Career Pursuit - Summer 2022

PURSUITCAREER The Successful Transition Story of Launching V-FORCE SWITCHING FROM AN EMPLOYEE TO AN ENTREPRENEURMINDSET SUMMER 2022 THE NO. 1 CAREER GUIDE FOR UK MILITARY PARTNERS AND VETERANS EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR A SUCCESSFUL CAREER OR BUSINESS ON THE MOVE

Amelia Earhart

WELCOME

CAREER PURSUIT SUMMER 2022 3

As always, wherever you are in your career journey, I wish you the best of luck. And I hope that Career Pursuit will provide you with support, advice, and inspiration.

Founder and Editor-in-Chief Helen Massy

In this year’s edition, you’ll find a wealth of information and resources to help you on your career journey, from positively addressing gaps in your CV to photographing your business products at home. All this content is brought to you from the military community. Every article, resource, and element of the publication has been produced by a military spouse, partner, veteran, or organisation. And this year’s feature article is an inspiring story of how Chris and Clare Vosper transitioned from military life to successful entrepreneurs. Career Pursuit has all been made possible through sponsorship from RAF Astra, RJS Family Law, and St. James’s Place Financial Adviser Academy. All three sponsors understand the challenges the military community face and the importance of providing employment and entrepreneur support to military spouses, partners, dependants, and veterans. The support of these organisations means you can access Career Pursuit in print, UK-wide, at every military base, and online entirely for free. I sincerely thank each sponsor for assisting in making Career Pursuit available to the military community.

“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.”

Even without this added uncertainty, launching a business or starting a new career can be a daunting prospect, and even knowing how to take the first step can be challenging. Career Pursuit is here to help you navigate this process and is uniquely designed for those in the military community. Career Pursuit will take you through that first step and beyond.

Military life can be all-consuming to both serving members and their partners. We often wait for the ‘right time’ to enact change, to write that CV, or enrol on that course. But does military life ever really settle down? Does the possibility of location change or significant periods apart ever truly pass?

hellohubblehellohubblehellohubbleukwww.hellohubble.com

4 SUMMER 2022 CAREER

She also sits on the MOD Partner Employment Steering Group and is a Celebrating Forces Families Awards Committee member. Jessica Brown - Copyeditor Jessica served for over 13 years in the Royal Air Force, in various flight operations and instructional roles, before training with the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading. She now runs a book editing and design business, specialising in non-fiction publications. As well as working with independent writers and publishers, she has extensive experience editing copy and content for business clients in a range of industries, from military technology to health and wellness. As a veteran, and now military spouse, she is delighted to be a part of the Career Pursuit team for the third year and have the opportunity to utilise her editorial skills to help support the military community.

Hannah Hubbleday - Creative Director, Hubbleday Ltd Hannah is the creative director and owner of Hubbleday Ltd. She launched her design and branding agency back in 2013. For Hannah, design is intuitive. The ability to picture a brand’s best image comes as naturally to her as breathing. Every project is as exciting as it is unique; there is no ‘one rule fits all’. Therefore, she is a firm believer that the very best design occurs when creativity flows without restriction, which is what you get from her. She began her career working for other agencies. This taught her to work with tenacious efficiency whilst pushing the boundaries of great design. It also taught her the importance of commercial appeal. With her dedicated and highly skilled team she offers every kind of marketing collateral you could think of, including branding, magazine design, animation, website design, videography, and more.

Helen has an extensive background as a healthcare professional and senior leader in the NHS, alongside being a mother to three young children and a welltravelled military spouse of 19 years. This eclectic mix of attributes brings a unique blend of clinical insight, professional credibility, and life experience to her work.

MEETPURSUITTHE TEAM

Forces Print & Promotion - Printers of Career Pursuit Established in 2019 by an ex-sapper, Lee Gray, Forces Print & Promotion is for the Forces by the Forces. Lee completed basic training at Pirbright before joining the Royal Engineers and beginning training as a geographic technician at the Royal School of Military Survey, Hermitage. Once trained, Lee was posted to 13 Geographic Squadron, 42 Engineer Regiment at RAF Wyton, Huntingdon. Lee is a graphic designer by trade and after being medically discharged in 2018 has worked for many design companies, including NATO in the Hague, Netherlands, as part of its creative media team.

forces-print-promotionfForcesPrintUKwww.forcesprintandpromotion.co.ukorcesprintuk

jessicakatebrowneditorjessica-k-brownjessicakatebrowneditorwww.jessicakatebrown.comhelen-massyhelen_massymedicalandhealthwriterwww.medicalandhealthwriter.com

Helen Massy - Founder and Editor-in-Chief Helen produces Career Pursuit following her own experience of career transition due to overseas military postings. Aside from the magazine, she is an awardwinning medical content writer and health journalist specialising in medical articles that open up the conversation around under-discussed health topics.

