment advice 58 Meet the Reserves: Vickie Bracken, Army Reservist 60 CTP courses and events 62 Transition factfile 66 Transition support: how Stoll is helping vulnerable Veterans

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

38 54

questonline.co.uk l August/September 2018

YOUR RESETTLEMENT: SUCCESS STORY FACTFILE

brush with

success

Veteran Paratrooper and business owner, David Hutchings, along with his wife Jenny, an estate agent, are pursuing a plastic-free lifestyle. In their move to reduce household plastic use they realised that toothbrushes pose some of the biggest difficulties – from forgetting to buy new ones to the problem of sourcing bamboo brushes on the weekly shop. To address such concerns they launched The Pearly White Company, creating a convenient plastic-free version of a product people can’t live without … In and out of uniform

avid Hutchings left the Army in 2013 at the rank of Lance Corporal after seven and a half years’

service as a Paratrooper in the Infantry. His decision to leave came when, he says, ‘I was at a point where I suddenly wanted more from life. I wanted to be earning more money and I felt that 26 was a young enough age to get out into the world and make a new start. I loved being in the Army for the time I was, but didn’t really like the restraints it puts on you in terms of being able to start a business – and I had aspirations beyond the Army. ‘During my resettlement, I did a fourweek intensive tiling course, as I wanted to go into a trade. This was something I knew was in demand and would mean I had a trade under my belt.’ Things then took the first of several different turns, however. David continues: ‘My first job after leaving the Army was working as a labourer, building playgrounds. To be honest I didn’t really mind the job as I was working with David in uniform (top left) and with wife and business partner Jenny

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

some old civilian friends and we had a good

November 2017, he and his wife, Jenny, set

laugh, but the work itself was extremely

up their newest business, The Pearly White

hard and a bit of a shock to the system!

Club, selling bamboo toothbrushes. He is,

‘Following on from that first job, I got

he says, currently wearing two hats – as

a position at a local housing association,

co-director of both First Choice Property

installing bathrooms – where I got to use

Solutions and The Pearly White Club.

my tiling skills. It was on this job that I really put the effort in to learn new

Behind the brand

skills and trades. I realised that, if I was

Asked to tell us more about the inspiration

to achieve my goal of starting my own

behind The Pearly White Club, David

business, the more I could do the better!

says, ‘The idea came from a desire to

After that, I worked for a company that

start a useful business that we could

specialised in making good residential

be passionate about. Plastic pollution

properties after an insurance claim, say

is something we have been alarmed by

from a leak or fire damage. It was at that

following media reports in recent years,

point I decided I could do things better

and reducing the use of plastic in our own

myself, so I decided to set up my first

life is something we have been working

company doing property maintenance.

on. Couple that with the frustration behind

That was nearly two and a half years ago

forgetting to change our toothbrushes

now and I haven’t looked back since.’

regularly and The Pearly White Club

However, it wasn’t the last career change David was to make and, in

was born. It offers a bamboo toothbrush subscription, which sees subscribers receiving a new brush every six weeks.’ Commenting on what running this innovative business involves on a day-to-

CLEANING UP THE ENVIRONMENT Pearly White Club toothbrushes are made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) regulated moso bamboo. This takes just a few years to decompose, grows incredibly quickly (at a rate of around a metre a day!) and is even certified panda-friendly – because they don’t eat it and it doesn’t damage their natural environment. When creating the bristles, The Pearly White Club puts teeth first. The only fully biodegradable bristles come from animal hair, which aren’t as good for your teeth – or those of the animals! The bristles on Pearly White Brushes are made from Nylon 6, which is BPA (bisphenol A) free, decomposes faster than other nylons and is the most effective material for keeping your teeth clean. It also means the toothbrush is 100% vegan friendly.

day basis, David continues: ‘In a nutshell, running the toothbrush business consists

Army has impacted on his subsequent

social media, following up on any leads

civilian work, David says, ‘I would say that

with media or bloggers that might want

my confidence was massively improved

to feature the brushes, continuous social

by being in the Army. In addition, basic

media interaction, building and engaging

things like being presentable, punctual,

with followers, receiving orders online,

professional and reliable are probably the

preparing the brushes to be posted out

main things I have carried through to life

and delivering them to the post office,

as a civilian.’

maintaining our subscribers and their

Civvy street is undeniably a different

orders, managing stock levels and

world, though, and David continues, ‘In

budgeting.’

my Service job I was pretty much at the

Although undoubtedly kept busy with

bottom of the ladder and now I’m my own

not one, but two, successful businesses

boss. The two are incomparable. I’m far

on the go, David says, ‘I love the freedom.

happier now than when I was serving, but

It’s a really great feeling to know that

I know we are all different so that may not

no one else is in control of my destiny

be the case for everyone.’

and – succeed or fail – it’s all on me. The

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR ELC. IT REALLY IS A GREAT WAY TO GET AHEAD AND LEARN A NEW SKILL BEFORE LEAVING

Talking about how his time in the

of setting up and maintaining adverts on

Looking ahead to what’s next for The

only downside is lack of time; I run the

Pearly White Club, things are looking very

property maintenance business in the day

positive: ‘We’ve just launched children’s

and, after doing invoices and quotes in the

bamboo toothbrushes to get them

evening, it’s then time to start work on the

started young. We believe that, to make a

toothbrush business. Jenny and I are happy

difference, it is really going to be down to

to put the work in, though, as we know it

our kids to make the big changes, and we

will help us achieve our goal of being semi-

hope that just making a small modification

retired by the time we are 40, so we can

like changing your toothbrush will prove an

concentrate on making an impact on the

effective small step in the right direction.

world through plastic reduction (hence the

The Pearly White Club offers different

bamboo toothbrushes).’

subscriptions to suit all families, with

questonline.co.uk l August/September 2018

COURSE YOUR FACTFILE RESETTLEMENT: CHOICES SUCCESS STORY

HELPING THE HOMELESS As well as helping the planet, The Pearly White Club is committed to helping people. For every subscription set up, it donates a toothbrush to New Hope, which is a homelessness prevention charity, providing practical and emotional support to homeless and disadvantaged people in Watford.

packages tailored to the number of people in the household. We are also looking at other useful bamboo alternatives to everyday items to sell in the future.’

Cleaner mouth, cleaner planet With David and Jenny considering it high time we all made a change to our plastic toothbrush habit, The Pearly White Club created a unique proposition: the UK’s first eco-friendly bamboo toothbrush subscription service, helping people clean their teeth and save the planet at the same time. It’s estimated that 3.6 billion plastic toothbrushes are used worldwide each year, with the average person using around 300 toothbrushes throughout

MAKE SURE YOU CHOOSE THE CORRECT COURSE FOR YOU. IT’S THE ONLY CHANCE YOU GET BEFORE BECOMING A CIVILIAN TO CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF YOUR WHOLE LIFE

their lifetime. In the region of 80% of that plastic ends up in the sea, and then takes

to start working). As far as your own ELC

business, then the one piece of advice I

more than 1000 years to decompose.

is concerned, make sure you choose the

would give is to be prepared to go above

correct course for you and not because

and beyond your competitors. The chances

this: once subscribers have signed up, a

David and Jenny’s business works like

it’s what your friend is doing or told

are you won’t be the only one providing

fresh new biodegradable toothbrush is

you to do. It’s the only chance you get

the service or product that you are, so you

delivered to their door every six weeks,

before becoming a civilian to change the

really do need to put everything into it as

so they will never again forget to change

trajectory of your whole life.’

no one is going to come knocking on your

a frayed and bacteria-ridden old brush.

door asking to buy from you. It’s hard at

So, whether you like the soft brushes

to other Service leavers going through

the start but if you put in the effort you will

recommended by dentists or popular

resettlement and career transition, David

soon reap the rewards.’

medium brushes, there are different sizes

is quick to respond, again placing great

for children and adults, and brushes in

emphasis on the importance of using your

different colours, so nobody gets mixed up.

ELC wisely: ‘Make the most of your ELC.

ELC advice and encouragement

You will kick yourself if you get out and didn’t make the most of what was available to you. You don’t get

Getting back to the basics of resettlement,

anything for free in civvy street, so

as mentioned above David used his ELC

it really is a great way to get ahead

to do an advanced tiling course. ‘I just

and learn a new skill before leaving.’

wanted to learn a trade that I could start

Asked what advice he’d like to give

As for self-employment, as

Words to really get your teeth into …

FIND OUT MORE Pearly White Club subscriptions for one person

doing straight away as a civilian (plumbing

someone who is running two businesses

are priced at £30 per year, or £3 per month.

or electrical type jobs need far more

simultaneously, David is a good man to

The subscriptions are discounted with each

training, and I didn’t want to get out and

go to for some sound guidance: ‘If you

additional person added. Find out more at

still be doing courses before I was good

are thinking about starting up your own

www.pearlywhiteclub.co.uk

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

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ELCAS ELCAS Provider Provider ID: ID: 1358 1358 ELCAS Provider ID: 1358

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YOUR ELC ELC BASICS

ELC 101 The basics

ubject to certain eligibility

A new ELC award was created in 2016.

criteria (see page 12), the ELC

It’s an aggregated lower-tier award,

− – Service training

scheme offers currently serving

which is a single payment of up to

− – civilian accredited Service training

or former Service personnel access to a

£3,000 for those with six or more

(unless at least 30 hours extra work

first full level 3 (GCE A-level or vocational

years of qualifying service, which will

is involved, together with a separate

equivalent) or a first higher education (HE)

count as all three awards.

qualification (e.g. a foundation degree or a

− – membership fees

first undergraduate degree or equivalent)

Service leavers and Service personnel

− – books and materials

free from tuition fees. Here’s the basic

in their qualifying resettlement phase

− – normal Service sport and

information you need to know …

with access to a first full level 3 or a

The ELC lower tier offers up to three

first HE qualification (a foundation

payments of up to £1,000 in three

degree or a first undergraduate

made due to foreseeable postings/

separate financial years; the higher

degree or equivalent) with support

Service activities will usually meant

tier offers up to three payments of up

towards tuition fees. l

years. l

Only one ELC claim can be made in

adventurous training. l

Withdrawal once payment has been

that no further claims will be allowed. l

If unexpected Service or

any one financial year (April to March).

compassionate reasons cause your

You must make a contribution to your

withdrawal, you should seek advice

to run consecutively, and may be a

learning of at least 20% of the cost

from your Education Staff or Learning

combination of both higher and lower

(the ELC element includes VAT but

Adviser.Q

levels.

excludes travel, accommodation, food,

The three separate years do not have

ELC may be claimed for the same learning course if it continues for more

books and materials). l

You must discuss your plans with

than a year, or for a different learning

your line manager and education

purpose each year.

adviser before making any financial

If one course combines with others for a single learning purpose these can be combined to claim ELC.

exam, assessment or assignment)

The PF FE/HE scheme provides

to £2,000 in three separate financial

You may not claim ELC for:

ELC SCHEME: LATEST STATS

commitment. l

ELC are available for full- or part-time

From its inception until the end of June

study for a qualification at level 3 or

2018, 383,632 people had registered

above, as defined on the NQF or SCQF,

with the ELC scheme and 139,935

with an organisation on the approved

claims had been made, to the value of

providers list maintained by ELCAS.

£222.8 million.

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

We provide a lifetime of support to soldiers, veterans and their immediate families. Each year, we support a wide range of front line charities and specialist organisations, such as SSAFA, Combat Stress, Royal Star & Garter and the NSPCC, which deliver help on our behalf. We also make direct grants to thousands of individuals, ranging in age from two to 106 years old. Through our network of support, our work touches the lives of around 70,000 people worldwide, every year. It is because of the generosity of people like you that we are able to do this vital work – today and in the future. Donate online or get involved in fundraising at

www.soldierscharity.org

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is a registered charity in England and Wales (1146420) and Scotland (039189) Registered Office: Mountbarrow House, 12 Elizabeth Street, London SW1W 9RB Tel: 020 7901 8900, Email: fundraising@soldierscharity.org

Left to right: Siobhan Weller, Les Fryatt, Kenneth Kwogyenga – Charity beneficiaries

YOUR ELC ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Are you eligible for ELC?

Take a look at the eligibility rules below to find out … l

All Regular Service Personnel (SP)

have left the Service or entered your

day of service, you will be eligible to claim

currently in service will be auto-

qualifying resettlement phase on or

ELC at the higher tier (£2,000), subject to

enrolled on the ELC scheme, as will

after 17 July 2008

meeting the other conditions associated

meet UK residency requirements to

with the scheme.

future SP on completion of their Phase 1 training. l

What about if you are medically

both ELC lower-tier and FEHE awards

medically discharged from service before

discharged?

increased from four to six years as

achieving the required number of years’

You are eligible to claim ELC at the lower

of 1 April 2017. If you had already

service. If this is the case, please seek

(£1,000) or higher (£2,000) tier depending

accumulated four years’ qualifying

advice from your unit education staffs.

on your length of service on the date of

In detail …

award and FEHE.

When can you start claiming ELC?

of service, you may be eligible to make

If you left service on or after 1 April

You can start claiming when you have

claims at the lower-tier rate if the injury

2016, you are entitled to post-service

accumulated the necessary qualifying

or illness was caused or significantly

access to ELC and FEHE for five years.

years of service. For example, if you

worsened, wholly or predominantly by

If you left between 1 April 2011 and 31

registered on the ELC scheme and have

service, as defined by the Armed Forces

March 2016 inclusive, you will have

been serving since 1 April 2000, you will

Compensation Scheme (JSP765).

until 31 March 2021 to use your ELC or

have been entitled to start claiming at the

FEHE (i.e. five years from March 2016).

£1,000 level from 1 April 2004 and at the

What if you are no longer serving?

If you left before 1 April 2011, you

£2,000 level from 1 April 2008. As noted

If you have already left the Service or are

will retain ten years of post-Service

above, from 1 April 2017, the qualifying

in your resettlement phase, you may be

access.

service for lower-tier awards increased

eligible to claim under the terms of the

from four to six years. However, if you

Publicly Funded Further Education/Higher

accumulated four years’ qualifying service

Education (PF FE/HE) scheme. Take a look

before 1 April 2017, you will still be able to

at the feature on page 18 to find out more –

claim your lower-tier awards.

or, for full details and to check the detailed

must:

have completed four years of full-time

discharged prior to completing six years

eligibility rules, visit

service or, since 1 April 2017, six years

What happens if you are made redundant?

have joined – or since April 2016

Irrespective of whether or not you applied

been automatically enrolled – on the

to be made redundant, you will cease

Find out more

scheme and completed four years’ or,

to accrue service for ELC eligibility on

Much more detailed information is

from 1 April 2017, six years’ qualifying

the day you leave service. If you have

available in JSP822, which can be

scheme membership

accrued six or more years’ service since

downloaded from the ELCAS website at

apply only for a first eligible FE/HE

registering on the scheme by your last day

www.enhancedlearningcredits.com Q

qualification at the level for which you

of service, you will still be eligible to claim

are academically qualified to enter

ELC at the lower tier (£1,000). If you have

learning on leaving the Service

accrued eight or more years’ service since registering on the scheme by your last

discharge. Additionally, if you are medically

your entitlement to use ELC lower-tier

To take advantage of ELC support, you

qualify for full state subsidy. Special eligibility criteria apply if you were

In brief … l

The qualifying service required for

service before 1 April 2017, you keep

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

www.enhancedlearningcredits.com

Readers must consult their Single Service Advisors BEFORE committing to courses When responding to advertisements please mention Quest

Insight into the UK Surveillance Industry As the leading provider of covert surveillance and investigations, The Surveillance Group would like to offer military personnel the opportunity to attend a free Insight Day, to discover more about the surveillance industry. Upcoming Dates in 2018:

31st August, 28th September, 26th October

Early booking will avoid disappointment, so to confirm your attendance please contact Lee on 0800 5870170 or visit our website: Quest March 2016 Final_2016 07/03/2016 09:26 Page 11 www.thesurveillancegroup.com Readers must consult their Single Service Advisors BEFORE committing to courses When responding to advertisements please mention Quest

questonline.co.uk l August/September 2018

YOUR ELC SPENDING OPTIONS

How to use your ELC funding When your claimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s approved, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a wide choice of where to spend your funding

LC are available for full- or part-

professional self-development

time study for a qualification at

accreditation of prior learning

level 3 or above, as defined on the

vocational training

National Qualifications Framework/

registration and accreditation fees

Regulated Qualifications Framework (NQF/

sports qualifications

RQF),* with an organisation

overseas qualifications

on the approved providers list held by

resettlement training (during last two

ELCAS and viewable at

years of service only).

www.enhancedlearningcredits.com

To find out more about accessing higher-

It could be an A-level, or an NVQ 3 or

level study in particular, take a look at our

equivalent award. You may also use ELC

feature on page 28.

Before deciding on a course, you should consider: l its relevance to your personal development plan l your ability to undertake it l likely disruptions to Service requirements l the flexibility of the study method.

* The Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) is

to fund anything above that, too, like

replacing the Qualifications and Credit Framework

university modules or nationally recognised

(QCF) from 1 October 2015 onwards.

diplomas. This might include:

CHOOSING A COURSE

foundation degrees

postgraduate qualifications

other academic qualifications

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

Readers must consult their Single Service Advisors BEFORE committing to courses When responding to advertisements please mention Quest

W Woodward SHE Ltd.

W W Your Training - Your Entitlement - Your Future

5 NEBOSH Certificate Quals 1 ELC Claim Only from WOODWARD

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APPROVED BY MoD IN SUPPORT OF THE ELC SCHEME

ELC

E LC Logo 4435

PROVIDER NUMBER

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questonline.co.uk l August/September 2018

YOUR ELC HOW TO CLAIM YOUR ELC

Making an application Your step-by-step guide

1. Read Joint Service Publication JSP822 – Defence Direction

and Guidance for Training and Education. 2. Think about what fits your personal development plan and your future.