CAREER PURSUIT SUMMER 2022 5 EXP TADVI CE - SEL TEMPLOYMEN CHEC ISTS 6 Switching from an employee to an entrepreneur mindset 10 Please mind the gap 12 Looking after your mental health when working from home 16 Get ahead with planning life beyond the military: An exercise for the whole family 18 Astra 20 Beyond the basics of CV writing: How do you make your CV go from good to outstanding? 23 Your happiness toolkit 26 Unpaid carers within military families: The impact on employmentaccessing 30 Why is no one talking about the post-stress ‘let-down effect’? 32 Looking the part for a career change 36 RJS Family Law 38 Mental health in business 41 How to photograph products at home and on a budget 45 How to run a successful business when living with a chronic illness 48 How much are you worth? 50 Start your podcast on any budget 54 Building your online brand on LinkedIn 58 St. James’s Place Financial Adviser Academy 60 Social media changes and trends for 2022 63 Outsourcing: When should you do it? And how do you do it? 66 A basic guide to setting up social media ads 68 I wish I’d thought about business insurance! 71 The Military Coworking Network (MCN) 74 Introducing the three single-service Families Federations 76 Recruit for Spouses 79 Heropreneurs 82 X-Forces Enterprise (XFE) 84 The BusinessMilspo®Network 87 Supporting the Unsung Hero (SUH) 89 Forces Families Jobs 93 RFEA ProgrammeFamilies 96 e50K Group 99 RBLI Lifeworks EXPERT ADV ICE - EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES 100 Your new business start-up checklist 101 checklistCareer-on-the-move 102 Your CV checklist 6 38 71 100 CONTENTS

Let’s start at the end. Established in 2014 by Chris and Clare, V-FORCE offers to deliver the best elements of the world’s finest Special Ops units’ training combined with extreme sports and motorsport. Intrigued? I know I was.

3. What will people pay you to

“Basically,” says Chris, “V-FORCE combines all the things I loved doing in the military with my hobbies and skills. When I decided to leave the military, I couldn’t find a job that ticked all those boxes. So, I decided to create one from scratch.”

A long and rewarding career can offer financial stability and peace of mind. However, for military families, the decision to change jobs for one or both partners is not unusual. And that path can be challenging. Going from employees to entrepreneurs was a giant leap for Chris and Clare Vosper, but the right mindset was a crucial element in launching their successful business.

THE TRANSITION PROCESS Following a high-tempo position in the Armed Forces, including several tours of Afghanistan and a lot of time away, Chris decided he wanted to change his lifestyle and “Aftercareer.meeting Clare on a motorbike track day, it wasn’t long before we settled down and decided that staying in the military would not suit our life, long term,” says Chris. skillsYour WhatloveyouWhat people will pay you to

1. What are your skills? 2. What do you love doing?

do Perfectjob 6 SUMMER 2022 CAREER PURSUIT

If you are looking to start a new business or career, mind mapping to work out your perfect job is a great exercise to do. Ask yourself the same questions Chris did:

Chris served in both regular and reserve service capacities for over 24 years. Before transitioning to the Royal Air Force, he was an Army officer and an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter pilot. He is also a qualified British Association of Rally Schools (BARS) and Association of Racing Driver Schools (ARDS) instructor and competes in both motorsport disciplines. In addition, Chris is a Security Industry Authority (SIA) close protection and surveillance operator. Combine all these skills together, and V-FORCE offers a rewarding and adrenaline-fuelled experience through various activities, such as action-movie stunt driving, evasive driving training, and vehicle gunnery urban combat.

WHAT IS V-FORCE?

EMPLOYEEFROMSWITCHINGdo?ANTO V-FORCEStoryTheMINDSETENTREPRENEURANSuccessfulTransitionofLaunching

4. Make the most of your resettlement courses: A vast range of classes are available during military resettlement. Financial management, career transition workshops, accountancy, and business start-up courses were all ones that Chris accessed and found very useful.CAREER

PURSUIT SUMMER 2022 7

Chris did this in both rally and racing driving, as well as becoming an unarmed combat instructor. “My goal was to understand every activity the business would offer before launching the concept. However, I was very aware that I had no idea how to start a business, never mind the day-to-day running, financial, mechanics, and marketing side of things, so those were all elements I had to learn from scratch too.”

CHRIS’S TOP TIPS WHEN PLANNING TO TRANSITION FROM THE MILITARY TO SELF-EMPLOYMENT

2. Learn the mechanics of business: If you have opportunities to attend business start-up courses, take them. Learn as much as you can about the practicalities of running a business, so it isn’t so daunting once you take that first step to launching your business. Read business books on how to write a business plan and follow other entrepreneurs online.

3. Network and join relevant organisations: Speak to people who have started a business. Attend local business networking meetings or start-up events. Join relevant organisational bodies or your local chamber of commerce. Learn as much as you can from other people.

Chris nailed down his business idea several years before leaving the military. He then focused his time on honing the skills he would need to make this dream a reality.

“I spent my spare time in motorsport to gain enough experience to become an instructor,” explains Chris. “I freelanced at a local rally school to consolidate my instructor skills and to gain an understanding of the ideal customer I wanted to aim for.”

1. Acquire the skills you need: If you know there are specific qualifications you will need to run your business, try to get them before you make the transition leap. If you can use your resettlement time for this, then great! If not, you might want to use your spare time to focus on what you need to achieve to run your business.

“I decided to plan my transition, have a long lead-in time, and build the business gradually,” says Chris. “If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to plan early and make the most of those years before you leave the military to access as many relevant courses as possible.”

“If you want to become an entrepreneur, preparation is vital.”

2. Find your support network: Look to friends and family who can offer you moral support. You will need to step outside of your comfort zone, take risks, and work long hours. Having that support behind you is invaluable.

JOINING THE LEAP As an IT consultant and senior manager for more than 26 years, leaving her job to support Chris in starting V-FORCE was a huge career change for Clare too.

Get comfortable with social media: Social media is an excellent marketing tool and one that is often essential to showcase your business. Remember, treat your social media pages as if you are in a meeting room. Whatever you say on social media needs to be something you would say directly to someone in person.

• Tony Robbins – Awaken the Giant Within • Bob Proctor – Change Your Paradigm, Change Your Life

“We’ve been together 13 years,” adds Clare, “and we have spent 12 of those planning and implementing this business.” Clare goes on to explain how they were both on the same page from the beginning regarding setting up V-FORCE: “There have been a lot of compromises along the way, especially financially, but if it makes you both happy and gets you to the end goal, then it’s worth it.” Clare left her IT career in December 2019 to join the business full-time. Needless to say, when March 2020 hit, the pandemic threw up a new set of challenges. Despite this, V-FORCE has continued to go from strength to strength, now comprising an 18-car fleet and an expert team of professionals.

4. Keep learning: Whether you are looking for motivation or business advice, books or podcasts can be a great way to learn or refresh your skills.

8 SUMMER 2022 CAREER PURSUIT

“However, I love motorsport,” says Clare, “and a lot of our time and fun together has been based around motorsport, so we have always been very aligned in achieving this dream.”

Clare and Chris both recommend books/audiobooks such as: • Brian Tracy – Eat That Frog!

SUCCEEDING IN BUSINESS AS A COUPLE

5. Establish your home- and work-life boundaries: When you live and work together, a business can become all-consuming. Make time to switch off from work. Schedule in downtime and make time for your relationship and your hobbies. Keep communication open, and make sure you say when work encroaches on your home life. Making the leap from employee to entrepreneur can be daunting. Throw in the transition from military life to the

TIPS FOR BECOMING AN 1.ENTREPRENEUR

5. Get your domestic situation settled: Before delving into the uncertainty of starting a business, it helps if your home life is stable. Work out where you want to live and what your finances will be like after leaving. If this part is solid, it can alleviate worry when starting a business.

3. Collaboration over competition: Working with other businesses and organisations is always beneficial. Partnering with the right people is a fundamental element of having a successful business.

Working and living together 24/7 can be intense. “Your marriage becomes very tight knit,” explains Clare. “You can’t afford to fall out throughout the day over every business problem. Communication is key. You need to discuss and resolve problems quickly and move on. It’s not always glamorous, but if you are open and on the same page, working towards the same goal, it can lead to CLARE’Ssuccess.”TOP

civilian world, and it brings a myriad of new challenges. However, Chris and Clare clearly show that, with the right mindset, it is possible to transition smoothly and successfully. Adopting a gradual transition, prioritising, having a collaborative goal, and communicating from the very beginning are crucial elements in developing an entrepreneurial state of mind.

To quote the aforementioned Bob Proctor, who died earlier this year: a goal to achieve something that is so big, so exhilarating that it excites you and scares you at the same time.” V-FORCE mission is to

The

deliver: • World-class tactical and advanced driving training • Extremely enjoyable and rewarding Special Ops skills training events To find out more VFORCETraining1v-forcetrainingvforcetrainingVForceTrainingwww.v-forcetraining.comvisit: CAREER PURSUIT SUMMER 2022 9

“Set

The main things to remember are honesty and positivity. I would recommend explaining any recent gaps that have been longer than a month. It’s a good idea to include them chronologically in your career history, to make it easy for an employer to see. For example, ‘Date from − Date to: Career break due to travelling/caring/ relocation, etc.’ You don’t want to leave an employer with too many questions about your circumstances. Now, suppose you have a career gap due to personal health reasons or a change in family circumstances, such as a divorce or bereavement. In that case, it’s understandable why you might be hesitant to put these details on your CV. Firstly, don’t include any more than you’re comfortable with. In fact, just putting ‘Date from – Date to: Career break’ may be sufficient for some However,recruiters.ifyoudo mention a career gap without providing any details, a recruiter may ask you questions about it later. So you might want to consider including a brief outline in a covering letter or email accompanying your application. That way, it is not on the CV for anyone to see but is explained in a targeted letter. This can be a great option if you plan to upload your CV onto a jobs board and don’t want your reason for a career break to become public knowledge.