8. Do not leave everything until the last minute. Allow time for any new publicly funded providers to be accepted on to the scheme, as the registration process can take several weeks. Once they have been accepted, you can submit an application

3. Discuss this with your line manager and education/learning

to study with them. 9. Providers are expected to waive any initial registration fee,

staff. 4. Get the necessary approval to enrol. 5. Go to the ELCAS website at www.enhancedlearningcredits.com and complete the ELC application form online.

so don’t pay any of your own money towards the cost of their tuition fees – if you do, it will not be refunded. 10. You must submit a separate claim form for each year of a course – if you don’t, it could result in support being

6. Check the ELCAS database of approved providers to see if the course you wish to enrol on is allowable under the rules. 7. If you wish to use a provider that is not on the list, ensure they

withdrawn. 11. Start learning, and make the most of your life! ELCAS has produced a useful flow diagram to sum up the claims

are eligible to participate in the scheme (they must deliver

process. You can find this in the Annex at the end of JSP822,

publicly funded FE/HE) and ask them to apply for scheme

which can be downloaded from the ELCAS website at

membership using the information on the ELC website.

www.enhancedlearningcredits.com Q

Safe departures take more than pilots; train to become an

Operations Ofﬁcer or Flight Dispatcher

Open Learning Courses MoD personnel 20% discount

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August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

01452 883249

Y O U TA K E C A R E O F U S . W E TA K E C A R E O F Y O U . T O G E T H E R W E G O F U R T H ER. C U R R E N T O R F O R M E R M I L I TA R Y P E R S O N N E L C A N S A V E U P T O 2 0%* O N A N E W F O R D .

F O R D K U G A S T- L I N E S H O W N A VA I L A B L E W I T H

15%

C U S T O M E R S AV I N G .

TO FIND OUT MORE, VISIT FORD.CO.UK/MILITARYSALES Official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km) for the Ford Kuga ST-Line range: urban 30.1-57.6 (9.4-4.9), extra urban 44.8-67.3 (6.3-4.2), combined 37.7-64.2 (7.5-4.4). Official CO2 emissions 173-115g/km. The mpg figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated test results (EU Directive and Regulation 692/2008), are provided for comparability purposes and may not reflect your actual driving experience. *Military Saving programme available to current and ex-Service Personnel. Including veterans and retired members of the UK Armed Forces. Customer savings of 4% to 20% off the Recommended On The Road price available across the Ford range (excluding KA+ and Focus RS) on vehicles contracted between 26th January 2018 and 31st December 2018 and registered between 26th January 2018 and 30th June 2019. Retail customers only. This promotion cannot be used in conjunction with other manufacturer promotions or incentives. At participating Ford dealers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for terms and conditions, including the eligibility criteria, eligible models and customer savings visit: www.ford.co.uk/militarysales

YOUR ELC HOW TO CLAIM AFTER LEAVING

No longer serving? Here’s how to claim your ELC if you have left the Services

lthough the main purpose of ELC

Note: You should contact your SSR with questions only if you have been unable to find the answer to your query on the ELCAS website at www.enhancedlearningcredits. com (this also has a useful FAQs page).

evidence of your last day of Service,

is to encourage serving personnel

which could be a copy of your discharge

Royal Navy

to pursue higher-level learning that

document, a copy of your P45

ELC Manager, Mailpoint 3.3, Leach Building,

benefits both the learner and the Armed

terminating employment or a document

Whale Island, HMS Excellent, Portsmouth

Forces, it also allows level 3-plus learning

stamped by your regiment confirming

PO2 8BY

to be pursued during resettlement or for up to five years after leaving the Services.*

The majority of this learning is likely to be

your leaving date**

02392 625954

a copy of a utility bill showing your home

NAVYTRGHQ-EL3RRESETSO3C@mod.uk

address full information about the course you

Army

existing ones), with the qualification

wish to undertake and including details of

Learning Credit Scheme (LCS) Manager,

benefiting the learner and a future employer

your registration date where applicable.

Education Branch Zone 4, Floor 2, Army

vocational (learning new skills or enhancing

and, nationally, adding to the UK’s skills base.

On receipt of the CAN, you can proceed

Personnel Services Group, Home Command,

with payment by sending it, along with your

Ramillies Building, Army HQ

criteria listed on page 12. To make a claim,

20% minimum contribution, to the training

Monxton Road, Andover SP11 8HJ

download the appropriate form from the

provider.

Tel: The Army ELC helpline is currently

First of all, refer to the eligibility

ELCAS website and complete it fully, except

WHERE TO SEND CLAIMS IF YOU ARE NO LONGER SERVING

When you have completed your course,

closed until further notice; during this time

for Parts 4 and 5 – your Single Service

you must also complete the evaluation form

Representative (SSR) will complete these

and return it to ELCAS. If you do not do this it

elements (you will find their contact details in

could jeopardise your next claim. If you have

the accompanying box). Send your otherwise

any doubts about any aspect of this process,

Royal Air Force

fully completed claim form to them at the

contact your single-Service education/

Learning Credits Administrator,

relevant address (again, see box), along with:

learning representative for advice before

Accreditation and Education Wing, RAF

submitting a claim. Q

Central Training School, HQ 22 TrgGp, Room

all enquiries are to be made by email Army-ELC-Veterans@mod.gov.uk

221B, Trenchard Hall, RAF College, Cranwell

IMPORTANT!

*If you left the Service before 31 March 2016, please

All applications must be submitted to

refer to JSP822 at www.enhancedlearningcredits.com

01400 268 183

SSRs for approval at least 25 clear

for the expiration date of your claims.

Michael.Quainton100@mod.gov.uk

working days prior to the start of the

** If you were in the RAF, you can request a copy of

course you wish to take. They will

your discharge document from the RAF Disclosures

then submit approved applications to

team at www.raf.mod.uk/links/contacts.cfm Army

ELCAS. You should not submit your

personnel can request details of discharge dates from

claim form direct to ELCAS.

the Army Personnel Centre by calling 0845 6009663.

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

NG34 8HB

Readers must consult their Single Service Advisors BEFORE committing to courses When responding to advertisements please mention Quest

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Our most popular 5 week Level 3 ELCAS funded skills course in Building, Installation and Property Maintenance This course offers you an array of practical skills in Bricklaying, Carpentry, Plastering, Rendering, Plumbing and Tiling. This qualification gives learners the ability to complete building installation and property maintenance tasks and is ideal if you are looking to develop or maintain properties where you would require several skills. Limited availability for 10th September and 5th November 2019 dates soon to be released - email for more information L3 Block Release - Use your ELC and IRTC to enrol on a City & Guilds L3 Diploma in Brick, Carpentry or Plumbing and Heating L3/4/6 Flexible NVQs - already know what you are doing, obtain an NVQ to enable you to work on site as a qualified trades person, supervisor or manager. Short Skills Courses - Use your IRTC/SLC’s to gain skills in Bricklaying, Carpentry, Plastering, Plumbing, Tiling, Electrical Awareness, 18th Edition, Vehicle Charging, PAT Testing, CITB SSSTS or SMSTS qualifications

APPROVED BY MoD IN SUPPORT OF THE ELC SCHEME

E LC 1060

PROVIDER NUMBER

For advice and guidance and to reserve your place Call: 01458 274043 or Email: bookings@train4all.co.uk

Previous Learner Satisfaction Score 99%

questonline.co.uk l August/September 2018

YOUR ELC HOW YOU CAN HELP

Avoiding queries or rejection How you can help things to run smoothly

LCAS deals with many claims that

minimum criteria (level 3 or above on the

and research and discuss your learning with

have to be queried or rejected: almost

NQF or RQF) or the learning provider is

your line manager and Service education or

not on the ELCAS approved providers list

learning adviser. This also applies if you are

failure to follow the correct procedure for

a qualifying ex-Service person using your

authorising the claim

ELC. The 25-working-day margin is in place

the course not commencing in the

for good reason. If you don’t plan far ahead

qualifying financial year

enough you could find yourself significantly

incorrect financial data, such as the

out of pocket as retrospective claims are not

authorisation note (CAN) from ELCAS

learner’s contribution being less than

allowed under any circumstances.

learners failing to allow sufficient time

20% or the MoD’s contribution calculated

20% of claims received fail to comply

with the correct procedures. Some of the

main reasons for rejection include: l

applicants enrolling on a course – and

sometimes paying a fee – without first obtaining the necessary claims l

as exceeding the ELC award

offered by an approved provider are

incomplete details or errors in course title

automatically admissible under the ELC

so any claim submitted within 25 working

or course level (these account for 25% of

scheme. This is a common mistake: one

days of the start of the course will

all rejected/queried claims)

provider may supply many courses, but only

applicants not registered on the ELCAS

those approved courses at NQF/RQF level 3

system

or above (and equivalent) listed on the ELCAS

more than one active claim being

website may be considered for ELC purposes.

between submitting a claim and starting a course – this takes at least five weeks,

automatically be rejected l

form for the previous claim has been completed – such claims are also

a second or third ELC claim being submitted before the course evaluation

Also, do not assume that all courses

processed for an individual in the same financial year.

So: l

plan ahead and get it right first time

automatically rejected

To help avoid rejection on grounds such as

don’t buck the system or pay upfront

the course does not meet the necessary

those listed above, you should plan ahead,

complete your claim with care! Q

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

Readers must consult their Single Service Advisors BEFORE committing to courses When responding to advertisements please mention Quest

Assistant Rail Signalling Installer Training Program Based in Ipswich (Suffolk), our training services have been fundamentally recognised as being pro-active, efficient and, above all, technically competant. This program gives the candidate the required competancies to become a railway Signalling Installer. The training is an intensive 6 week course, filled with all the safety critical, signalling, technical and electrical knowledge needed to pursue a career within the railway industry. All attendees of this program will be given employment interviews. Consisting of 9 qualifications, this program is delivered in accordance with the IRSE (Institute of Rail Signal Engineers) licensing scheme conditions. As such, the program satisfies the knowledge requirements that enable delegates to apply for licensing after the appropriate experience criteria has been met. This program is mapped towards achieving IRSE category 1.2.110 (installation). It is also mapped towards category 1.4.100 and includes the competance required for registration with the Engineering council at the grade of EngTech. (The Engineering Council stipulates a minimum education requirement Equivalent to BTEC L3 or NVQ L3).

(01473)242344 Info@rttsolutions.co.uk

RT Training Solutions LTD registered in England and Wales: 8171597

NVQ Level 33 Diploma Diploma Railway in Railway NVQ Level Diploma inin Railway NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Railway Overhead Line Construction Engineering Line Construction Engineering Technician Competence Engineering Overhead Line Construction (QCF) (QCF) (QCF) (RQF) Akona Ltd Solutions Company specialising Akona Ltd isis a aTraining Solutions Company specialising Akona Ltd is aTraining Training Solutions Company specialising the delivery various vocational training packages. inin the delivery ofof various vocational training packages. in the delivery of various vocational training packages. We offer variety rail courses and 2014 We offer a awide variety ofof rail courses and ininin 2014 We offer awide wide variety of rail courses and 2014 opened new indoor practical rail training centre. opened a abrand new indoor practical rail training centre. opened a brand brand new indoor practical rail training centre. Akona Ltd an NSARE approved provider Overhead Akona Ltd isisis an NSAR approved provider ofof Overhead Akona Ltd an NSAR approved provider of Overhead lineConstruction Training whichmeets NetworkRail line Training which toto Network lineElectrification Construction Training which meets meets to NetworkRail Rail Standards. Standards. Standards.

ContactUs Us Contact

Contact Us Visit: www.akona.biz Visit: www.akona.biz Visit: www.akona.biz Email: info@akona.biz Email: training@akona.biz Email: training@akona.biz Tel: 01928 518004 Tel: 01928 518004 Tel: 01928 518004 Rail Course List: Rail Course Rail Course List: AC Personal Track List: Safety Personal Track Safety AC Initial Personal Track Safety AC Initial Personal Track Safety DCCR OLEC 1 11 OLEC OLEC OLEC 2 22 OLEC OLEC OLEC 3 33 OLEC OLEC NVQ Level 3Level Diploma in in Railway Engineering Overhead NVQ Diploma in Railway Railway Engineering NVQ Level 3Level Diploma Railway Engineering Overhead NVQ 3 3Diploma in Engineering Line Construction (QCF) Line Construction (QCF) Technician Competence (RQF) Overhead Line Construction (QCF)

This Level 33 Qualification includes: This Level Qualification includes: This Level 3 Qualification includes: • • Personal Track Safety DCCR (PTS) Personal Track Safety AC Initial (PTS) Personal Track Safety AC Initial (PTS) • • Health and Safety Training (Working Health and Safety Training (Working Health and Safety Training (Working Safely at Heights, Moving and Handling, Safely at at Heights, Manual Handling, Safely Heights, Manual Handling, Manual Handling, Harness Safety,and Fire Harness Safety, Fire Awareness Harness Safety, Fire Awareness and Awareness and Emergency First Aid) Emergency First Aid) Emergency First Aid) • Overhead Line Electrification Level 1 Common Induction (ICI) • Industry Industry Common Induction (ICI) (OLEC 1) • • Overhead Line Electrification Level 1 1 Overhead Line Electrification Level  Overhead Line Electrification Level 2 (OLEC 1) 1) (OLEC (OLEC 2) • Overhead Line Electrification Level 2 Overhead Line Electrification Level  • Overhead Line Electrification Level 3 2 (OLEC 2) (OLEC (OLEC 3) 2)

The course will be completed in in our indoor The course will completed our indoor The course will bebe completed in our brand practical rail training centre and includes practical rail training centre and includes new indoor practical rail training centre practical training sessions, classroom practical training sessions, classroom and includes practical training sessions, sessions and assessments. sessions and assessments. classroom sessions and assessments. For this qualification we can offer you a rail AsAs Akona is is anan ELCAS approved Akona Ltd ELCAS approved sponsor andLtd employment opportunities. training provider this qualification can bebe training provider this qualification can funded byby Enhanced Learning Credits. funded Enhanced Learning Credits. As Akona Ltd is an ELCAS approved training provider this qualification can be funded by Enhanced Learning Credits.

questonline.co.uk l August/September 2018

YOUR ELC DOS AND DON’TS

ELC dos and don’ts Do:

it out on the ELCAS website at www.

your studies; if you don’t, and can’t

enhancedlearningcredits.com

provide evidence that you completed

make sure you understand the regulations – see Joint Service

ensure the training is delivered by an

the course, your future claims will be

Publication JSP822 – Defence Direction

approved ELC provider if using your

denied.

and Guidance for Training and

Individual Resettlement Training Cost

Education, which can be downloaded

(IRTC) grant along with ELC to fund a

Don’t:

from the ELCAS website at www.

nationally recognised qualification at

enhancedlearningcredits.com

level 3 or above

to course providers until you have

consult your education, learning,

received a claim authorisation note

and line managers to discuss your

training and/or resettlement adviser if

(CAN)

personal development plan

you aren’t sure of the best way to use

plan ahead, leaving at least 25 days

funding for your resettlement training

provider status means that the entire

remember that the scheme operates a

portfolio of a provider’s courses meets

needing to book a course

strict ‘three hits and you’re out’ policy;

the level 3 requirement

be prepared to provide evidence that

if you are eligible and have used the

the course you would like to do is at

Aggregated Lower Tier award you will

financially without having first obtained

least level 3 (or equivalent) on the

not be able to use it again, so think

approval from your own Service and a

National Qualifications Framework

carefully before submitting a claim

CAN from ELCAS

consult your education/learning staff

between submitting a claim and l

(NQF) or Qualifications and Credit

enrol on a course or commit yourself

enrol on a course with a new provider

Learning Adviser or Single Service

who is awaiting ‘approved’ status;

benefits the Service (unless your claim

representative if your last day in

wait until this has definitely been

is resettlement-related during your last

service alters from that originally

achieved – if this takes too long, look on

stated

the ELCAS website for an alternative

complete and return the evaluation

provider. Q

ensure the course provider has approved provider status by checking

automatically assume that approved

Framework (QCF),* and that it directly

two years of serving) l

inform your Education Staff,

commit any payment contributions

questionnaire when you’ve finished

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

Supporting your career transition with the best qualifications

Coaching & mentoring

Qualifications at Levels 5 or 7 – Certificate or Diploma Start any time. Receive prompt and expert tutorial support that is personalised to your needs. Combine flexible distance learning with high quality optional training workshops. Suitable for beginners and experienced coaches. Course dates Autumn / Winter 2018: 20th September, 23rd & 24th October, 4th December Intensive 4-day course: 19th - 23rd November - immerse yourself in coaching skills training “The first training day of my ILM coaching course with inspired2learn was eye opening – I am in the Army and it was very beneficial to experience the different backgrounds and perspectives of the other delegates. I hadn’t realised there were so many variations in coaching and styles of coaching. For my learning, it was good to have the variety of people that were non-military.”

Management & leadership

Qualifications at Levels 3 to 7 – Award, Certificate or Diploma (distance learning with unlimited tutorial support)

Start any time. Excellent CMI on-line resources. Receive prompt and expert tutorial support. “Just wanted to write to say thank you so much for your encouragement and support when I was completing my level 7 qualification in strategic management & leadership. I had been made redundant whilst completing my qualification with you and took a totally different career path which now has gone in a fabulous direction.You had to be qualified to level 5 or over and when I presented my CMI certificate the HR Manager made such a fuss I felt very proud.Thank you for sticking by me, all the best and keep doing what you’re doing” APPROVED BY MoD IN SUPPORT OF THE ELC SCHEME

E LC 7065

PROVIDER NUMBER

Tel: 01380 609313

Email: enquiries@inspired2learn.co.uk

Web: www.inspired2learn.co.uk

YOUR ELC DISTANCE LEARNING

Keep your distance! ... and let the classroom come to you

hanks to distance learning, you

What’s involved?

can study when and where you

Courses delivered through distance

want. There’s no need to be

Does the course lead to the qualification I want/need?

Will the course train me to the level required (by me or a potential employer)?