WHAT IS A CAREER GAP?

It can be worrying to see gaps in your CV when applying for a new job. And career breaks are certainly not out of the ordinary, especially if you are a military spouse or partner who relocates regularly. However, there is no need to be concerned. Emma Davies, director of the specialist recruitment company Joint Force Alba, is here to discuss gaps in employment and how to positively address them on your CV.

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PLEASE MIND THE GAP

Essentially, a career gap is a time in your life where you take time away from work due to a change of lifestyle or to pursue an interest. Believe it or not, gaps in a CV are relatively common. Most recruiters won’t be concerned about a gap of a couple of weeks. However, anything around a month or more will likely attract their attention, particularly if it’s been within the last five years.

By Emma Davies

There are many reasons why you might have a gap in your employment history. You may have had caring responsibilities for children, spouses/partners, or elderly relatives. A return to education, either formal or via a series of training courses, could mean you didn’t have time to work. In addition, redundancy might have come at short notice, and you may not have been able to secure new employment yet – job hunting is timeconsuming and can be a full-time role in itself. On top of these reasons, personal health concerns and recovery may have made working unsustainable. And for transitioning military personnel and their relocating families, the nature of these two activities could mean there are gaps on their CVs. Life happens to us all, and you cannot always avoid career gaps.

WHAT DO EMPLOYERS THINK?

Unfortunately, employers are still wary about unexplained CV gaps, despite them being relatively common, because it puts doubt in their minds about you as a candidate. It makes them wonder what you are not telling them or what you could be hiding.

Many employers, especially when the job market is very candidate-led, will question why no one else has employed you in that time period. Why have you struggled to find a new role? However, a gap in your career history is nothing to be ashamed of − whether you have been in control of the situation that brought about the gap or not. But as with so many things in life, it’s what you do with the circumstances and your career break that counts. SO WHAT SHOULD YOU DO ABOUT A GAP IN YOUR CV?

Remember, an employer wants to ensure they are hiring the most suitable candidate for the role, so they will want to gain as much information about you as possible. Whilst you might think it’s quite personal information to share, if you’re not transparent from the beginning, you’ll likely find more obstacles to overcome later.

If you’ve been travelling, you’ll probably have developed language skills and cultural awareness. If you’ve had to leave your job due to relocation, you will have honed your planning, project management, and logistics skills. Whilst I wouldn’t encourage you to write War and Peace about it, a couple of sentences can be beneficial.

For example, many organisations offer free training online, such as Open University short courses and LinkedIn Learning. Whilst you might not come away with a formal qualification, it will demonstrate to an employer just how committed you are to personal development and improvement. Perhaps it will open doors for you that you hadn’t previously considered.

Remember, be forthcoming about any career gaps and don’t try to hide or shy away from them. Employers want people they can trust, so make that something you show them from the start by being open and honest.

About the author Emma Davies , Joint Force Alba: Ex-Military Recruitment

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If you’re currently in a career gap or are planning one in the future, try to use the time as productively as possible. This way, you can demonstrate how resourceful you’ve been to future employers.

ARE YOU IN A CAREER GAP NOW?

Put a positive spin on the situation and turn that career gap into a strength to help you stand out from other applicants.

THINK POSITIVE A career gap is often a case of turning lemons into lemonade. Firstly, you can make it into an advantage. It’s likely you will have developed skills during your career break that you can put on your CV. For example, if you have been caring for others, chances are there has been a good dose of time and resource management involved, not to mention stakeholder engagement and communication skills, particularly if you’ve been looking after children or a relative living with dementia/Alzheimer’s.

You may have time to do some voluntary work. Again, this is a significant plus for employers, as it keeps your skills fresh and you’ll possibly learn new ones. Keeping up to date with any technological, legal, or industry innovations is also really important. You can join online webinars or read articles to help keep your knowledge current, which you can explain to a potential employer.

JointForceAlbajoint-force-albajointforcealbawww.jointforcealba.co.uk

Secondly, if you’re applying for your first role following a career break, it is an excellent opportunity to explain why you feel this role is the perfect one to get you back into work and how ready you are to take on new challenges and responsibilities. Whatever you do, don’t try to hide or lie about your career gap by ‘stretching’ previous employment dates to cover it. Most employers will take references that include checking previous employment dates. If yours and your last employer’s dates don’t match up, it’s unlikely to work in your favour.

• Expose yourself to morning sunshine by getting outside first thing (a walk or morning coffee/stroll in the garden will suffice)

By Claire Willsher

• Get up and go to bed at roughly the same time every day

TheROUTINEhuman body loves routine. It works cyclically on a system called the circadian rhythm. We tend to feel tired, hungry, and thirsty at roughly the same time each day. Therefore, to optimise your health, it is important to try to stick to routines.

Working from home is now widely recognised. No longer will people with military connections have to give up dream jobs when their spouses announce their next postings. This “new normal” way of working has huge benefits. However, no job is ever perfect and, as such, working in isolation from the comfort of your home office can take its toll.

Mental health impacts every area of our lives by controlling how we think, feel, and act. The good news is there are small things you can introduce into your everyday life to help optimise your mental health. This article is going to outline strategies you can implement to improve your mental wellbeing and see you thrive, both personally and professionally.

• Block out meal times in your schedule to ensure you get away from the computer

LOOKING AFTER YOUR MENTAL HEALTH WHEN WORKING FROM HOME

OurMOVEMENTbodieshave been designed to move. The World Health Organization recommends we do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, which works out at roughly 22 minutes per day. The endorphins released when we move make us feel good, happy, and positive. Exercise helps improve our body image and makes us both mentally and physically fitter and stronger.

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• Allow yourself regular breaks away from work every hour to give your mind a rest (even if it is just 5 minutes doing something you enjoy)

To make this happen, you could:

Life in the world as we know it has changed dramatically in the last couple of years. Covid-19 transformed the way we live and has, unfortunately, had negative outcomes for many. That said, there have been some positives to have come out of this pandemic, especially for military spouses who move regularly.

To find daily connection, perhaps you could:

• Eat a plant-based (fruit, vegetable, nut, seed, legume) rainbow every day – that means a portion of food of each colour: red, yellow, orange, blue/ purple, green, and white

• Limit your caffeine intake after midday

• Be organised and plan your meals – have the appropriate ingredients accessible for cooking healthy recipes

• Join a military co-working hub to connect and work alongside other like-minded people: www.militarycoworking.uk

• Move more whilst cleaning or gardening – you don’t always need to put your sports kit on

To achieve this, you could:

• Link up with MILSPO® for regular networking opportunities with other military spouses, partners, and other-halves who are also building their dream businesses: www.milspo.co.uk

To get these benefits, you could:

• Make your bedroom a calm place for sleep (make it a tech-free zone)

• Set a ‘go to bed’ alarm if you find yourself getting distracted at night

OTHER RESOURCES

• Take a brisk walk during your coffee break/lunch time

• Carry out exercise ‘snacking’ throughout the day – short bursts of exercise done at regular intervals (whilst waiting for the kettle to boil, for example)

• Set an alarm to make sure you get up and move your body every hour

lonely as we are creatures with tribal ancestry. Loneliness can be as detrimental to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. As such, we need to surround ourselves with positive people, ideally in person but virtually or a non-work conversations on the phone will help too.

• Find an accountability partner to exercise with you

• Keep bright lights to a minimum in the evening to allow yourself to feel sleepy

• Drink at least 1.2 litres of water every day NATURE Getting out in nature has been scientifically proven to help improve mood and reduce stress, anger, and frustration. Our cavemen ancestors spent 99% of their time outside. Now, the average human spends only 10% of their time outside.

• Have ‘walk and talk’ meetings when you don’t need to be in front of the computer DAILY WorkingCONNECTIONSfromhomecanget

EXPERT ADVICE - EMPLOYMENT 13

SLEEP The body and brain work much more effectively when we have had enough sleep. A rested person is much more able to focus, concentrate, and produce higher quality work than someone who is tired. To make sure you are working to your full potential, you could:

EAT WELL AND HYDRATE

Mental health has come under the spotlight in recent years. As a result, there are many free resources that the military offer to help improve your mental wellbeing, here are a few: Exposure to fresh air, vitamin D, and nature has tremendous healing powers. Getting into nature helps to solve problems and put things into perspective.

A recent SMILES trial 1 showed that individuals who ate a fresh Mediterranean diet were less likely to become clinically depressed and anxious than those who didn’t focus on eating healthily. Food and water can provide us with energy, immunity, and enhanced productivity.

Perhaps you could:

The endorphins released when we move make us feel good, happy, and positive. Exercise helps improve our body image and makes us both mentally and physically fitter and stronger. 14 EXPERT ADVICE - EMPLOYMENT

• All Army mental health resources and support are kept up to date on the AFF website here: org.uk/advice/health-and-add/mental-healthwww.aff.