Can I view the training materials first,

learning range from those taking as

Can I chat to previous learners?

physically on-campus to study or take

little as a few hours, to degrees and

Do I have to pass an entry test?

(some) training courses. And that, of

postgraduate qualifications that may

How much support is available? And in

course, is a considerable benefit to those

involve several years’ study. So-called

of you posted to far-flung locations,

‘short courses’ typically last days or

Can the whole course be done at a

meaning that you can continue your

weeks as opposed to months or years.

distance, or is it necessary to attend

studies wherever in the world you may

Even those subjects with a strong

training sessions at specific times?

be. Nothing need come between you

practical element often have modules

and your preparations for life As well as ‘distance learning’, you may come across other, related, terms such as ‘open learning’ and ‘distance supported learning’.

learning.

To see a list of ODL QC-accredited learning providers, go to www.odlqc.org.uk and click on ‘Find an accredited provider’, bottom left.

In truth, all of these

what form?

How much time will I need to set aside

How much does the course cost?

Thanks to the wide

Will there be an exam at the end?

availability of useful

Is the provider inspected or accredited

If I choose to study for a degree, do

for study?

technology these days, learning materials

by an independent body?

and support may be

I have to complete it within three

provided by either one or a combination of the

years? l

following means: books,

types of learning are

email, the internet, podcasts

Will I receive any special consideration for study problems as a result of

phone, DVD, CD-ROM,

likely to overlap, but, as a rough guide, open learning includes

before committing?

that are suited to distance

in the civilian world.

ASK YOURSELF …

operational duties? l

Is the course available via learning

and via mobile learning; the latter

tools that I will be able to access? (For

more face-to-face classes than distance

is where the student accesses course

example, if you are in an environment

learning, while the word ‘supported’

content stored on a mobile device or

where IT availability is limited, you

usually indicates that there are tutors

through a wireless server. Some providers

should select a course where it is

and physical material available to help

offer course elements via the iTunes

possible to use paper and telephone,

students.

Store, which can be downloaded free of

at least for a limited period.)

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

Readers must consult their Single Service Advisors BEFORE committing to courses When responding to advertisements please mention Quest

Do it for you… it’s your future Bournemouth & Poole College

use your enhanced Learning Credits for many of our courses

UWTSD offers a wide range of degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

We pride ourselves on our excellent links with industry with many courses delivering dual awards - One example is our Computer Networks course which carries CISCO accreditation.

rankeecently in d 7th

for Ache UK adem E ic

xperie

nce

Tim Studees Higher Ed nt Exp erienc ucation e Sur vey

www.uwtsd.ac.uk/bsc-computer-networks

Leaving the armed forces or want to boost your CV? Learn a new skill and move up the career ladder. 01202 205205 thecollege.co.uk/eLC

We offer bursaries of up to £1000 to armed forces personnel, recognition of prior learning as well as excellent support from specialist staff. Get in touch today and take the first step back into education. info@uwtsd.ac.uk | www.uwtsd.ac.uk ELCAS number 1763

YOU CAN BE STUDYING FOR YOUR DEGREE IN 2018! Use your ELC and experience to enrol on our courses.

We have many courses currently listed on ELCAS including: • • • • •

Biomedical Science Criminology Counselling, Coaching & Mentoring PE and Sports Coaching Physiotherapy

• • • • •

Police Studies Sociology Psychology with Counselling Sport & Exercise Science Sport & Exercise Therapy

Don’t see what you’re interested in? Get in touch with our Admissions Team and we’ll support you to the next step in your career. E: admissions@yorksj.ac.uk | T: 01904 876598

questonline.co.uk l August/September 2018

YOUR ELC DISTANCE LEARNING

charge. Many courses make extensive

the entrance examinations of a particular

learning, and that use ICT systems to

use of the internet. Others involve tutor

professional body.

enable users to access learning.

groups, which may meet regularly,

Both higher education (HE) and

or ‘summer camps’ of a few weeks’

further education (FE) courses can

direct from the ‘horse’s mouth’

duration to provide classroom education

be taken via distance learning. The

(somebody who has first-hand experience

that complements regular, directed

difference between these is not always

of a course or a training provider),

coursework at a distance.

clear-cut though, and in some cases

written prospectuses and, of course, the

(e.g. foundation degrees), both types

internet. The website of the Open and

are involved. Many qualifications are

Distance Learning Quality Council (ODL

The great thing about distance learning –

modular; this means that you complete

QC) is particularly helpful (again see ‘Key

especially for those, like you, in the Armed

them in sections (modules), often of

contacts’).

Forces – is that it puts you in control of

your own choosing, and credits gained

your education. Once you have chosen

from a selection of such courses can be

and enrolled on your course (see below),

added together to ‘add up’ to degrees and

Who are the learning providers?

you are free to study when, where – and,

other HE qualifications. It is not always

Many learning providers are neither HE

these days, how – you choose, so you can

necessary to have an undergraduate

nor FE institutions, although they may

fit your education around your current

degree to gain a master’s; neither is it

have links of varying strengths with

work and/or family commitments. It’s

necessary to have one in order to achieve

one or more colleges or universities.

entirely up to you.

many professional qualifications.

Many companies run large training

At your convenience

And, of course, in these days of laptops,

Increasingly, Service people like you

departments, and there are also many

notebooks, tablets and mobile learning,

are taking distance learning modules

commercial organisations that provide

you can set up and study at a location of

as part of the training that contributes

training to paying clients. Much of the

your choice – home or work, at a cafe, even

to career progression. So, you could

training such providers deliver is of

while travelling. Importantly, too, you can

be studying with a view to gaining

excellent quality and targeted carefully

work at your own pace – there are no term

qualifications that will help you while in

at the needs of civilian employers in a

times to be rigidly stuck to (although you

the Forces or when you leave, or just for

specific market sector. Many commercial

may have to sit exams, which may take

personal interest – out of enthusiasm for a

businesses offering training use the

place only at specific times).

particular subject.

premises of academic institutions to

To sum up, distance study enables you

But how do you know who is a good

deliver courses, and may have contracts

take responsibility for your own learning.

provider and who is not? And exactly

with employment agencies to help their

However, although you will be in control,

which course do you need? All this choice

students find work.

a good provider will offer support – so you

can prove confusing! In the accompanying

will certainly not be alone, left completely

‘Ask yourself …’ panel, there is a checklist

some of the bigger distance learning

to your own devices, but will have back-up

that should help you.

organisations, however – as mentioned

and assistance as and when you require it.

You are likely to have heard of

above – there are many other providers

There are also likely to be self-checks and

Finding out more

interim tests to help ensure that you are

Service education and training staff, both

of courses, some with discounts for

on target, and tutor-marked assessments

within your unit and specialists, can often

Service people (ask your education

to provide valuable feedback, as well as a

provide the best advice about what you

and training adviser for further

telephone helpline to call or someone to

might want and what it is actually possible

information). Q

email for advice if you get stuck.

for you to achieve. They can also

How do I choose a course and provider?

provide you with information about the funding available to support your studies, and recommend

out there too, also offering a wide range

KEY CONTACTS

Although necessarily influenced by

the subjects that you should be

demand from learners, there are loads

encouraged to pursue – particularly

of courses available in distance learning

with a view to a second career when

form. And because the choice of provider

leaving the Services. Increasing numbers

0800 101 901

is huge, too, you are more than likely to

of Forces learning and education centres

www.learndirect.co.uk

be able to track down the course you

and personal learning advisers also have

@learndirect

are looking for. This may be something

access to e-learning opportunities.

that will give you a general grounding

Other information sources include

Information about courses is also

learndirect

Open and Distance Learning Quality

or background in a particular subject or

available from learndirect (see ‘Key

area (that you may go on to study in more

contacts’). It, too, runs its own courses

020 8658 8337

depth later), or you might be looking to

and learning centres with tutor support,

www.odlqc.org.uk

focus on something very specific – such as

where students can undertake online

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

Council (ODL QC)

Readers must consult their Single Service Advisors BEFORE committing to courses When responding to advertisements please mention Quest

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not too late to apply for September 2018 entry onto BSc (Hons) Podiatry. Quest January 2016_2015 22/12/2015 09:27 Page 11

plymouth.ac.uk 01752 585858 School of Health ProfessionsBEFORE committing Readers must consult their Single Service Advisors to courses PlymUniApply When responding to advertisements please mention Quest

questonline.co.uk l August/September 2018

YOUR ELC HIGHER-LEVEL STUDY

Aim ! r e h g i h

Higher education at a college or university is about more than just degree courses – it offers a range of options, including Higher National Certificates and Diplomas (HNCs and HNDs), and foundation degrees, all of which generally have a more vocational slant. So, if you’re ready to step up to the next level, HE could be the option for you.

f you’re thinking of embarking on a

the subject. It might be a really fascinating

the option of progressing to a degree if you

higher education (HE) qualification

course, which promises to lead to a host of

perform well enough on the early parts of

that’s great – you can use your ELC

career openings, but if it turns out you’re no

the course.

to fund anything above level 3, and that

good at it, you’re unlikely to end up with a

includes university modules and nationally

good qualification at the end of it – and may

through students completing a number

recognised diplomas. Other HE courses open

even fail altogether.

of modules, the distinction between HE

to you for consideration include diplomas,

(generally academic) and further education

bachelor’s degrees, foundation degrees

the qualifications you already have and the

(FE) (often vocational) can be unclear.

and postgraduate qualifications. The only

subjects/areas you have a flair for. Other

Credits from a selection of courses can often

problem you are likely to have is in deciding

things you might want to think about include

be added together to gain degrees and other

exactly what and how to study!

the course provider’s academic reputation

HE qualifications.

Choosing an HE course

(you can find university league tables and

Both HE and FE courses can be taken via

subject ranking tables online), its graduate

distance learning. The difference between

You may already have a pretty good idea of

employment rates, and links between the

these is not always clear-cut, though, and

what you’d like to study at a higher level but,

university or college and employers.

in some cases (e.g. foundation degrees),

if you’re unsure, our advice is to make sure

Having decided what you want to study,

both types are involved. Many qualifications

you understand the nature of the subject you

you will be faced with a variety of ways of

are modular; this means that you complete

are considering, especially if it’s something

studying it.

them in sections (modules), often of your

new to you. So do your research, and ensure

It’s a good idea to start by thinking about

With many qualifications being earned

own choosing, and credits gained from a

you know exactly what a course is offering

How do HE courses differ?

you – topic areas, what the modules will

The most basic difference is between the

together to ‘add up’ to degrees and other HE

cover, etc. Whatever else you take in to

levels of courses. While most HE courses

qualifications.

consideration, it goes without saying that

lead to a degree, some lead to sub-degree

you must have a strong interest in the

qualifications such as a Higher National

subject and the course content, as you will be

Certificate (HNC), Higher National Diploma

TO HELP YOU CHOOSE …

spending three years or more occupied with

(HND) or a foundation degree. In general,

Which? University is a free and

it, which won’t be much fun if it turns out

such courses will be shorter than a degree

independent website packed with

you’re not that struck with it after all!

selection of such courses can be gathered

course, more vocationally orientated and will

everything you need to find the right

You are also likely to do better at a

have lower entry requirements. Some will be

university course for you. See

course if you already have an aptitude for

linked to degree courses, though, giving you

http://university.which.co.uk

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

usually takes three or four years to complete

SOURCES OF ADVICE

access support under the FEHE scheme to

full-time (some degrees, such as medicine,

Your line manager should be your

commence studies at master’s level but they

can take five or six years).

first point of contact. Each unit has an

Please note that Service leavers cannot

can utilise their ELC for study at this level.

education/learning specialist, and each

Postgraduate qualifications

Service also has a network of educational

popular higher-level course options you

Postgraduate qualifications are HE

and learning centres where advice can be

could choose from …

qualifications that require learners to have

sought and ideas explored.

Here’s a rundown of some of the other

already completed a bachelor’s degree. Most

Higher national certificates (HNCs) and higher national diplomas (HNDs)

types of postgraduate qualification will include

students get together for joint study periods

taught and research elements. They generally

in open learning, with distance learning

fall into one of two categories: postgraduate

generally catering for students who are so

HNCs and HNDs are work-related

certificate or postgraduate diploma.

far away that they study almost entirely by

(vocational) HE qualifications. While

themselves.

on gaining knowledge, HNCs and HNDs are

Think you’re missing the necessary basics?

designed to give you the skills to put that

If you aren’t already in possession of the

ELC funding for higher education

knowledge to effective use in a particular

lower-level qualifications you would normally

The good news is that your ELC provides you

job. Highly valued by employers, both in

need to build on in order to secure your

with access to a first full level 3 or a first HE

the UK and overseas, they can also count

place on an HE course, the Access to Higher

qualification (e.g. foundation degree, first

towards membership of professional bodies

Education (HE) Diploma – often referred

undergraduate degree or equivalent) free

and other employer organisations. HNCs

to by its shorthand form, Access Diploma

from tuition fees. This commitment means

can take one year to complete full-time and

– could be for you. You can find out all

that Service leavers who have joined at level

two years part-time (or via, say, distance

you need to know about Access Diplomas

2, say, and have taken the opportunity to

learning). HNDs take two years full-time and

in our feature starting on page 44. It’s a

gain a qualification such as an advanced

can also be taken part-time (which takes

qualification that prepares people for study

apprenticeship, or other accredited learning

longer). (The award of an HND requires more

at university, and is designed for those who

at level 3 or equivalent, may now be able to

units to be passed than for an HNC.) They

would like to study in HE but who left school

access their first higher-level qualification.

equate to approximately halfway between

without the usual qualifications, such as

an A-level and a degree, although they are,

A-levels. It is widely accepted by universities

– Defence Direction and Guidance for

as mentioned above, more practically based

and colleges, having been developed with

Training and Education, which can be

than the latter.

their support, and is designed to provide a

accessed and downloaded at www.

good grounding in the knowledge and study

enhancedlearningcredits.com Q

bachelor’s degrees (see below) tend to focus

Full details can be found in JSP822

Foundation degrees

skills needed to succeed in HE. Although

Foundation degrees combine learning with

equivalent to A-levels, Access Diploma

work experience if you decide you want

courses are put together with people who

COURSE FINDERS Full- and part-time courses

to ‘earn while you learn’. The equivalent

haven’t studied for a while in mind – and

l Unistats:

of two-thirds of a full honours degree, this

most don’t require prior qualifications. Many

is a fully flexible qualification that allows

are suitable for study part-time or in the

universities and colleges, including

you to study full- or part-time to fit your

evenings, which adds to their flexibility. Most

student satisfaction and jobs after

lifestyle. On passing, you will gain 240

FE colleges in England and Wales offer such

study (you have to apply to the college

‘points’ towards a full degree course, and full

Access courses, and a number are available

or university direct)

account will be taken of any prior learning

through distance learning, so you should

l UCAS:

and experience you have accrued, too.

be able to find a course that is convenient

Recent developments, including university

for you, and that caters for your interests

by course name, provider name or

partnerships and funding, make these

or career ambitions. You can find out more

location

qualifications increasingly available to people

about Access to HE courses, browse courses

in the Services.

and read success stories on the Access to

A bachelor’s degree is a course of HE

http://search.ucas.com

Search and apply for full-time courses

National Careers Service: https:// nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/ advice/courses/Pages/default.aspx

Higher Education homepage at

Degree courses

http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/

Compare official course data from

Search for full- and part-time courses

www.accesstohe.ac.uk

academic study leading to a qualification

How to learn

such as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor

Qualifications can be earned through full-

Postgraduate study

of Science (BSc). They are sometimes known

time courses, part-time courses, day release,

l Prospects:

as ‘ordinary’ or ‘first’ degrees. A bachelor’s

night school, open and distance learning

degree is designed to give learners a

(see the feature on page 24 of this issue).

thorough understanding of a subject, and

There will usually be more times when

www.prospects.ac.uk/

postgraduate-courses l

Postgraduate Search: www.postgraduatesearch.com

questonline.co.uk l August/September 2018

YOUR ELC HIGHER-LEVEL STUDY

Life-changing opportunities through lifelong learning York St John University has been a leading education, training and research institution for 177 years. Equality, ambition and social justice are at the heart of the University’s ethos and this is reflected in its reputation for academic excellence, graduate employability and strong sense of community.

ith a strong track record in

LIFE ON CAMPUS

widening access to higher education, York St John

University welcomes students into its friendly community from a diverse range of backgrounds and educational levels. In addition to the academic and well-being support it provides for the duration of study, the University is committed to supporting its students for life in order to raise individual and economic aspirations. Simon Kumar (pictured), now a lecturer

had the ambition of becoming a physical

in Physical Education and Youth Sport,

educator. I came to an Open Day and

served in the Royal Air Force Regiment,

remember the sense of community – I felt

before transitioning to civilian life in 2005

like the people I talked to were genuinely

when he became a student at York St John

interested in me as a person, it wasn’t just

University.

a sales pitch. When I arrived on campus as

He remembers taking the plunge into

Simon Kumar

a student, I was acutely aware that I hadn’t

full-time education: ‘After leaving the

been in a formal learning environment

Forces I decided to study for a degree

for some time, and I have to admit it was

in sport at York St John University, as I

daunting at first. However, the University

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

The University’s award-winning campus is situated across 11 acres within walking distance of the historic centre of York. Over the past ten years, the campus has undergone a £110m transformation and boasts state-of-the-art facilities including modern lecture theatres, library and IT facilities, physiology, biomechanics and psychology laboratories, a fitness suite, physiotherapy labs, dedicated TV production suites, music production facilities, art and design studios, and a wide range of general teaching rooms. Nestlé Rowntree Park Sports Campus was opened in 2016 and is just a 15-minute walk from the main site. This multi-purpose facility is situated on 57 acres, making it one of the largest of its type in the country.

was well equipped and understood my

The academic community at York

towards the cost of learning. ELC can

situation of not only being a Service leaver

St John continues to strive towards

currently be used towards payment for the

but also a mature student. The academic

improving life for Veterans beyond the

following courses:

and pastoral support I received really

classroom. Nick Wood, Education and

Biomedical Science

helped my transition and enabled me to

Development Lead at York St John

Counselling, Coaching & Mentoring

settle in and fulfil my potential. As a result

University, served in the Royal Navy as an

Criminology

of hard work in such a nurturing academic

aircraft engineer before transitioning to

Physical Education & Sports Coaching

environment, I achieved a first-class

civilian life in 1986. Nick’s role focuses on

Physiotherapy

Bachelor of Arts honours degree in Sports

delivering ‘Understanding Military Culture

Police Studies

Studies.’

and Transition’ training to the public

Psychology with Counselling

sector, community groups and students, to

Sociology

stop there. As a student, he introduced a

create better opportunities for ex-Forces

Sport & Exercise Science

project to provide inclusive sport facilities

personnel. His work was recognised with

Sport & Exercise Therapy.

to people with disabilities. He went on

a nomination for a Soldiering On award

Advice and support is available at all

to become a disability sports officer for

this year and a MoD Employer Recognition

stages of the learning journey at York St

City of York Council, before eventually

award for York St John. The University has

John, from guidance at application stage

returning to York St John to teach and

signed the MoD Armed Forces Covenant in

to practical and bespoke support during

inspire the students that follow in his

recognition of its commitment to support

your period of study – and beyond into

footsteps.

students and staff who are from the Armed

employment.

Simon’s university experience did not

His legacy continues to this day as

Forces Community and is also a member of

York St John University provides an

UNSWIS, supporting Wounded Injured and

Find out how to take the next step in your

ever-expanding range of sport activities

Sick Service Leavers.

choice of learning at www.yorksj.ac.uk

to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups

York St John University is an approved

or contact the York St John University

of people in the regional community. ‘I’m

learning provider under the Armed

admissions team on 01904 876598 or by

really proud to have introduced inclusive

Forces Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC)

email at admissions@yorksj.ac.uk

sport to the university and that I was able

scheme, which provides financial support

to make a real difference to the city.’

to qualifying Service personnel or leavers

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questonline.co.uk l August/September 2018

YOUR ELC QUALIFICATIONS TO FURTHER YOUR SERVICE CAREER

Boost your prospects while serving How your ELC can benefit both you and your Service

s noted elsewhere in this

but that are also highly likely to prove

other areas are likely to serve you well in

publication, the main purpose

useful once you leave the Forces, could

future, too – not forgetting the benefit to

of ELC is to encourage serving

include accountancy and management

your Service branch now, of course! Q

personnel to pursue higher-level learning

qualifications, or courses related to

that benefits both the learner and the

health and safety, and facilities or project

Armed Forces. This is to comply with

management. Depending on your Service

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) rules,

role, you could find yourself in a position to

which state that any money provided for

embark on a range of studies that will turn

your personal development has to be of

out to have a very useful crossover into

TAX EXEMPTION MEASURES FOR THOSE WHO ARE NO LONGER SERVING

immediate benefit to both the Armed

the civilian workplace when the time comes

Under the ELC scheme, most courses

Forces and the individual – if not, the

for you to make the transition.

of study undertaken by individuals still

MoD would be liable for tax! (See the

For example, thinking of IT training

serving are exempt from taxation, either

accompanying box for more tax-related

as an example, the Tech Partnership (a

as income or as a benefit in kind, if they

information.)

network of employers working to creating

can be justified as ‘work related’. In

skills for the UK’s digital economy) has

order for Service leavers to benefit fully,

those courses that will benefit your own

The best of both worlds is offered by

been involved in putting together a

too, HMRC and MoD worked together to

career and promotion prospects in the

matrix of eligible higher-level vendor IT

reach an agreement on tax exemption.

Services – and ultimately help you find

qualifications, which in these high-tech

This means that the Service leaver (or

employment on leaving – as well as offering

times will prove as useful to you on leaving

their surviving spouse, civil partner or

a benefit to the Service while you remain

as they are while you remain in Service.

eligible partner, where appropriate) will

in uniform.

Similar work has taken place with Summit

not be required to pay income tax on

Skills with regard to building services

payments received under the ELC and

engineering-related courses. A great many

FEHE schemes. This allows them to draw

Some of the areas of education that your Service role might require,

maximum benefit from the schemes.at least for a limited period.

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

Readers must consult their Single Service Advisors BEFORE committing to courses When responding to advertisements please mention Quest

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YOUR ELC ON COURSE: FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

Facilitate

a brighter future Facilities management is one of the fastest-growing professions in the UK and vital to the success of any business. Perhaps it’s vital to your future success too? What’s involved?

success of any organisation. At a corporate

Performed well, FM can:

Facilities management (FM) has always

level, it contributes to the delivery of

been an essential aspect of running a

strategic and operational objectives. On

business and is recognised as a profession

a day-to-day level, it provides a safe and

in its own right, defined by the British

efficient working environment, which

Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM)

is essential to the performance of any

as an ‘organisational function which

business, whatever its size and scope.

integrates people, place and process within

Within this expanding discipline, facilities

the built environment with the purpose

managers provide, maintain and develop

of improving the quality of life of people

services ranging from property strategy,

associated with change, post-merger or

and the productivity of the core business’.

space management and communications

acquisition

Put more simply, effective FM, combining

infrastructure, to building maintenance,

resources and activities, is vital to the

administration and contract management.

deliver effective management of an organisation’s assets

enable new working styles and processes – vital in our current technology-driven times

enhance and project an organisation’s identity and image

help the integration processes

deliver business continuity and workforce protection in an era of heightened security threats.

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

Legislation has had a considerable impact,

without even knowing it. So read on … this

with laws and regulations covering many

could be you.

different functions, such as access for

TRANSLATE YOUR SKILLS

The vast majority of those in the Forces

It will be necessary to explain the skills

people with disabilities. Health and safety

have been involved in the management

and experience you have gained in the

at work covers a number of procedures,

of facilities. Environments from ships

Forces environment to a civilian employer

such as fire and other emergencies, which

to ammunition sites, and from aircraft

who may not immediately appreciate the

have to be considered and implemented.

maintenance hangars to divisional HQs,

similarities between a nuclear submarine

Indeed, the person responsible may have to

are complex and demanding, and someone

and an office block, and how the skills

answer to the courts as well as their CEO.

has to run them. It is not just the job of the

you have acquired in the Services may

administrative or logistic specialist – often

translate to the civilian workplace.

it is a person with a very different job title

There is resettlement advice and training

and other priorities who actually manages

available in this field, should you either

FM practitioners require excellent

the environment in which Service people

wish to specialise in it, or perhaps are

communication and management skills,

work.

looking to move in to a more general

Have you got what it takes? as well as relevant knowledge, in what

Many Service leavers find facilities

has become a vital strategic discipline,

management a natural next step when

involve being responsible for premises or

which translates the high-level, strategic

leaving the Forces; according to a recent

facilities.

change required by senior decision makers

FM World Salary Survey, the third largest

into day-to-day reality for people in their

entry route into FM was through the Armed

working and personal lives.

Forces, with 10% of the sample having

membership grades (see below) so

come from that background.

you can enter at the appropriate grade

Every organisation has someone responsible for the FM function. They

management role, part of which will

Many Service environments differ from

The qualifications are aligned with BIFM

and gain extra recognition in the job

may not actually be called ‘facilities

their civilian equivalents. However, the

manager’ but they will deal with this area.

principles are exactly the same: modern

BIFM Recognised Centres offer a variety

The smartest of front offices will have

threats such as fire, electronic attack and

of ways of learning – face-to-face, evening

people behind the scenes to make sure the

mechanical breakdown may be very similar,

class, distance learning, online learning – to

lavatories work, the photocopier has paper,

and contingency plans for equipment

suit you. The centres are located across

and the internet server is up and running.

redundancy, relocation and physical

the UK, and many are ELC approved

security translate easily to the outside

providers. Indeed, the BIFM offers a

world.

number of opportunities for Service

Few companies or businesses have the manpower or resources to deal with all aspects of FM, and this has been one of the

market.

leavers to develop their FM skills and

main reasons for the growth in outsourced

Get qualified!

FM, which now accounts for well over half

BIFM qualifications allow you to gain a

of the total market. Functions can either

recognised, accredited qualification to

be outsourced on an individual basis, or

support your career and build your earning

Use your ELC

everything can be outsourced to a ‘total

potential. All of its FM qualifications are

Under the ELC scheme, a wide range of

FM’ company.

designed to be flexible and meet your

learning can be taken, provided it is offered

needs. You can choose a level and depth to

by an approved provider listed on the ELC

suit you and then select optional units to

website at www.enhancedlearningcredits.

You may never have heard of facilities

match your development needs.

com and is at level 3 or above. For full

management – many Service people won’t

Skill up while serving

expertise, thus helping you to build your earning potential.

All qualifications come in three sizes

details of how to make the most of your

have, despite the fact that they may

– Award, Certificate and Diploma – so

ELC, refer to our in-depth features on

well have been carrying out many of its

you can choose the one that suits your

pages 10–32.

functions. Some may even be halfway to

needs and the time you have available.

becoming professionally qualified in FM

KNOW THE TERMINOLOGY The BIFM provides a useful tool that will

help you learn more about the world of facilities management. Its FM Glossary includes standard terms that don’t change

much, as well as new ones that emerge and evolve based on what’s happening within

the FM industry. Access it here: www.bifm. org.uk/bifm/knowledge/Glossary

Qualifications are built up from a

BIFM membership

combination of mandatory and optional

As the professional body for FM, the BIFM

units, offering flexibility and choice.

represents and promotes the interests of

There is no need to work up through

members and the wider FM community,

the levels – you can start at the right

and offers several grades of individual

level for you and your organisation.

membership.

The qualifications can be customised to

Affiliate is its entry-level grade and is

suit your needs.

suitable for anyone who has an interest

All assessments are practical and work

in or is already working within the FM

based.

industry – previous experience is not

The qualifications cover real need-to-

required.

know FM knowledge and skills.

questonline.co.uk l August/September 2018

YOUR ELC ON COURSE: FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

Associate grade (ABIFM) is

on contract, people who are competent

support to help manage the transition from

available for those with an FM-related

in all the disciplines associated with FM.

Armed Forces to a civilian role in FM.

qualification at level 2, 3 or above, or

Many run huge contracts with military

with two years or more experience

organisations, providing the infrastructure

well suited to a transfer from Services to

in FM, while Member (MBIFM) and

for bases throughout the UK and wherever

civilian life. Those in the Forces currently

Certified (CBIFM) grades are available

the Armed Forces are serving in the world.

looking after facilities are likely to be

to those with FM-related qualifications

In smaller organisations, including schools

learning valuable skills for use in industry.

at higher levels, and expertise/practical

and partnership practices, FM may well be

However, as noted above, there are

experience across a wide range of

only a part – albeit an important one – of

some key elements involved in gaining

competences.

the overall management job.

professional recognition in the FM field, so

Fellowship (FBIFM) of the BIFM is

If you’re planning to move into FM after leaving the Forces, you can find various

membership – applicants are required

job vacancies and support via the BIFM, to

to hold Certified (CBIFM) member

help you make your career transition.

status and are expected to have at

Search for the latest jobs in facilities

least five years’ senior FM experience.

management on FM World Jobs, the

There are various routes to these grades,

recruitment website for FM World,

including a vocational route to MBIFM.

the BIFM’s magazine – see: http://jobs.

You can gain professional recognition with

fm-world.co.uk/

Finding employment

The BIFM also offers a careers service for members, to support FM professionals at any stage in their career. All career

Many, if not most, FM jobs are with

coaching sessions are one-to-one to

specialist companies in this field, often

ensure that you get tailored guidance that

contracted out to a client organisation.

is relevant to you. Discover the career

These companies employ, permanently or

direction that is best for you with added

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

it helps to understand the importance and relevance of previous experience. Q

the most prestigious grade of BIFM

BIFM membership.

There are few professions that are as

KEY CONTACTS

British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) +44 (0)1279 712620 info@bifm.org.uk www.bifm.org.uk @BIFM_UK

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e ar hc al lt ci ea pe H s

YOUR ELC ON COURSE: HEALTHCARE

The healthy career choice

The healthcare sector, public and private, offers a huge range of career opportunities. When the time comes for resettlement, you may well find you already have sought-after skills. But, to really make sure your prospects are in the pink, now’s the time to start getting some appropriate qualifications under your belt.

What’s involved?

Skill up while serving

Healthcare-related work covers a broad

Many people join the Services to ‘make a

this sector is vast, encompassing work

spectrum of roles – from administration,

difference’ to communities and individuals,

that requires no qualifications (e.g. some

logistics and practical back-up support to

and there is a very similar ethos within the

administrative positions) to roles that need

complex medical care. A total of 1.3 million

healthcare sector. The ability to work calmly

years of specialist training (e.g. surgeon).

people make up the NHS workforce. In

and with initiative while under pressure

Here we’ll focuses on the roles likely to be

addition to them, around one-fifth of all

is a core Service skill that is directly and

of greatest interest to those who have been

health professionals are employed within

critically applicable to the healthcare

in the Armed Forces, and to which – due

the private sector, and many more are self-

sector. Clear and effective communication

to skills and qualifications gained while in

employed in areas such as physiotherapy,

is an asset that could very well save lives

uniform, and judicious choice of relevant

podiatry and holistic/complementary

(an experience known to many within the

qualifications to back these up – they are

therapies. With life expectancies on the

military). Beyond those major attributes are

most likely to be suited.

rise, employment opportunities within this

practical Service skills relevant to certain

sector are only likely to increase. Make

areas of the health sector, such as the

The NHS

sure you’ll be at the front of the queue by

ability to drive, operate technical equipment,

Hospitals in the NHS are managed

using the funding available to you while

coordinate people and/or supplies, as well

by trusts (sometimes called acute or

serving to take appropriate courses and

as work with initiative – individually or as

foundation trusts) and run by a trust

qualifications.

part of a team.

board. Acute hospital trusts provide

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

The scope for employment within

medical and surgical care, while mental

We will now take a closer look at just

health and ambulance trusts have a

a few roles within the NHS you might

similar structure but tend to cover wider

be considering for your next career,

areas. Primary care is provided via local

from among the vast range of career

STEP INTO HEALTH A golden opportunity for Service leavers

GPs, NHS walk-in centres, dentists,

opportunities it offers. You will also

The Step into Health programme has been

pharmacists and opticians. There are

need to know about the new Step into

created because the NHS recognises the

also a number of community providers

Health scheme (see box), an initiative

transferable skills and cultural values that

running services such as district nursing

developed in conjunction with The

Armed Forces personnel develop when

and health promotion.

Royal Foundation and Walking With

serving, and how they are compatible with

The Wounded to provide a dedicated

those required within NHS roles. It is open

recruitment of staff. The vast majority

Each trust is responsible for its own

pathway for the Armed Forces

to all Service leavers and Veterans, plus

of employers now advertise their job

community to access the numerous

their spouses/partners. It is an incredible

vacancies on NHS Jobs – www.jobs.nhs.

career opportunities available in the

opportunity, which sees employers working

uk – the online recruitment website for

NHS.

with the Armed Forces community to provide

jobs in the NHS. Applicants can search and apply online for vacancies that

Working within the NHS

career and development opportunities within the NHS.

match their preferences. They can also

Nursing

If you want to work in an environment

maintenance, administration, finance,

email when matching vacancies arise.

that is interesting, rewarding and

communications, management or a role in one

challenging, a career in nursing could be

of the clinical services – to name but a few

working in the NHS, you will see that it

for you. Nurses form the largest group

of the options – this programme will benefit

is committed to offering development

of staff in the NHS and are a crucial

you. The NHS is keen to invite you to explore

and learning opportunities for all full-

part of the healthcare team. They work

your transferable skills, and the potential

and part-time staff via its dedicated

in every kind of health setting, from

training and career opportunities available.

Career Framework. No matter where

accident and emergency to patients’

Contact the NHS organisations in your area

you start within the NHS, you will have

homes, with people of all ages and

to find out how they can support you: http://

access to extra training and be given

backgrounds. So, if you are caring,

militarystepintohealth.nhs.uk/contact-us/

every opportunity to progress within

compassionate and have a commitment

the organisation. You will receive an

to helping people, you will find a role

NHS, please visit the Health Careers role finder

annual personal development review

that suits you. You also need to be able

at www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/Explore-roles

and development plan to support your

to communicate difficult health issues

You can also get in touch with Health Careers

career progression and you will be

effectively.

via their website at www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/

If, in future, you find yourself

encouraged to extend your range of

So, whether you are interested in catering,

To work as a nurse in the NHS, you

For more information on roles within the

contact-us or call them on 0345 60 60 655.

skills and knowledge, and take on new

must be registered with the Nursing

To read more about some of the people

responsibilities. Many people take on

and Midwifery Council (NMC), which

who have already benefited from Step into

additional responsibility within their own

means you’ll need a degree in nursing

Health, turn to our special feature on page 42.

area, while others retrain and move in to

(you can use the ‘course finder’ on the

Your education officer or transition staff

different roles.

NHS website (see ‘Key contacts’) to

should be able to help you choose the best route.

questonline.co.uk l August/September 2018

YOUR ELC ON COURSE: HEALTHCARE secretaries and engineers, who all play a vital part in ensuring that patients receive the best possible care. You may be interested in cutting-edge technology or providing hospitality, or in administration, estates or human resources. You may be looking for a high-flying career, or one that is less demanding but still very rewarding. Whatever your situation and strengths, the wider healthcare team has a role for you.