Royal Navy Families can also gain support via the RN FPS Portal: 0800 145 6088, 02392 728777 or email: navypeople-psrnfpsportal@mod.gov.uk

The Headspace app is available for spouses and partners:

Army families may also be able to seek support through the Army Welfare Service (AWS) and can contact the Intake and Assessment Team (IAT) directly on 01904 882053 or 882054 or email AWS-HQ-IAT@mod.uk A few mental health resources specific to Army families include: • Togetherall: www.togetherall.com/en-gb/mentalhealth-support-for-all-uk-armed-forces-veterans (this does include free access to all Service family members 16 years or over)

Head Fit offers online resources to help stay mentally fit and on top of your game: www.headfit.org

EXPERT ADVICE - EMPLOYMENT 15

The Royal Navy Forum also provides links to supporting organisations and offers peer-to-peer support too: https://forum.royalnavy.mod.uk

• Combat Stress have a serving personnel and families’ helpline: 0800 323 4444 www.combatstress.org.uk/helpline

• Recently, the Bounce Forward initiative has been launched: www.bounceforward.com/buildingresilience-with-military-famili

Start with small steps that help make change achievable. Once you’ve built these new habits into your daily life, you can add progression. The most important thing is to be kind to yourself and give yourself permission to focus on becoming mentally strong. Both your personal and professional lives will benefit; it really is a win-win. About the author Claire Willsher, Health and Additional Needs Policy Advisor, RAF Families Federation FOR MORE INFORMATION: RAF Families Federation: www.raf-ff.org.uk Naval Families Federation: www.nff.org.uk Army Families Federation: www.aff.org.uk 1 Jacka et al. 2017

Strengthening Families – a programme for serving RN/RM families that aims to provide you with the right support, at the right time. help/families-and-relationshipswww.rnrmc.org.uk/how-we-

• RAF families through the RAF Benevolent fund: www.rafbf.org • RN and RM Families through their serving family member. More information can be found here: www.nff.org.uk/headspace

Thrive workshops for partners of RAF personnel looking to improve their wellbeing. Fill out the updates form to find the next available courses: www.rafbf.org Finding it tough – The Royal Air Forces Association offers free training through an online mental wellbeing course: www.findingittough.rafa.org.uk

If you were to fast forward your life to a time when your association with the military is not as strong, what would life look like for you? Imagine if you made time to think about this, if you were able to throw down all your thoughts and ideas for this next stage of life onto a huge piece of paper – get it all out Thisthere.isexactly the exercise I encourage people to do. Long before your end-of-service life is on the horizon, before the pressure of thinking, “Where is my next pay cheque going to come from?”, I encourage you to sit down with your family and start picturing what life will look like beyond the military. This gives everyone involved a chance to share their thoughts and it can bring up some significant results.

By Sara Smalley

If you could write down your ideal work day, what would it look like? Writing everything down can help you work out what is most important to you. This exercise also brings out how people feel about the different elements of their life and how they may be affected by this change. It is also a way of starting to highlight what the main priorities are for you and your family.

Try this exercise…

16 EXPERT ADVICE - EMPLOYMENT GET AHEAD WITH PLANNING LIFE BEYOND THE MILITARY: AN EXERCISE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Most service leavers, spouses, partners, and veterans are very aware of the practical steps that need to be taken – things like finding a job, somewhere to live, and potentially a new school for the children. They know exactly what needs to be ticked off the list, but they’re not sure where to start. Yet, it is rare for people to think about how they feel about all the potential options and different outcomes available to them. Whilst it can be an unsettling time, these emotions are important. Emotions can act as a guide to how we are feeling and how our minds are responding to what we’re going through. Emotions are information, a type of data if you like, and they can help us work out what is important to us when it comes to making decisions. They can help us focus on where to start first.

• Give everyone a pen and ask them to start scribbling down their thoughts and ideas about the change you’re considering.

Worried, happy, excited, sad, nervous, delighted – if you or your partner are at the stage of transitioning from military life, how many of these emotions can you relate to?

• Take an enormous piece of paper (a roll of wallpaper lining can work well here) and lay it out on the table or floor.

• Think about these questions: What’s important to you in the next stage of your life? What’s your priority? What are you looking forward to/not looking forward to? Where would you love to live? What are you interested in? What do you enjoy about your current work?

Getting ready to leave the military can have a knock-on effect on everyone involved and it can be a mixed-up, emotional old time. You may have a sense of worry over “What if?” but also one of excitement and opportunity over “What next?”

With a clear idea of what you need to consider, what elements are more or less important to the different members of your family or partnership, and open conversations about how you are all feeling about the different parts of this next step, you’ll be able to plan and carry-out this next step much more clearly and calmly, which will result in an outcome where everyone concerned is more likely to feel satisfied and settled.

sarasmalleycoachingsarasmalley.coachingSara-Smalley-Coaching-Consultancy-112559017600376www.sarasmalley.comsara@sarasmalley.com