Other roles with in the NHS Obviously the NHS is a vast organisation – and that means, as we have already noted, that it offers a similarly vast range of career opportunities – far more than we find out more). There are currently no

GPs, hospital doctors, teachers or social

can cover in-depth here. Some roles and

minimum academic entry requirements

workers.

areas in which you may also be interested

for nursing courses, so each higher

Various roles that come under the

include: dental team; health informatics

education institution sets its own criteria.

banner of the AHPs, including: arts

(managing communications technology);

That means you should check before

therapists; chiropodists/podiatrists;

midwifery; healthcare science (helping to

applying to see if your qualifications meet

dieticians; occupational therapists;

prevent, diagnose and treat illness using

their entry standard. It is also possible

paramedics (see below); physiotherapists;

technical skills and scientific knowledge);

to work your way up from a healthcare

prosthetists; radiographers, and speech

management; operating department

assistant position and apply for a place

and language therapists. Each role

practice; pharmacy; psychological

on a degree course; however, you will still

has different qualification and skills

therapies (supporting people with a range

need to meet the entry requirements.

requirements, but in general allied health

of mental and physical disabilities); and

Alternatively, you can apply for a

professionals need to be practical and

even studying to become a doctor, or

nursing course directly through UCAS:

have a good academic background,

transferring Forces medical skills to such

www.ucas.com You can also find lots

including a science-based qualification.

a role.

of information on the Nursing Careers

To become a qualified professional you

website: nursing.nhscareers.nhs.uk This

will need to study for a degree, and some

Private-sector healthcare

offers comprehensive information about

careers (such as art therapy) also require

Don’t forget that, besides the NHS, the

the wide range of career options and

postgraduate study. Alternatively, you

UK also has a major network of private

pathways as well as the variety of entry

might be able to join the NHS as a therapy

hospitals and healthcare-related services,

routes into nursing.

assistant, working alongside qualified

offering similar opportunities to those

staff, where you can also build up

described above. Although there are still

available in nursing and, depending on

There are many different roles

qualifications and experience to help you

perceptions that it is the more secure

experience and training, there are plenty

apply for training.

option to work for the NHS, this fast-

of opportunities to rise up through the

You can find full details of this type

growing sector is already establishing

ranks to manage teams, run wards – and

of career, and the qualifications you will

a prominent place in the UK’s health

even reach consultant level if desired.

need, on the NHS website: www.nhs.uk

industry and offers health professionals

Allied health professions

progress. The NHS has acknowledged this

A career in the allied health professions

The NHS’s wider healthcare team

(AHPs) offers a wide range of

This offers a unique variety of career

sectors is now evident.

opportunities, and combines challenge, an

options, but every role has one thing in

excellent employment package and the

common: it is essential to running the

rewards of doing something worthwhile.

NHS. Members of the wider healthcare

As key members of the healthcare team,

team design, construct and maintain NHS

those working in the AHPs provide

buildings, organise catering, supply linen,

treatment that helps transform people’s

clean the wards, book appointments …

lives; this might mean working with other

and much more. It consists of people as

AHPs or other professionals, such as

diverse as painters, caterers, chaplains,

numerous opportunities to develop and

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

and more collaboration between the two

SAY YES TO 999! To find out more about working in the UK’s emergency services, take a look at in-depth article at www.questonline.co.uk/careers/ career/emergency-services

You can find out about job vacancies

hygiene, health and safety, and how to

listed on the QCF, which means you can

and requirements in the independent

lift and move people safely. You may also

use your funding towards them. Developed

healthcare sector online, using career

be encouraged to work towards further

in partnership with the NHS Ambulance

search engines (dedicated and general)

qualifications, such as the level 3 Diploma

Service Driver Training Advisory Group

as well as via the websites of individual

in Health and Social Care, to become a

(DTAG), the qualifications currently

providers (such as Bupa, Care UK and

senior care worker (don’t forget that

available are:

AXA).

you can use your ELC – see below – to

level 2 Award in Ambulance Driving

work towards qualifications at level 3

level 3 Award in Patient Care Services:

Care assistant

and above for up to five years after you

If you enjoy helping people and want

leave the Armed Forces). As your career

to make a difference to their lives, this

develops, you can move on to higher-

job could be for you. As a care assistant

level qualifications and there is funding

(also known as a care worker or support

available in that case too. Turn to pages

worker), you help people who have

10–32 for the full details.

difficulties with their daily activities. You

Ambulance Driving l

level 3 Certificate in Emergency Response Ambulance Driving

level 4 Diploma in Emergency Response Ambulance Driving Instruction.

To find out more, visit www.futurequals.

people or families, in their own homes,

Emergency care technicians and paramedics

in sheltered housing, at day centres or

These people are the ‘first on the

Use your ELC

in places like nursing homes. The exact

scene’, generally having driven there

Under the ELC scheme, a wide range

nature of your duties will vary depending

by ambulance. They need a level-

of learning can be taken, provided it

on where you work, but is likely to include:

might work with children, people with physical or learning disabilities, older

service-driving/#apply

headed approach and the ability to work

is offered by an approved provider

helping with daily personal care such as

quickly under pressure, often in difficult

listed on the ELC website at www.

washing, dressing, using the toilet and

circumstances. These are all skills that

enhancedlearningcredits.com and is at

feeding

translate well from the Armed Forces.

level 3 or above. For full details of how to

carrying out general tasks such as

Routes into this work can be via:

make the most of your ELC, refer to our

housework, laundry and shopping

helping families get used to new caring

one of the NHS Ambulance Service

in-depth features on pages 10–32.

Trusts in the UK the Private Ambulance Services

Turn to the feature on page 44 to find

working with other health and social

(PAS), which compete against the NHS

out how an Access to Higher Education

care professionals to provide individual

Ambulance Services for contracts and/

(HE) Diploma could help you get on

care and development plans.

or work on subcontracts from them.

course to a higher-level healthcare-related

responsibilities l

com/futurequals-qualifications/ambulance-

Working hours vary, depending on the job,

Most NHS ambulance trusts run their

and might include evenings and weekends.

own training courses so, although using

If you work in a residential location, you

your ELC for emergency driving

may be expected to stay overnight on a

or ambulance technician courses

rota basis. In some jobs, you might live in.

will help if you go on to work for a

A common way into this career is

private company, you will still need

to do some volunteering work with an

to undergo training periods with the

organisation that supports vulnerable

NHS.

people. You can also draw on personal

There are three ‘ranks’ within this

experience of caring for someone you

area – emergency care assistants (ECAs),

know. Although not essential, there are a

ambulance technicians (EMTs) and

number of qualifications that you can work

paramedics – each requiring specific

towards, whether you are looking to learn

training. ECA training falls within the remit

more to get into this career or if you have

of the various NHS Ambulance Trusts

just started in a paid or voluntary position.

– see www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/

You can find a full list of qualifications

pages/ambulancetrustlisting.aspx – while

on the Skills for Care website – www.

paramedic training is currently the

skillsforcare.org.uk – which also has more

preserve of universities. The College of

information on routes into this career.

Paramedics’ website has full details:

Once you start work as a care assistant you will receive on-the-job training from

qualification. Q

www.collegeofparamedics.co.uk FutureQuals’ levels 2 and 3 ‘blue light’

your employer. You may also attend

driving courses are recognised by all NHS

external courses, e.g. on first aid, food

Ambulance Services in the UK. They are

KEY CONTACTS

Information about NHS careers and vacancies may be found online via: www.nhscareers.nhs.uk www.jobs.nhs.uk www.nhs.uk To find PASs in your area, search the Care Quality Commission’s website: www.cqc.org.uk As well as the website addresses provided above and within the feature itself, contact information for all organisations mentioned in this article can be found in your local telephone directory or online.

questonline.co.uk l August/September 2018

e ar l hc ia lt ec ea p H s

YOUR ELC ON COURSE: HEALTHCARE

We stepped into

health careers!

Developed in conjunction with The Royal Foundation and Walking With The Wounded, Step into Health is an initiative that provides a dedicated pathway for the Armed Forces community to access the numerous career opportunities available in the NHS. Some of those who have already benefited from the scheme tell their stories … She says: ‘I would definitely recommend Step into Health to anyone leaving the Armed Forces. It allows you to get a taste of what the NHS might be able to offer you and how you might fit in. It also shows you and your placement that you have valuable skills that you can offer to the NHS.’ Tiffany is now part of the executive team at St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, working directly for the chief executive, attending monthly board meetings and weekly executive

Tiffany Hemming

meetings, working as part of a team to ensure the effective running of the trust.

Essa Badjie

Tiffany joined the Territorial Army in 1997,

She continues: ‘My military skills have

Essa was a corporal in the Army for ten

moving to the Regular Army in 2000 until

been invaluable in terms of being able

years, being a part of different units/

she left the Armed Forces in October

to approach a new task, break it down

regiments, and also had a previous role

2017. Her final role was overseeing the

into its constituent parts and get on with

as an HR administrator. He was based

procurement of medical equipment and

making sure it gets done. My experiences

in various locations for six years before

information systems, and all chemical,

of stakeholder management within NATO

coming back to the UK. After attending a

biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN)

have been used in my dealings with the

Step into Health insight day, Essa made the

equipment for Defence. She took part

clinical commissioning groups, local

decision to leave the Army and pursue HR

in deployments to Afghanistan in 2009

councils and other external agencies,

opportunities within the NHS. Following a

as Officer Commanding Close Support

as well as within the trust. I am used to

period of applying for vacancies, he was

Medical Squadron, and also to Bosnia

extreme multi-tasking within the Army and

directed to Poole Hospital, where there

and Kosovo. Tiffany discovered Step into

relying on a team to ensure we get things

Health through the Officers’ Association

done. I am able to do the same in my new

and attended an insight day at Norfolk and

job. I love having a finger in so many pies

Norwich Hospital. Taking part in a part-

that I have run out of fingers, and it is

time placement in the A&E department of

exhilarating that I can get involved in all

a London hospital, Tiffany quickly learned

areas where the trust has interests. This

that the NHS is very similar in many

is a great trust and is really an amazing

respects to the Forces, so she felt very

place to work. I come in every morning

comfortable in that environment.

with a huge smile on my face, ready to face whatever the day has to throw at me.’

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

I COME IN EVERY MORNING WITH A HUGE SMILE ON MY FACE, READY TO FACE WHATEVER THE DAY HAS TO THROW AT ME

was an opportunity to become part of the

Trust. During the placement, Gavin realised

bank staff, which gave him the relevant

there was a lot he could offer the NHS,

NHS experience to increase his chances of

if they recognised his potential input

securing a vacancy when one did become

and transferable skills. Following the

available. Essa worked as full-time HR

placement, Gavin joined the staff bank on

Business Advisor at Poole Hospital before

the last day of his Army service.

securing a full-time role at Salisbury

Gavin now works as a project manager

District Hospital as People Advisor.

(band 8) at King’s Interventional Facilities

Reflecting on the support received

Management LLP (a company owned by

from Step into Health, he says: ‘The Step

King’s College Hospital). He says: ‘People

into Health programme is one of the

who have served within the Forces are

avenues that is vital if you are considering

can-do people and are driven by results –

a pathway into the NHS or a similar

Gavin Jones

profession when leaving the Armed Forces.

Gavin served for 24 years in the Royal

defined deadlines. I would like to think

It not only gives you the information that

Logistics Corps, taking part in deployments

that, in five years’ time, I will have further

you require to succeed, but also provides

to the former Yugoslavia, Northern Ireland,

cemented my position in the NHS and

the opportunities to make it happen.

Iraq and Afghanistan. His last role was as

successfully moved into a more senior

I would personally recommend this

a Brigade Ordnance Warrant Officer. At a

position. I now understand the value I have

programme to anyone leaving the Forces

CTP event in June 2016 he met staff from

to offer is recognised by the outside world

and who wants to make a difference.’

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation

and I feel much more relaxed about looking

Trust, who shared the opportunities

for new opportunities.’

I NOW UNDERSTAND THE VALUE I HAVE TO OFFER IS RECOGNISED BY THE OUTSIDE WORLD

we chat, plan and do (in that order), with

available for supply chain experts in the NHS. After attending a dedicated Step into

If you are thinking of a healthcare-related

Health insight day a few weeks later, Gavin

career, take a look at our in-depth feature

secured a three-week work placement

on page 38.

at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation

questonline.co.uk l August/September 2018

e ar hc l lt ia ea ec H sp

YOUR ELC THE ACCESS TO HE DIPLOMA

Think you’re not qualified for a healthcare career?

Think again!

There are almost 410 Access to HE courses in health-related subjects and more than 200 specifically designed for progression to a degree in nursing. Each year, around 50% of Access to HE students study Diplomas in health, public services and care. Could you join them? Unlike many other qualifications there is no national curriculum for Access to HE Diplomas, therefore the subjects studied may vary between different Access to HE providers. However, if you are studying a Diploma designed for progression to a degree in nursing you can expect to study subjects including human biology, psychology and the context of health (including the role of the profession in supporting the health of people, the origins of public health and an awareness of the role of government and other bodies in health professions). There are more than 340 providers of Access to HE Diplomas covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Diploma When I left school without the

complete an Access to HE Diploma in a

search on our website at https://ava.

‘necessary qualifications’ I thought

health-related subject, and are accepted

accesstohe.ac.uk/SubSites/PublicSearch/

I would never fulfil my dream of

on to higher education courses in subjects

Search.aspx?acceptcookies=true lists all

becoming a midwife. After almost

and vocations allied to medicine, including

QAA-recognised Diplomas and providers. A

giving up hope all those years ago,

nursing and midwifery. Around half of these

number of these providers and Diplomas are

I am now working as a full-time

students are aged 25 or older. Many left

also listed on the ELCAS website at www.

midwife and enjoying every minute. I

school with few qualifications.

enhancedlearningcredits.com

never tire of telling people about the benefits of Access to HE! Linda White

Of all applicants accepted to higher The Access to HE course is

education courses in subjects allied to

nothing like school. The tutors are

medicine in September 2017, 48% were

very supportive, and I think they

Access to HE students – that’s 22% of all

The Access to Higher Education (HE)

recognise how life changing the

students accepted. In addition, Access

Diploma is a qualification that prepares

Access to HE qualification can be.

to HE students are just as successful

adults to succeed in higher education by

Life skills, experiences and personal

on graduation as students with other

giving them the skills, subject knowledge

stories are all valued on the Access

qualifications, with more than 60%

and confidence they need in a supportive

to HE course, as well as the main

achieving first- or high second-class

and encouraging environment. It is

study curriculum, which I have found

degrees.

equivalent to A-levels and is recognised by

very interesting and challenging.

UK higher education providers. Every year, more than 10,000 students successfully

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

Simon Hatch

Employment rates for nursing graduates with Access to HE Diplomas show that 93% were in employment or further study six

£25,000 per year. Payments are usually

I DID IT!

Talk to your education advisers (find out

taken out of your pay packet each month.

about doing maths and English GCSEs

Gabrielle Holmes

This may not seem affordable, but many

before you start your Diploma, if you

(pictured) was a

newly qualified medical professionals in

full-time housewife

the NHS earn a little under £25,000 so

before she enrolled

repayments may not start immediately

use learning credits? Could you use the

on the Access to

after you qualify. If at any time you change

publicly funded FE/HE scheme? Could

HE course. She is

your working pattern and your salary drops

now a midwife. ‘The

below the threshold, you stop paying the

Access to HE course kick-started my self-

loan. Any unpaid loan amount is written off

belief,’ she says. ‘It opened up a whole

after 30 years.

new chapter for me. Would I be where I

don’t already have them). l

you get an Advanced Learner Loan? l

Contact Access to HE providers to get more information about their Diplomas.

Many people worry that they won’t be

Check your funding options. Could you

Look at the UCAS website at ucas.com and the websites of universities, speak

am now if I hadn’t done the Access to HE

able to afford university. You don’t need to

to higher education admission staff, look

course? No way!’

pay money in advance – tuition and living

at the Council of Deans website (see

cost loans are not like commercial loans. If

web address below).

months after completing their degree (data

you live in England, you may also receive

for 2015–16 graduates). If you are interested

a childcare allowance grant that doesn’t

Find out more

in a career as a health professional you

need to be repaid. You can see if you get

You may find the following websites helpful.

might find the information on the Council

help for childcare using the calculator here:

Access to HE website:

of Deans of Health website useful: www.

www.gov.uk/childcare-calculator Many

www.accesstohe.ac.uk

thefundingclinic.org.uk/why-study-health

universities also offer funds to help with the

Advanced Learner Loans:

cost of going to university.

www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan

Tuition fees for Access to HE Diplomas vary. However, if you take out an Advanced

Standards of education for health

Enhanced Learning Credits:

Learner Loan to pay for your Access to

professional courses are the same in any UK

www.enhancedlearningcredits.com

HE studies the fees will be around £3,350.

home nation. However, funding is different

Student finance calculator:

The government-backed scheme makes

depending on where you live. You can find

www.gov.uk/student-finance-calculator

Advanced Learner Loans available to

out more on this government information

Council of Deans:

eligible students aged 19 and over. More

sheet: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/

www.councilofdeans.org.uk

information is available at gov.uk

system/uploads/attachment_data/

Funding for health degrees:

file/586757/Studying_in_a_different_

www.thefundingclinic.org.uk

Students successfully completing a QAA-recognised Access to HE Diploma will

country.pdf

If you’re thinking of a healthcare-related

have the balance of their Advanced Learner Loan cancelled when they complete their

If you’re interested in a career in healthcare

career, take a look at our in-depth feature

university studies. Advanced Learner Loan

and you don’t have the qualifications you

on page 38, while, on page 42, you can

repayments currently start when you earn

need to go to university …

find out more about Step into Health, a

more than £25,000 per year; this means

you may be paying back the loan while you study. If you are a student living in England and

Visit the Access to HE website at www.

dedicated pathway that allows the Armed

accesstohe.ac.uk/Pages/Default.aspx to

Forces community to access the numerous

find a Diploma to study.

career opportunities available in the NHS. Q

starting a nursing degree, you will need to

newsletter at http://qaa.us3.list-manage.

take out a tuition loan to fund your degree

com/subscribe?u=005201c8e9f59dec7

USING YOUR ELC

studies. However, repayments won’t start

87dc820f&id=de268c74ae

You may also use Enhanced Learning Credits towards the tuition fees for an

until you graduate and earn more than

Access to HE Diploma, and, if you’re eligible,

£30,000 pa

repayments £37 per month

you may use the publicly funded FE/HE scheme to pay for your Access to HE and university studies. It is important to look in to your funding options carefully to make

£27,000 pa

repayments £15 per month

sure you make the best choice for you. Access to HE providers, your education officer or transition staff should be able to help you choose the best route.

£24,999 pa

repayments £0 per month

questonline.co.uk l August/September 2018

o claim them YOUR ELC HELP AND ADVICE

y detailed guidance from ingleâ&#x20AC;?Service education

Next steps

Read JSP898 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Defence Direction and Guidance on Training, Education and Skills. urposes â&#x2014;? Register for the scheme in accordance e for fullâ&#x20AC;?time or partâ&#x20AC;?time with published guidelines. â&#x2014;? Think about what fits your personal ification at level 3 or above, development plan and your future. e NQF or SCQF, with an â&#x2014;? Check that the course you wish to enrol the approved providers list on is allowable under the rules. This might include: degrees â&#x2014;? Get the necessary approval to enrol. e qualifications â&#x2014;? Talk with your line manager and mic qualifications education/learning staff. selfâ&#x20AC;?development or general enquiries â&#x2014;? Startabout learning, make the most of the to scheme, eligibility and n of prior learning qualifications, seek youradvice life. from the following singleraining Service education and resettlement staff in the first and accreditation fees instance, not ELCAS. ELCASâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role is to administer applications, ications not provide advice and guidance on eligibility or education/ IMPORTANT REMINDER! alifications learning or resettlement needs. Policy helpline details are as t training (during last two If you left the Armed Forces in 2006 and have ice only). follows. yet to use your ELC, time is running out. You l RN: RN/RM Education and Resettlement Officers (EROs), Naval claimed for: have ten years after leaving Service to make Education and Training Support ning your claim, so act Officers now. Use(NETSOs) it or lose it!and Naval Resettlement Information Officers (NRIOs) at RN/RM Learning edited Service training ast 30 hours extra work is Centres. Education and Resettlement Staff seeking further SCHEME: LATEST STATS gether with a separate clarification of sSELC instructions should contact SO3 EL3R, at DII: From its inception until the end of ment or assignment) â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;NAVY TRG HQ-EL3R RESET SO3Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ( Mil: 93832 5954 September 2015, 367,632 people had p fees Civ: 02392 625954) registered with the ELC scheme and materials l Army: Individual 111,094 Education and Resettlement Officers claims had been made, to the(IERO), ice sport and adventurous value of ÂŁ162.6 at Army Education Centres, whichmillion. must be used by Service â&#x2014;?

Useful contacts

Need to know more? Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s who can help â&#x20AC;Ś

leavers on resettlement. Education and Resettlement Staff seeking further clarification of sS instructions should contact the relevant SO2 Retention and Resettlement in Regional Command (RC) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; DII: RC-Pers-ETS-N-RetResSO2 or RC-PersETS-S-RetResSO2 or Civ: ( l

Army-ELC-Veterans@mod.gov.uk

Mil: 94391 7580 Civ: 01264 381580)

RAF: Personal Learning Advisors (PLAs), and Resettlement and Education Coordinators (REC) at RAF Learning Centres. Education and Resettlement Staff seeking further clarification of sS instructions should contact SO2 Accreditation at DII: â&#x20AC;&#x2122;22TrgGp-CTS-AndEWg-SO2â&#x20AC;&#x2122; (

Mil: 95751 6888 Civ: 01400

266888) In addition, advice on any aspect of the ELC and FEHE schemes is available from: People-TESRR-ResetOffice@mod.uk Q

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PD is about self-improvement and satisfaction. It is open to everyone and can be done for one or many of the following reasons: >> to improve knowledge for personal interest >> to be introduced to new ideas or skills >> to broaden horizons

>> to enhance in-Service career prospects >> to gain qualifications >> to prepare for a second career

PD wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just happen. You must take steps to find out whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s available and decide what you want to do. Use the flow chart below as a guide

Other sources of information include:

Individual talks to line manager about developing a realistic plan and maintaining a PD record (PDR)

A PDâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6; Route Map

>> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>

Individual decides: >> subject to be studied and qualification (if any) >> level of study (basic/key skills, GCSE, S/NVQ, A-level, degree, postgraduate) >> mode of study (e.g. short courses, distance learning)

unit education or training officer in-Service publications in-Service education centre local library or civilian college the internet Quest magazine friends and family Quest website: questonline.co.uk

In-Service

Local colleges or training providers

Distance/ open learning

eLearning â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Defence Learning Environment (DLE)

PD can mean anything from career courses to sports and adventurous training courses. See Q for other options for Service personnel

A range of further education (16+) and higher education (degree and above) courses are available. Ask your education/training officer or local college/library for a brochure

College attendance is not necessarily required. Flexible study can be undertaken by correspondence, or using the internet and tutorial support is usually available

There is now a huge amount of high-quality learning material freely available online to Armed Forces and Civil Service personnel, accessible either over the World Wide Web or via the Defence Intranet. The Defence Learning Environment (DLE) is the MODâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s central distance learning resource, providing â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;one stopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; access to a wide range of eLearning, courses, wikis, forums and other materials across a large number of key topics including: IT skills including ECDL, core competencies, health and safety, languages and business skills. Readily available via your Defence Gateway account. Visit http://www.da.mod.uk/ Courses/Online-E-Learning/DLE or www.defencegateway.mod.uk

Grants and funding are available for most forms of PD. See â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sources of advice and financeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for details. Course complete? Look for your next learning!

Distance Learning

Distance learning allows you to study at your own pace, no matter where you are. A range of schemes and courses are available but it requires discipline to organise your study time. Most colleges readily offer help and advice to their students. Standard Learning Credits (SLC) and Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) can be used for many of these courses but certain conditions may apply (see Sources of advice and finance).

To find out more, check out the article about distance learning on page 24.

College Courses

You may prefer to attend a part-time class, or short course, at a local college. Your education officer may have this information to hand and most colleges publish a brochure. Some people prefer to study in this more structured environment. You must gain authority from your unit to attend and it is worth seeking unit guidance before making any financial commitment. You may also be able to claim the SLC and ELC. In addition, many in-Service education centres run classes specifically for Forces people and families, especially overseas. Some are free and most are discounted for families. Contact your education/training officer for details.

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

Personal Development Record (PDR)

Everyone should keep their own PDR in which they should record educational plus other PD achievements, appraisals and courses. It encourages people to assess and evaluate what they are doing, what they have learned, and where they are going in terms of career and personal development. Ask your education/training officer where you can get your copy.

Key: Q Service personnel

Sources of advice and finance Standard Learning Credits

The SLC scheme allows personnel to obtain financial assistance for learning costs. You are able to claim 80% of your course fees, up to a maximum of £175 per financial year. To qualify for SLC funding, the course of study must lead to a nationally recognised qualification, have substantial developmental value and directly benefit the Service.

Enhanced Learning Credits

The ELC scheme offers currently serving or former Service personnel access to a first full level 3 (GCE A-level or vocational equivalent) or a first higher education (HE) qualification (e.g. a foundation degree or a first undergraduate degree or equivalent) free from tuition fees. The ELC lower tier offers up to three payments of up to £1,000 in three separate financial years; the higher tier offers up to three payments of up to £2,000 in three separate financial years. A new Publicly Funded Further Education/Higher Education ELC was created in 2016. It’s an aggregated lower-tier award, which is a single payment of up to £3,000 for those with six or more years of qualifying service, which will count as all three awards. You must make a contribution to your learning of at least 20% of the cost, and must discuss your plans with your line manager and education adviser before making any financial commitment. Detailed information about ELC can be found in the first half of this magazine. For full details visit www.enhancedlearningcredits.com

Individual Resettlement Training Costs grant

The IRTC grant is available to Service leavers with six or more years’ service and all Medical Discharges. It is a contribution to training costs and can be used internally at the Resettlement Training Centre (RTC) Aldershot, or at a Regional Resettlement Centre (RRC) for vocational training courses. It can also be used externally for training with CTP Preferred Suppliers. IRTC is available for tuition fees up to a maximum of £534. A range of courses at the RTC Aldershot is delivered within the MoD contract, called Contract Funded (CF) training. These courses are pre-paid by the MoD and only ‘cost’ the Service leaver time and a portion of their £534 allowance. No money changes hands for the training but days and funding are deducted from the GRT allocation at a rate of £26.70 per day. The £534 gives access to up to 20 days of CF training. Any exam or registration fees are extra and payable by the student, but other allowances may be available to help with these. The CTP also offers a range of courses that are not within the MoD contract. These are known as Non-Contract Funded courses and you can use your IRTC grant or ELC to pay for these.

Professional and Career Development Loans These are designed to help people change direction or increase their skills by providing a deferred repayment loan of between £300 and £10,000 to cover up to 80% of tuition fees for a vocational course of up to two years, plus a further year’s work experience if appropriate. Courses can be full-time or part-time, or involve open or distance learning, and people who have been out of work for three months can apply to have all their course fees covered. The low-interest loan is arranged through one of four high-street banks, and certain conditions and criteria apply. Find out which banks offer the loan and order an application pack by calling the National Careers Service on Tel: 0800 100 900. You can also check online to see if you are eligible – visit www.gov.uk/career-development-loans

QUEST questonline.co.uk

Key: Q Service personnel

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) provides compensation for any injury, illness or death that is predominantly caused by service on or after 6 April 2005. The War Pension Scheme (WPS) compensates for any injury, illness or death that occurred up to this date. All current and former members of the UK Armed Forces, including Reservists, may submit a claim for compensation. For advice and guidance, call Veterans UK’s free helpline on 0808 1914218. Alternatively, you can visit: www.veterans-uk.info

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service UCAS deals with applications for first degree and similar standard courses at over 250 universities and colleges in the UK. Remember that you no longer need A-levels to go to university – vocational A-levels/NVQs and access courses now qualify students as well. If you are interested in entering higher education, call the UCAS hotline on Tel: 0371 468 0468 or visit www.ucas.com

University Short Courses

The University Short Course Programme (USCP) exists to enhance the general educational development of Service personnel through providing short courses at a range of universities in topics such as leadership and management, regional and strategic studies, and languages. Course fees and accommodation costs are funded by the Services. Further details are available from education/learning centres or search in DINs.

learndirect learndirect is a free government service via which qualified advisers provide information on all aspects of learning, from UK-wide learning opportunities, to career guidance and sources of finance, and other national and local organisations that can help. Advisers can answer questions on any aspect of learning. The website address is www.learndirect.com The freephone number is Tel: 0800 101901.

Jobcentre Plus Finding a job

Jobcentre Plus has one of Britain’s largest databases of job vacancies, which is updated constantly. The database also lets you search for training, career information, voluntary work and childcare providers across the UK. You can search the database via Universal Jobmatch (www.gov.uk – search for ‘jobs’) or by using the Job Point in your local Jobcentre. When you find a job you are interested in, either using the Jobcentre Plus job search or at the Job Point in your local Jobcentre, Jobcentre advisers will tell you how to apply, send you an application form and may even contact the employer (so have your address, National Insurance number, date of birth and the job reference number to hand).

Benefits

If you’re unsure which benefits you can get, you can check online using the Gov.uk ‘Benefits calculators’ pages (www.gov.uk – search for ‘benefits calculators’). To find out more about Jobseeker’s Allowance, who can get it and how to claim online, go to the Gov.uk ‘Jobseeker’s Allowance’ pages (www.gov.uk – search for ‘Jobseeker’s Allowance’). You can also claim by phone by calling Jobcentre Plus on 0800 055 6688. There’s a Welsh-language line on 0800 012 1888, and a textphone on 0800 023 4888 if you find it hard to speak or hear clearly. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am–6pm.

Armed Forces Champions

Armed Forces Champions have been established in Jobcentre Plus districts throughout the country to ensure that the concerns of Service personnel and their families are addressed. Working with local bases and Families Federations, the role of the Champions is to raise awareness of the support available through Jobcentre Plus, such as information on the local labour market and how to claim benefits. (Any problems accessing Jobcentre Plus services can be fed through to local Champions via Unit Admin Offices.)

questonline.co.uk l August/September 2018

HUB THE

THE HUB

>> Course and training options, transition news and reader reports >> COURSE NEWS

X-Forces’ courses! Thinking of self-employment? Check out these FREE workshops and course from X-Forces, the MoD’s official training partner for self-employment, delivering training through the CTP. l

Southampton: 29 August – Self-Employment Discovery workshop Whether you’ve already started working on your business idea or are just considering self-employment, come along to our business workshop and meet like-minded people. Find out more at http://bit.ly/2JVFmgf

Newcastle: 4 September – Self-Employment Discovery workshop This one-day workshop will provide you with a better idea of what starting a business entails and a clear understanding of what support is on offer, so you can plan your next steps. Find out more at http://bit.ly/2Lnn9ZU

London: 5 & 6 September – Business Start Up Skills course The aim of this course is to equip potential entrepreneurs with the tools to move forward with their ideas from planning to launch. Find out more at http://bit.ly/2L0ZT7A

Find out more about X-Forces For full details of how to register for X-Forces’ start-up and business planning support, visit www.x-forces.com You can also call them on 0800 368 9533 or email info@x-forces.com

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

>> RESEARCH

A PhD in pants!

A scientist at the Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is celebrating after his research into washing underpants earned him a PhD from Cranfield University. The unusual research topic Watch the video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1Dx2KrmGak even looked at using a cement mixer to do the laundry, mimicking the ingenious ways soldiers found to keep their clothes clean in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mark has spent the past seven years researching the effect of continuous washing on protective clothing. The study looked at how protective systems, including the Tier 1 Pelvic Protection System, or ‘blast pants’, issued to troops during the Afghan conflict would degrade with use. At the time, the development of the protective underwear was an Urgent Operational Requirement and therefore it was not possible to do all of the testing that would normally be done during the procurement process. Dstl started work to understand how robust these items would be to help improve them for the next generation. It turned out that the garments were far tougher than had dared been hoped! Says Mark, ‘The introduction of fragment protective fabrics into combat clothing meant we needed to understand the effect of laundering on the performance of these fabrics. The research revealed evidence that the fabrics used retained their ballistic protective performance, while other potential fabrics showed improvement after washing.’ A number of wash types were investigated in the research, which included washing in a cement mixer. This unusual method was utilised by some enterprising soldiers in Afghanistan when they didn’t have access to a washing machine. Mark adds: ‘I started work in the field of body armour 20 years ago, and served with the UK Armed Forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan as part of the scientific advisory branch. With friends in the Armed Forces it became a personal battle to help protect those who were putting themselves in harm’s way.’ Mark’s research is now being used to inform the development of the next generation of fragment protective clothing for the Armed Forces. See Mark talking about the inspiration behind his PhD project here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7Ni3vD36Ik

>> CREATIVE MEDIA PRODUCTION >> MILITARY ID BENEFITS

Veterans permitted to retain military ID, allowing easier access to services Personnel leaving the Armed Forces will now be able to keep their military ID, Minister for Defence People and Veterans Tobias Ellwood has announced. The move will allow Veterans to maintain their emotional connection with the Armed Forces, allowing them to keep the card they have carried throughout their careers. Retaining their ID card, known as MoD Form 90, will also allow Service leavers to be identified as Veterans quickly and easily, aiding their transition to civilian life. Veterans UK (which manages Armed Forces pensions and compensation payments), local authorities, charities and GPs will all benefit from the change, as they will not have to conduct timeconsuming checks to identify individual Veterans. The Prime Minister last year also announced plans to provide the 2.5 million former Armed Forces personnel with cards that identify them as Veterans, in recognition of their service to the nation. Says Tobias Ellwood, ‘Our Armed Forces give their all to keep this country safe and leaving the military can be an emotional time. That’s why I’m delighted that people leaving the Armed Forces will be able to retain that emotional connection with their Service by keeping their ID card. Retaining their ID card will also make it easier for them to access the many public services that prioritise Veterans under the Armed Forces Covenant. This is a small change that I know will make a big difference.’ Handing back the Service ID card has regularly been identified as something that members of the Armed Forces would like. Instead of handing back their card to be destroyed on the day of discharge, the corners will now be cut off to show the card is no longer valid. This will ensure that security is maintained at bases and other sensitive sites. The MoD is conducting a major cross-government review of Veterans policy and provision, which will inform a new Veterans strategy that will be released in the autumn. Part of this involves ensuring greater recognition of Veterans so they can efficiently access government and third-sector support, and allowing the retention of MoD Form 90 ID is the start of this. Concludes Service leaver Col David Madden, ‘My ID card is more than just a piece of plastic with my photo on. It signifies my service and marks my time in the Armed Forces. While it might seem like something small, keeping my card will make a practical difference by allowing me to verify my service to my GP surgery and local authority.’

Forces Media Academy’s first graduates make the grade

The inaugural intake of Service leavers and Veterans to graduate from the Forces Media Academy were recently congratulated by The Duke of York at a graduation ceremony. The Forces Media Academy offers Service Veterans the opportunity to study for a Higher National Certificate qualification in Creative Media Production, to gain access to an industry where, historically, people with a military background have been underrepresented. Former Royal Marine bandswoman, Poppy Pawsey, is one of the graduates to complete the ten-month course. Remarkably, she recently picked up a global radio award in New York for co-producing I Am Unconquered, a documentary about Invictus Games athletes, which was broadcast on Forces Radio BFBS. Says Poppy, ‘I have really enjoyed working on radio and film documentaries – telling a story about something I am passionate about, and delivering it with emotion and heart is very important to me. This course has opened my eyes to another world, it has given me the foundation

skills in all aspects of media and I am looking forward to exploring them more.’ The FMA’s principal charity partner, The Royal British Legion, supported all of the students with an £18,000 bursary towards living costs, and the course was also free, thanks to funding from the Chancellor’s LIBOR Fund. Both the bursary and funding have been offered to the next intake of students who will start at the Academy in September this year. CEO of the Services Sound & Vision Corporation (SSVC), Simon Bucks, says: ‘These Veterans took a completely new direction as they transitioned from Service life to study alongside our media professionals here at SSVC. Their successes during this course demonstrate how the skills they have learned in their military careers can be transferred into very creative fields such as digital, TV and radio production.’ For more information about applying for the Forces Media Academy, visit www.forcesacademy.com Applications for the 2019/2020 course open on 1 September and close on 31 January 2019.

>> WOMEN IN TECH

RAF joins Tech She Can pledge More than 50 major organisations have now signed up to the Tech She Can Charter, a commitment to take action together to increase the number of women taking up technology roles in the UK. The RAF is one of the latest signatories and publicly announced its commitment to Tech She Can at the Royal International Air Tattoo in July. Carol Vorderman, the first female honorary Ambassador for the RAF Air Cadets, publicly added her backing to Tech She Can and the coordinated drive to inspire more females to pursue technology careers.

The Tech She Can Charter, backed by professional services network PwC, was launched in February to tackle the reasons behind the shortfall of women in technology roles. Only 19% of the UK technology workforce is currently female. However, some of PwC’s own women in tech demonstrate how RAF careers can lead to broader technology roles. Jo Salter, Britain’s first female fast jet pilot for the RAF, now works as a director in PwC’s technology and investments team, and PwC’s drones leader, Elaine Whyte, spent 20 years in the RAF as a safety and airworthiness engineer. To find out more about the initiative, visit www.pwc.co.uk/whowe-are/women-in-technology/tech-she-can-charter.html

questonline.co.uk l August/September 2018

THE HUB

>> TRAVEL DISCOUNTS

Coach and bus travel savings for serving and former members of the Armed Forces National Express offers the largest discount of its kind in the UK on its coach services (60% off travel), through the Defence Discount Service, and recently extended the discount to include group bookings, so if a serving member of the Armed Forces books discounted travel with National Express he/she can also book his/ family at the full discounted rate. The discount details are as follows. National Express coach l 60% discount to serving Armed Forces and Reserve Forces l 30% discount to spouses/partners of serving personnel, HM Armed Forces Veterans (ex-serving), MoD civil servants, bereaved family members, war/service widow(er) s, Cadet Forces (over 16), NATO personnel in the UK l 60% to parties when booking as a group with serving Armed Forces and Reserve Forces as the lead (e.g. a family travelling together can book together)

Trade Skills 4U opens four new electrical training facilities to deliver 18th Edition courses Trade Skills 4U, the UK’s premier electrical training company, is excited to announce the opening of four brand new facilities, based at Durham CCC, Cardiff, Hatfield and Coventry … Established in 2005 Trade Skills 4U has been training electricians across the country at its Gatwick, London, Warrington and, more recently, Leeds centres. Due to high demand for the new 18th Edition courses, Trade Skills 4U has announced that four new short course centres are now open and taking bookings for courses. The company has also announced that more centres are due to open later this year, so watch this space! l

National Express West Midlands (bus services) l 20% discount to members of the Armed Forces community l 10% discount to spouses/partners of serving personnel, HM Armed Forces Veterans (ex-serving), MoD civil servants, bereaved family members, war/service widow(er) s, Cadet Forces (over 16), NATO personnel in the UK l Free travel for families visiting soldiers at the Military Hospital at QE Hospital in Birmingham

This spring, National Express signed up to the government’s Armed Forces Covenant for a further five years with a new package of pledges to support the Armed Forces: l guaranteed interviews to Service leavers for all National Express roles across coach and bus (originally available only to those with a PCV licence) l include spouses and families of Service leavers in its guaranteed interview scheme l ten days’ extra leave for staff in the Reserve Forces l extend its existing discount of 60% on coach travel for serving personnel to include group bookings l discounted bus travel on its West Midlands network l free bus travel to families visiting soldiers at the Military Hospital at the QE in Birmingham and to volunteers on Remembrance Sunday. The company already employs more than 40 former Forces personnel and Reservists in a variety of roles including. To find out more about the discounts and offers, and how to register, visit www.defencediscountservice.co.uk/national_ express_defence_discount.php

North East (Durham CCC) – great for Newcastle, Sunderland and the north-east: Chosen because of its great location, fantastic facilities and easy access via the A1(M), A167 and A693, Durham County Cricket Club’s ground is within easy reach of Durham, Sunderland, Newcastle, Gateshead and all over the north-east. 18th Edition courses are delivered in bright, spacious rooms and the ground has the added benefit of plenty of free parking. Cricket lovers may also get lucky and catch sight of a game when they are there! Wales (Cardiff University) – great for Wales and the south-west: Based within the Cardiff University campus, near the M4 and the A48, the facility is easily commutable from Swansea, Cardiff and Newport. The campus is also easy to get to by bus from central Cardiff and from nearby train stations. The conference centre has excellent training rooms with an impressive range of food outlets and plenty of parking on-site. Hertfordshire (University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield) – great for north London, Herts, Bucks and Essex: This bright, clean and spacious centre is based within the University of Hertfordshire campus. The centre is in a great location, close to the junction of the A1(M) and A414, and is easily accessible from the Home Counties, including Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Essex, offering plenty of on-site free parking. Midlands (Coventry Manufacturing Technology Centre) – great for Birmingham, Leicester, Northampton and the Midlands: The MTC is situated just north-east of Coventry on the M6/M69 junction. The centre is accessible from all around the Midlands region, and the A45, M1, M6 and M42. Courses are delivered within the MTC in bright, spacious training rooms that meet Trade Skills 4U’s high standards. Free parking and food outlets are also available on-site.

At present these facilities offer only 18th edition courses, however this could easily change in the future – we will let you know. CEO, Carl Bennett says: ‘We have seen a huge demand from our customers for the new 18th Edition courses and to satisfy this demand we have added four new short course centres nationwide, with more to come later this year. The design of new electrical installations will be required to comply with the 18th Edition from January 2019 and we assume that, from that date, scheme providers will be asking members to hold the 18th Edition. ‘Those interested in booking a course with us can rest assured that we recruit only experienced tutors who have previously worked on the tools and have been teaching for a number of years. We are committed to ensuring our students receive first-class knowledge and advice from professional tutors who have a real passion for what they do. In fact, our pass rates reflect this and we can boast that more people pass City & Guilds electrical courses with us than with any other UK provider.’ Main centres As well as these new short course centres, Trade Skills 4U has four main training centres, at Gatwick, Warrington, Leeds and London (next to Euston Station). All sites have state-of-theart classrooms and workshops built to the highest specifications with the latest technology. Customers can choose from a huge range of courses delivered at these centres, including domestic installer packages, City & Guilds Diplomas, inspection and testing, plus much more. For details, visit www.tradeskills4u.co.uk/pages/leeds-sheffield-bradford-electrical-courses To find out more, go to www.tradeskills4u.co.uk/pages/course-finder or call to speak to a member of the sales team on 0800 856 4448. See the advertisement on page 19

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

>> RALLY FOR HEROES 2018

>> VETERANS SUPPORT

Ant Middleton Fund launched to help Vets get back on their feet Ant MIddleton (pictured), star of SAS Who Dares Wins and Special Forces Veteran, has teamed up with SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, to launch the Ant Middleton Fund, to help Veterans get back on their feet as they return to civilian life. Ant himself turned to SSAFA for support when he struggled to cope with civilian life after leaving the military. He has experienced first-hand the challenges Service men and women face when they return to civvy street, ending up on the wrong side of the law, in prison and struggling to support his family. However, he was able to get through this with the support of SSAFA. The Fund has been launched to ensure that other Veterans get the same support he did. The money raised will help SSAFA provide a lifeline for Veterans and their families as they adjust to civilian life, through its transition services. Speaking about the launch of the Fund, Ant says: ‘The Ant Middleton Fund is a call to action. I want change, so we can stop reading stories of Veterans unable to get the support they need. I’m hopeful that together we can put an end to unnecessary suffering of those who risked their lives for our

safety.’ SSAFA runs a range of support services for Veterans to help them achieve their full potential in their new lives outside the military. Its provision includes its bespoke mentoring service, which offers face-to-face support to motivate and empower Service leavers, as well as personalised welfare, housing and practical support for Veterans and their families. To donate to the Ant Middleton Fund, visit www.ssafa.org.uk/AMF

Briggs Defence gears up After sponsoring a team in Rally for Heroes back in 2016, Briggs Defence has stepped up its support for the charity fundraiser and is a main sponsor of this year’s event, which is aiming to bring in £150,000 for SSAFA. Rally for Heroes takes place from 2–11 August, when the cars will set off from Horse Guards Parade in London. Taking in some of Europe’s most picturesque scenery, the 50 teams participating in the fully subscribed event will follow a set route through ten countries. Gary Clements of Briggs Defence says: ‘Rally for Heroes is SSAFA’s biggest single fundraiser, and as an event and team sponsor for this year’s rally we’re delighted to support the Armed Forces charity’s wonderful work in support of serving and veteran military personnel.’ Every five miles of the Rally represents the life of a Service man or woman who has died in combat since the start of the Afghanistan conflict. This is especially important for SSAFA, which provides specialist support to hundreds of bereaved and injured Service families affected by recent conflicts, including Afghanistan. On the first day the teams will cross the Channel to France and then make their way to Switzerland, heading through mountain passes to Italy. Day four is the drive south to Venice before the cars turn east into Slovenia – a first for Rally for Heroes – and then head south along the coastal roads of Croatia. The route for day six is Croatia to Bosnia, after which the teams drive north through Austria to Germany. Day nine will see the teams make their way along the autobahns to Luxembourg before embarking on the final leg to the finish back in the UK. Since its inception in 2010, Rally for Heroes has raised in excess of £384,000 for British military charities, including Help for Heroes, The Royal British Legion and SSAFA. Anyone interested in sponsoring the Briggs Defence team can donate here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=RfH186& pageUrl=7&isTeam=true

>> JOB FAIRS CTP Employment Fair 27 September 2018, Leeds CTP Employment Fair 11 October 2018, Southampton These CTP employment fairs offer: l a fantastic networking opportunity, whether you’re ready to apply for live jobs or simply researching the market l the chance to meet employers who already recognise the skills and experience Service leavers can offer l presentations from key employers about their recruitment processes and vacancies l a wide range of companies, from small regional organisations to large multinationals, across a host of industry sectors l the opportunity to chat with Service support organisations, CTP staff and other Service leavers who are also going through the resettlement process. They are open only to serving and ex-military personnel who have pre-registered to attend through the CTP. This is a great networking opportunity. Don’t miss out on the chance to meet employers with current and future job vacancies! In addition, the full list of Employment Fair dates for 2018 are now available and ready to book (see right). If you wish to book on to any of these dates, call the CTP Central Bookings Team on 0203 162 4410, email CTPEvents@ctp.org.uk or visit https://www.ctp.org.uk/events to find out more.

Event Date North East Employment Fair

27 September 2018

South Coast Employment Fair

11 October 2018

West Midlands Employment Fair

29 November 2018

questonline.co.uk l August/September 2018

N EW

PRACTICAL ADVICE JOB HUNTING

S IE R SE

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QUEST RESETTLEMENT SUCCESS STORY Ricky Burt left the army in 2014 after 7 years of service... like many, he didn’t easily find his feet in civilian life... then he discovered the “key” was to become a locksmith!

Just 3 years on Ricky is earning £4000 a month running his own Lockforce business. Here’s Ricky’s resettlement story in his own words: I read about Lockforce in an issue of QUEST that was given to me during my resettlement. I joined Lockforce because I wanted to be my own boss. I’m doing a job I love, but have a network of colleagues who are there to help – as well as head office, just a phone call away. I have had someone to teach me about running a business, and to provide me with the training I needed. The training worked very well - it started in a classroom and then we would go out doing jobs with real customers, so I actually got hands-on training while doing live jobs, which is how I like to learn. Running the business is great! I work the hours I want to and I am earning more than I ever could have running a business alone. My business is still growing and I get directly rewarded according to how hard I work.

I have children so I get to spend time with them now, which I didn’t while I was in the forces, so now I get to make up for that. When they finish school I can be there to pick them up – I can make my work revolve around my life now, which I couldn’t in the past. I feel confident that my future with Lockforce will be exciting and lucrative. If you’re thinking of starting your own business and want some help, support and camaraderie along the way then becoming a Lockforce franchisee like Ricky could be the answer Get on task quickly and start earning from week one with help from our expert team. For a FREE Information Pack call Gayle on

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questonline.co.uk l August/September 2018

YOUR RESETTLEMENT SELF-EMPLOYMENT

STEVE BULLEYMENT

eing able to strap on

to this point in space the first

a Tesla car, including

stage is released (more of this

dummy pilot, and

later). Next, there is a secondary

playing David Bowie en-route to

burn – and it’s the same with

Mars surely tells us something.

your business.

Elon Musk has earned the right

In fact, this is a common

to do what he wants – needing

point at which businesses fail

neither permission nor blessing

and can be the saddest of

from anyone.

endings for a business owner.

This got me thinking about business, and how much it’s like the reusable rocket that Musk has developed. The stages that a rocket goes through are very similar to the journey you take when you leave the safety of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces and start a business on civvy street. If you’re thinking about being your own boss, you need to keep one thing in mind …

Do you have enough rocket fuel? Elon Musk knows about rocket

Rocket science ‘If you love space (and I do),’ says regular QUEST contributor, Steve Bulleyment, director of Lincolnshire-based specialist auto locksmith company Car Key Man, ‘you have to admire Elon Musk. Despite being told it would never work, so many times, he has done what any boy dreams of: making rockets and playing with them like toys.’ Could you apply the same enthusiasm and belief to the ‘reusable rocket’ of your potential new business?

fuel, having enough and what

and running, but just when you feel it’s starting to work, you run out of fuel. When the spare cash is all used up, and you can’t find any more funding, you never reach the point at which you reap the rewards. For you, instead of releasing a satellite, your rewards come from reaching orbit by getting regular customers and profits, and breaking even, after paying your tax bill. (And tax bills and break-even are articles on their own.) Once this money has been allowed for, and you have

happens when things go wrong.

in order to trade, I needed stock,

because you may not have any

reached the wage that you set

He’s had so many failures that

a software licence, Yellow Pages,

customers, or if you do, you may

yourself at the very start, then

he acknowledges he was very

etc. So, my initial costs were in

be working much slower than

your business is self-propelling.

close to bankruptcy. He used up

fact £25,000. Straight away, I

necessary, or you may have

Your fuel burn is over, apart

all his spare cash and was bailed

was £10,000 over budget! Who

costs to pay back in the early

from minor course corrections

out by a billionaire to carry on

knows the total amount that Elon

stages. Unlike SpaceX, which

and, if there are no emergencies,

the project. So how much rocket

Musk invested into SpaceX?

is in space in minutes, let’s say

you won’t need any more cash.

fuel, in the case of your business, do you need? Let’s look at the

Launch

stages.

Building your rocket

that you’ll be a few weeks before

Of course, you’ll still need

things settle down into a rhythm.

to invest some money into the

This is the most exciting bit. Just

Remember, all this time you are

business. If you’re a painter

like Elon’s rocket, you have all

burning fuel, or cash.

and decorator, you’ll need

this money already tied into the

consumables and hand tools.

This starts off being exciting,

launch, money you’ll never get

Reaching orbit

but soon becomes frustrating,

back, and the moment you do

So, you’re off the launch pad and

need new power tools. For us,

simply because you just want

launch you begin trading. You’ll

making some money – fantastic!

we allow at least £10,000 every

to get going. You’re going to

have your first ever phone call,

You have a business. The aim

year for new software and

need money to set up. How

the first ever customer (I still

now is to focus on getting into

hardware. But if your business

much depends on what you want

remember mine), and then it’s up

orbit. For SpaceX, the orbit will

is performing correctly, it will

to do. However, whatever the

to you – and you alone – to get

be wherever the satellite needs

generate this extra cash itself.

amount you have in mind, my

on with it.

to be released from, and to get

It’s an amazing feeling.

advice is to double it. The bills

The hard work is done, you’re up

If you’re a plumber, you may

There’s also a tremendous

have a habit of adding up, little

amount of fuel used in the

things creep in, and accessories

launch phase – or, in the case

haven’t been allowed for. When

of business, cash. It’s possible

I set up my car key business,

that, in the first few weeks and

I estimated I’d need to spend

maybe months, you’ll not make

£15,000 on equipment. However,

any profit. This is very simply

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

Visit the Car Key Man YouTube Channel at: www.youtube.com/c/TheCarKeyMan

Readers must consult their Single Service Advisors BEFORE committing to courses When responding to advertisements please mention Quest

Return to Earth: selling the business Remember the first-stage rocket,

Likewise, just four months later, it landed on an ocean barge, an amazing feat.

the one that normally is lost

Why do we need to bother

Read Steveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s regularly updated blog at: http://steveoncivvystreet.co.uk/ You need to think about this

SpaceX team: you must keep

into the ocean? Well, as youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll

with this last stage? Well, if you

when setting up, whether or not

some cash back so that you

probably have seen, Elon Musk

ever want to retire from your

you are planning to sell up. If you

never run out of fuel. To get so

has taken it one stage further.

business, do something different

fell ill suddenly or, worse still,

close and to fail through lack of

His dream was to make space

or start another business, the

died, all of your effort is wasted

cash would be heart-breaking

travel cheaper, by reusing the

aim must be to sell it and get

if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not able to be sold.

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and devastating financially.

parts of the rocket that would

some money back. Wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t

normally be lost. His very public

it be good to recoup all the

plans like SpaceX. However, to

burned completely and having

catalogue of failures must

money you invested in the initial

get repaid for all the work that

nothing to show for it.

have made his final success

rocket build and getting into

it took should be your goal. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

even sweeter. On 21 December

orbit? Elon Musk certainly has

certainly mine. Granted it will

SpaceX shows us that failure is

take some more fuel, more cash.

a part your final success. You

SpaceX crashed over ten of

should expect it, plan for it and,

these landing stages to get the

with some hard work and good

final landing right. Now, it has

fortune, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll achieve your own

done the hard work, money can

orbit â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whatever that may be. Q

A career in law now. By planning ahead, he has stage, at Cape Canaveral in a esomething that has real value without a law degree 2015, SpaceX landed its first

perfect landing; it made history.

should he ever want to sell it.

Make a successful uccessful tr transition ansition ond career b y stud ying into a second by studying KEY SKILLS S L N H S X \ H S P Ă&#x201E; J H [ P V U MVY H WHYHSLNHS X\HSPĂ&#x201E;JH[PVU I` Steveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business, the Car Key Man, is a specialist autoI` earning Launching in distance learning locksmith company covering Lincolnshire. 2004, Steve spotted an opportunity to no. solve the problem of vider 1105 replacing lost and stolen car keys.cilexla The company now offers wschool.ac.uk and workshop facilities as well as a mobile service. box. Contact S in the searchRecognising L Voffers U free owners, \[ TVYit the needs of concerned vehicle S H ^ ' J P S L _ S H ^ Z J O VS HJ \R consultations to find an affordable solution to theVgrowing number of car key problems.

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YOUR RESETTLEMENT MEET THE RESERVES

MEET THE RESERVES

S IE R SE

Vickie Bracken, Army Reservist ‘Those who can, teach and train to be the best!’ The Reserve Forces are an integral part of the nation’s Armed Forces. With the government’s plans to increase the size of the Reserves to create a more balanced Armed Forces structure, their contribution will be more important than ever. In our new series, read out about some of those who’ve already joined up and how to find out more if you decide to follow suit.

ince 2003 Reservists have been called out to serve on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, to name

just a few, resulting in many employers experiencing the mobilisation of one or more employees. Research suggests that 87% of Reservist employers who have experienced mobilisation were very supportive. This is good news, as Reservists could not carry out their important role, and train to the high standards of professionalism required, without the cooperation of their employers. Working in pressurised conditions during training or periods of mobilisation inevitably develops Reservists’ selfconfidence, but it also helps them develop skills that many organisations in the civilian world don’t have the time or money to develop. In fact, research has found that the average employer would have to pay over £8,000 a year to purchase the same training in civilian skills as their employees receive from their Reservist training. Skills gained include soft skills such as leadership, initiative, decision making and working as a team – all important attributes for people working in many different sectors. The government wants to make joining the Reserves more attractive to ex-Regulars and, to this end, has simplified the Regular-to-Reserve transfer process, reinforcing it with financial incentives such as the Commitment Bonus. Introduced in 2013, this provides a payment of £5,000

FIND OUT MORE Defence Relationship Management (DRM) is the single point of contact that links employers with the MoD. To discover more, visit www.gov.uk/government/groups/ defence-relationship-management

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

Quest March 2015 Final_2015 06/03/2015 13:16 Page 15 March 2015 Final_2015 06/03/2015 13:16 Page 15 Quest

100% Guaranteed Work Placements

over three years for ex-Regular

Peterborough for the past nine

transfers. In addition, Service

years but longed for a new

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their rank on transfer to the

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capacity to expand the Regular

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Forces to face new challenges

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a major military operation

is simply go for it! Making the

without the support of the

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Reserves. Vickie Bracken is one

step. I kept thinking, do I fit?

of those already providing that

But I soon realised there is no

support …

one type of person. In the past

Vickie’s story

few months, I’ve met so many Reservists from different walks

‘I turned 30 and needed a

of life with varying skills and

new challenge,’ says 31-year-

fitness levels. The unit support

old Vickie Bracken, an Army

you and help you get to where

Reservist with 158 Regiment

you want to go.’

RLC in Peterborough. As an ex-gymnast and cheerleader,

To find out more about joining

Vickie has happily taught PE at

the East Anglia Reserve Forces

a secondary school in

and Cadets Association, like

Vickie, visit www.earfca.org.uk

KEY CONTACTS Find out more about the benefits of being a Reservist here: l Army Reserve www.army.mod.uk/reserve/31781.aspx l Royal Naval Reserve www.royalnavy.mod.uk/rnr l Royal Marines Reserve www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/ skills-and-specialisations/royal-marines-reserve l RAF Reserve www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment/lifestylebenefits/life-as-a-reserve/

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questonline.co.uk l August/September 2018

Q Courses and events YOUR RESETTLEMENT COURSES AND EVENTS FACTFILE

This guide includes the courses currently scheduled to run from August 2018 to October 2018 Additional courses may be scheduled by each Resettlement Centre according to demand. A list of all scheduled courses is available from your nearest Resettlement Centre. All the dates given should be confirmed with the relevant Resettlement Centres. Dates are correct at time of going to press.

To book onto any CTP courses, workshops or events, please call the central bookings team on 0203 162 4410 Visit www.ctp.org.uk for further details

RC Aldergrove

RRC Catterick rrccatterick@ctp.org.uk

rrccottesmore@ctp.org.uk

resettlementinfo@ctp.org.uk

START DATE END DATE

CTW Mixed Class

CTW Junior Ranks

CTW Mixed Class

CTW Senior Officer

14 August 2018 16 August 2018 10 September 2018 12 September 2018 15 October 2018 17 October 2018

06 August 2018 08 August 2018 13 August 2018 15 August 2018 03 September 2018 05 September 2018 04 September 2018 06 September 2018 17 September 2018 19 September 2018 08 October 2018 10 October 2018 09 October 2018 11 October 2018 CTW Mixed Class 15 October 2018 18 October 2018 (Course location Preston) CTW Officer/SNCO 13 August 2018 15 August 2018 10 September 2018 12 September 2018 18 September 2018 20 September 2018 01 October 2018 03 October 2018 22 October 2018 24 October 2018

06 August 2018 08 August 2018 13 August 2018 15 August 2018 14 August 2018 16 August 2018 04 September 2018 06 September 2018 10 September 2018 12 September 2018 17 September 2018 19 September 2018 18 September 2018 20 September 2018 24 September 2018 26 September 2018 08 October 2018 10 October 2018 15 October 2018 17 October 2018 16 October 2018 18 October 2018 22 October 2018 24 October 2018 29 October 2018 31 October 2018 30 October 2018 01 November 2018

rcaldergrove@ctp.org.uk

Employment Support Programme Wksp 21 August 2018 21 August 2018 13 September 2018 13 September 2018 25 October 2018 25 October 2018

RRC Aldershot rrcaldershot@ctp.org.uk

START DATE END DATE CTW Junior Ranks 07 August 2018 09 August 2018 21 August 2018 23 August 2018 11 September 2018 13 September 2018 25 September 2018 27 September 2018 09 October 2018 11 October 2018

CTW Mixed Class

13 August 2018 15 August 2018 (Course location Brize Norton) 03 September 2018 05 September 2018 (Course location Brize Norton) 08 October 2018 10 October 2018 (Course location Brize Norton)

CTW Officer/SNCO 04 September 2018 06 September 2018 18 September 2018 20 September 2018

CTW SNCO 14 August 2018 16 October 2018

16 August 2018 18 October 2018

Employment Support Programme Wksp 13 August 2018 13 August 2018 10 September 2018 10 September 2018 15 October 2018 15 October 2018

New Horizons in Retirement 04 September 2018 04 September 2018

Self Employment Awareness 28 August 2018 12 October 2018

28 August 2018 12 October 2018

Employment Support Programme Wksp

RRC Cottesmore Central London

CTW Officer/SNCO 03 September 2018 05 September 2018 01 October 2018 03 October 2018

Employment Support Programme Wksp

18 September 2018 18 September 2018

10 September 2018 10 September 2018

FAR All Ranks

04 September 2018 04 September 2018

Self Employment Awareness 18 September 2018 18 September 2018

RRC Colchester rrcnortholt@ctp.org.uk

START DATE END DATE CTW Mixed Class 03 September 2018 05 September 2018 17 September 2018 19 September 2018 24 September 2018 26 September 2018 08 October 2018 10 October 2018 29 October 2018 31 October 2018

Employment Support Programme Wksp 06 September 2018 07 September 2018 11 October 2018 12 October 2018

Self Employment Awareness 15 October 2018

15 October 2018

01 August 2018 01 August 2018 (Course location Cosford) 13 September 2018 13 September 2018 (Course location External Venue)

21 August 2018 23 August 2018 25 September 2018 27 September 2018 16 October 2018 18 October 2018

FAR Senior Officers 06 September 2018 06 September 2018

Interview Techniques (Snr Officer) 17 September 2018 17 September 2018

RC Northolt

rcnortholt@ctp.org.uk START DATE END DATE CTW Mixed Class 03 September 2018 24 September 2018 01 October 2018 22 October 2018 29 October 2018

CTW Officer

06 August 2018 08 August 2018 10 September 2018 12 September 2018 08 October 2018 10 October 2018

Employment Support Programme Wksp

Self Employment Awareness

02 August 2018

31 August 2018 31 August 2018 17 September 2018 17 September 2018 09 October 2018 09 October 2018

FAR All Ranks

RC Germany

rcgermany@ctp.org.uk START DATE END DATE

05 September 2018 26 September 2018 03 October 2018 24 October 2018 31 October 2018

02 August 2018

27 September 2018 27 September 2018

Self Employment Awareness 25 September 2018 25 September 2018

RC Plymouth

rcplymouth@ctp.org.uk

CTW Junior Ranks

START DATE END DATE

04 September 2018 06 September 2018 09 October 2018 11 October 2018

CTW Junior Ranks

CTW Officer/SNCO 25 September 2018 27 September 2018 15 October 2018 17 October 2018

Employment Support Programme Wksp 10 September 2018 10 September 2018 (Course location Cyprus) 17 September 2018 17 September 2018 08 October 2018 08 October 2018

Self Employment Awareness 20 September 2018 20 September 2018

10 September 2018 12 September 2018 08 October 2018 10 October 2018

CTW Mixed Class

13 August 2018 15 August 2018 03 September 2018 05 September 2018 11 September 2018 13 September 2018 (Course location Culdrose) 24 September 2018 26 September 2018 01 October 2018 03 October 2018 22 October 2018 24 October 2018

CTW Officer/SNCO 06 August 2018 08 August 2018 17 September 2018 19 September 2018 15 October 2018 17 October 2018

Employment Support Programme Wksp

06 September 2018 06 September 2018

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

FAR All Ranks 05 July 2018

05 July 2018

Self Employment Awareness 27 September 2018 27 September 2018

RC Portsmouth rcportsmouth@ctp.org.uk START DATE END DATE CTW Junior Ranks 04 September 2018 06 September 2018 02 October 2018 04 October 2018

CTW Mixed Class

28 August 2018 30 August 2018 24 September 2018 26 September 2018 22 October 2018 24 October 2018

CTW Officer

RRC Rosyth

RRC Tidworth

Employment Support Programme Wksp

START DATE END DATE

CTW Mixed Class

CTW Junior Ranks

09 August 2018 09 August 2018 30 August 2018 30 August 2018 13 September 2018 13 September 2018 27 September 2018 27 September 2018 11 October 2018 11 October 2018 30 October 2018 30 October 2018

rrcrosyth@ctp.org.uk

07 August 2018 09 August 2018 13 August 2018 15 August 2018 20 August 2018 23 August 2018 (Course location Kinloss) 28 August 2018 30 August 2018 (Course location Faslane) 03 September 2018 05 September 2018 (Course location Lossiemouth) 10 September 2018 12 September 2018 18 September 2018 20 September 2018 (Course location Faslane) 24 September 2018 26 September 2018 01 October 2018 03 October 2018 23 October 2018 25 October 2018 29 October 2018 31 October 2018

21 August 2018 23 August 2018 17 September 2018 19 September 2018 30 October 2018 01 November 2018

CTW Officer/SNCO

CTW SNCO

Employment Support Programme Wksp

10 September 2018 12 September 2018 16 October 2018 18 October 2018

Employment Support Programme Wksp

20 September 2018 20 September 2018 25 October 2018 25 October 2018

Self Employment Awareness 07 September 2018 07 September 2018

08 October 2018

10 October 2018

16 August 2018 16 August 2018 12 September 2018 12 September 2018 (Course location Kinloss) 13 September 2018 13 September 2018 27 September 2018 27 September 2018 (Course location Faslane) 18 October 2018 18 October 2018

FAR All Ranks 18 September 2018 18 September 2018

Self Employment Awareness 02 August 2018

02 August 2018

rrctidworth@ctp.org.uk

06 August 2018 20 August 2018 28 August 2018 03 September 2018 10 September 2018 17 September 2018 01 October 2018 08 October 2018 15 October 2018

08 August 2018 22 August 2018 30 August 2018 05 September 2018 12 September 2018 19 September 2018 03 October 2018 10 October 2018 17 October 2018

CTW Mixed Class 13 August 2018 15 August 2018 24 September 2018 26 September 2018 22 October 2018 24 October 2018 30 October 2018 01 November 2018 (Course location Chepstow) CTW Officer 11 September 2018 13 September 2018 09 October 2018 11 October 2018 CTW Officer/SNCO 29 August 2018 31 August 2018 25 September 2018 27 September 2018 23 October 2018 25 October 2018

FAR All Ranks

06 September 2018 06 September 2018 (Course location External Venue)

New Horizons in Retirement 22 October 2018

22 October 2018

Self Employment Awareness 30 August 2018 30 August 2018 24 September 2018 24 September 2018 22 October 2018 22 October 2018

CTW SNCO 21 August 2018 23 August 2018 04 September 2018 06 September 2018 18 September 2018 20 September 2018 02 October 2018 04 October 2018 16 October 2018 18 October 2018

Visit www.ctp.org.uk for further details

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questonline.co.uk l August/September 2018

YOUR RESETTLEMENT TRANSITION FACTFILE FACTFILE

Transition factfile:

Preparation for leaving the Forces Advice from the CTP, official provider of career guidance, skills training and job-finding assistance to Service leavers CTP provision is delivered from ten Resettlement Centres in the UK and Germany, and the Resettlement Training Centre (RTC) in Aldershot. The CTP provides a number of workshops, seminars, one-to-one career advice, and a range of in-house resettlement training for entitled Service Leavers from up to two years before discharge. CTP RightJob is the CTP’s online job-finding service, listing thousands of live vacancies for Service Leavers from local, national and international employers.

Contact the CTP on 020 7469 6661 or visit the website at www.ctp.org.uk

A Service leaver’s route map Service leaver completed under 4 years’ Service: CTP Future Horizons – registration upon discharge

Employment Support Programme

>> Prepares PRP with Consultant >> Receives regional employment advice

No Service Leaver completed at least 4 years’ Service: registers with Career Transition Partnership (CTP)

Served more than 6 years – or medical discharge?

Yes

Attends Career Transition Workshop (CTW) or equivalent

Prepare Personal Resettlement Plan (PRP) with Career Consultant

Attends: • further CTP workshops • training at RTC/ Resettlement Centre • civilian training attachment • external training • Financial/Housing briefings

Receives advice on or notification of matched job opportunities

Makes job applications

Secures employment

Career Consultant led Wounded, Injured and Sick Service personnel: CTP Assist – registration upon discharge

ORANGE ELEMENTS ALSO AVAILABLE TO THOSE WITH 4–6 YEARS’ SERVICE

Develops, reviews and actions PRP: • further advice on: • career options • self-employment • job finding

• training • attachments • research activities • civilian work attachments Consultant supports and monitors progress

CTP support for up to 2 years after discharge; OA job finding support until retirement

Resettlement Services

Resettlement Centres

1st LINE The first stage in your resettlement process is with 1st Line, who offer information and administrative support. They are: >> RN – Education & Resettlement Officers (ERO) >> Army – Unit Resettlement Officers (URO) >> RAF – Resettlement & Education Co-ordinators (REC).

Career Transition Workshops (CTW), career counselling and other CTP workshops, briefings and events usually take place at one of the ten Resettlement Centres in the UK and Germany. Further information can be obtained from any of the Resettlement Centres listed below.

2nd LINE The principal task of 2nd Line is to provide advice and guidance on the resettlement package that will best suit the individual Service Leaver. For those entitled to CTP this will normally be a referral to a CTP consultant and/ or enrolment on a CTW, both of which will require the Service Leaver to be registered for CTP services. 2nd Line are: >> RN – Naval Resettlement Information Officers (NRIO), located at Base Learning Centres; for medical discharges the RN has a single 2nd Line point of contact referred to as NRIO (Medical) based in the Institute of Naval Medicine, Gosport >> Army – Individual Education and Resettlement Officers (IERO) and AGC(ETS) Officers are located at Army Education Centres (AEC) and Theatre Education Centres (TEC); AGC(ETS) Officers may deliver 2nd Line resettlement advice when deployed on operations and occasionally when IERO are unavailable >> RAF – Each Regional Resettlement Adviser (RRA) is allocated a group of RAF stations to visit on a regular programmed basis. 3rd LINE Resettlement support at 3rd Line is provided by the CTP as outlined at the top of this page and in more detail on its website at www.ctp.org.uk

August/September 2018 l questonline.co.uk

Resettlement Centre Aldergrove Tel: 02894 421639 Regional Resettlement Centre Aldershot Tel: 01252 348336/339 Regional Resettlement Centre Catterick Tel: 01748 872949/2922 Regional Resettlement Centre Cottesmore Tel: 01572 812241 (ext 7716) Resettlement Centre Germany Tel: 0049 5254 982 x 5448 Resettlement Centre Northolt Tel: 020 8842 6063/6064 Resettlement Centre Plymouth Tel: 01752 555834 Resettlement Centre Portsmouth Tel: 02392 724130 Regional Resettlement Centre Rosyth Tel: 01383 858230 Regional Resettlement Centre Tidworth Tel: 01980 650689

For the most up-to-date information, please visit www.ctp.org.uk

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