When people try this exercise, they often feel an immediate sense of relief because they are no longer ‘carrying around’ all these thoughts and considerations in their minds. Writing it all down helps lighten the mental load! And this activity gets people talking. Sometimes, dealing with the pressure and stress that come with these big life changes becomes easier when we start to share our hopes and concerns that surround them, rather than trying to guess what is going on in the heads of our family or those who we care about. So, with everything out on the table, and a better understanding of what’s important to those involved, you can begin to write a list of your priorities for planning the next phase of your life. For example, if you decide the number one priority for you and your family is to live in the north-east of England, then this could direct the location of the jobs you’re looking for, how you will build your network, where you will look for accommodation, etc. If there is a part of your life that is particularly important to you, or a part you want to stay the same, then this might become the priority. There can sometimes be competing priorities and you will need to consider what compromises you need to make. But when you start to prioritise what you need from this next move, you can start to work out what steps you need to take and in what order they need to Oncehappen.youknow this, you can start writing an action plan. It may not all be straight-forward, and you may need to go back to the planning stage on occasions, to reconsider your priorities, but the next steps will eventually become clearer.

EXPERT ADVICE - EMPLOYMENT 17

About the author Sara Smalley, Career and Leadership Coach

Project FOSTER is an Astra sprint that was implemented at RAF Lossiemouth to enable members of the RAF to own a dog without the added worries that come during detachments and deployments. Owning a dog, particularly when isolated so far from family, gives a sense of ‘home’ that is much needed for many people. Project FOSTER enables a community of service dog owners to temporarily foster a colleague’s dog, while fully insured and supported, during periods they’re away from home. This support system is invaluable to those who live in remote locations or far away from their family as it enables our people to focus on their operational output without the additional stress. The associated Dog Meet Club also allows owners and their animals to become friends, with a regular group of over 30 people now meeting monthly to create the positive foundations that support Project FOSTER. PULSE

ASTRA18

PROJECT

Project PULSE is an Astra ‘sprint’ that affects our people even before they reach RAF Halton for their initial training. With such high standards of physical and mental fitness needed to serve in the Armed Forces, the team at RAF Halton wanted to ensure that trainees were as fully prepared as possible before arriving for their first day of training. Astra worked with veteranowned Ashford Fitness Consultancy to trial a mobile application that gives a six-week course for recruits to follow to positively promote high standards of mental and physical wellbeing prior to joining the RAF. The trial has now been completed, and results are still being analysed; however, the positive feedback received from recruits who felt more prepared for the arduous training programme has already proven the project a success.

Astra is the Royal Air Force’s journey to the nextgeneration Royal Air Force, but it’s not simply just another project; it’s about changing the culture of the Royal Air Force so that, together, we can ensure we’re building an organisation that meets the demands of the future.

Addressing equipment, infrastructure, people, support, and training, the RAF has extended Astra to include the themes of sustainability and digital. We know that we must play our part in addressing climate change, and the Chief of the Air Staff has a bold challenge of being the first net-zero air force by 2040. We also need to exploit information and evolving technologies at a rapid pace; therefore, the RAF has employed the first chief digital information officer. Astra ways of working and Astra thinking are becoming embedded in the RAF, promoting relentless innovation, the exploitation of technology, and keeping creativity at our core.

Our people, their creative ideas, and their ability to challenge the status quo are key to ensuring Astra is a success. They are the heart of the RAF and it is our people that will drive and implement these changes, so it is unsurprising that many of the innovations taking place right now impact directly on our people. Whether it’s the digitisation of documents with electronic signatures or the creation of an online alumni network for current and past-serving members, the RAF is swiftly embracing technological advances to enhance the lived experience for our Whole Force and build a next-generation RAF.

Project APPIVATE was one of the first Astra sprints, delivered by a small group of like-minded individuals with a passion and skill for application coding. From humble beginnings, they have grown into an in-house Mobile Application Development Team that rapidly develops applications to meet evolving needs. Most recently, they launched their first public application, MyRAFAC: a mobile application that replaces the paper F3822 log and identity book used by RAF air cadets. The application, which is available for iOS and Android, enables cadets to access up-to-date information on their activities and achievements. Within days of its launch, the app featured in the top ten free downloads on the Apple App Store. Astra is not just about the projects that are coordinated through the Astra Core Team though; it is becoming embedded in day-to-day RAF life, and the changes that are happening across the RAF can be considered a part of our journey to the next-generation RAF, which is Astra.

19

https://raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/units/astraPROJECTFOSTERPROJECT APPIVATE

Further initiatives include the issuing of sports bras to female serving personnel following excellent work by the Clothing Role Office; the creation of breastfeeding rooms at all units; the promotion of a menopause network across Defence, with guidance issued to line managers and personnel; and the expansion of flexible working arrangements to enable a more positive work–life balance for our personnel. All these changes can directly affect our people, and the RAF remains committed to providing the best possible life for those serving in our Armed Forces and their families. Astra is going from strength to strength across the whole RAF. Anyone who is interested in becoming part of the future through Astra, or who wants to undertake innovation training, can get in contact with the Astra Core Team via email to ACASStrategyAstraComms@mod.gov.uk for more information. You can also find all the latest news on the Astra website:

CONTACT DETAILS Include your name, locality, mobile number, and email

20 EXPERT ADVICE - EMPLOYMENT

• Experienced in maintaining sensitive and secure data

• Keen eye for detail and accuracy Have you found a job you’d like to apply for? What are the key skills/specific requirements in the job description? For example, you often see requirements such as “experienced in the use of Microsoft Excel”. If you have that skill, tell them! The more you can put here without copying their requirements verbatim, the better. You need to show them that YOU tick their boxes – they NEED you! Ensure you tailor this section to reflect the required skills in the job advert. There’s little point in listing your PowerPoint skills here if that’s not required. I have learned how to use so many different pieces of software over the years and have worked in different industries. However, they’re not all interchangeable and, therefore, not always relevant. For example, I’ve worked in an estate agency before, However, if I were applying for a role in local government, it’s highly unlikely they would be interested in my experience in property software.

PERSONALaddress.PROFILE

Example:

KEY TheseSKILLSareanother must-have. They need to be short and punchy. Bullet points work better than long sentences here.

• A recent graduate with a 2:1 degree in journalism from the University of Manchester, seeking an entry-level position in…

Example:

• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office

As an experienced sales manager, my proactive approach resulted in numerous important contract wins. My excellent networking skills have provided my team with vital client leads, and my ability to develop client relationships has resulted in a 19% increase in business renewals for my current organisation. After five years in sales, I’m currently seeking a new challenge that will utilise my meticulous attention to detail and friendly, professional manner.

Top tip: Try to vary your sentence structures and avoid starting them all with “I…”, as in “I can do this”, “I can do that”.

• An ambitious purchasing manager looking to progress into…

The job market can be a competitive place, so it’s essential you have a CV that is going to stand out from the crowd – for the right reasons. Naomi Spratt runs Rise VA Services, and a significant part of her work is helping people with their CVs, so she knows a thing or two about what makes an excellent CV. Here she shares a summary of the key sections you should include and some tips on crafting a professional and effective CV that will make the best first impression.

BEYOND THE BASICS OF CV WRITING: HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR CV GO FROM GOOD TO OUTSTANDING?

Example:

This is a must. It should concisely and effectively explain who you are and identify your strengths and career goals.

By Naomi Spratt

If you can, include numbers that demonstrate your success here – even if you’re moving into an area where your expertise may seem slightly different. Focus on just a couple of achievements, demonstrating the impact they had, and you’ll instantly start adding value to your CV, helping you to stand out.

If you have a qualification from a long time ago, ask yourself, “Is it relevant?” I did RSA word and text processing qualifications about 25 years ago, but they’ve long since been dropped from my own CV because you never see them as requirements on job adverts nowadays.

ThisINTERESTSisacontentious one. If you have the space and something interesting to say, then go for it. However, don’t squeeze this section in to the detriment of another, more important, section.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

EXPERT ADVICE - EMPLOYMENT 21

This needs to be in reverse chronological order. For each position held, include your job title, the name of the company/organisation, and the dates employed from and to. Include a few bullet points highlighting your main responsibilities and achievements for each position, to show how well your experience matches up to the role you’re applying for. Don’t include too much detail about jobs that are irrelevant to the role you’re applying for – unless you’re a graduate with little or no other work experience. In this case, find some similarities between the job description and your responsibilities in any previous roles.

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Again, this should be in reverse chronological order. Don’t worry if you’ve not done anything for a while; think about workplace training. Have you done First Aid at Work or specific Excel or SAP training? This all helps.

VOLUNTEER WORK Maybe you’ve not worked in a traditional workplace recently (whatever that looks like nowadays!), but perhaps you’ve volunteered with the school PTA or your local parkrun. In recent years, maybe you have contributed by volunteering with the country’s Covid-19 effort, such as marshalling at vaccination centres or delivering medication to the vulnerable for the NHS. Although you weren’t paid for this, you’ve probably been using transferable skills, which can absolutely help to bolster your CV.

• Include references on your CV. It is fully expected that your previous employers will be contacted for references.

• Avoid headers and footers – they can make a CV look cluttered. Don’t…

About the author Naomi Spratt, Rise VA Services CV DO’S AND DON’TS Do…

• Use a simple, easy-to-read font, such as Arial or Calibri.

• Use the cascade function. What if the recruiter starts to read your CV on their computer, inadvertently closes a cascade down, and then prints it? They could miss out on an entire section of your CV!

You might have great content, but is your layout letting you down? Text boxes and fancy fonts might look impressive at first glance but can make your CV difficult to read. Recruiters are busy people and don’t have time to read every CV word for word – they need to find what they’re looking for quickly and easily. A lot of recruiters use applicant tracking software, which can’t always handle unusual designs, icons, text boxes, custom fonts, etc., so it’s best to use an easy-to-read layout that is left-aligned.

22 EXPERT ADVICE - EMPLOYMENT AND FINALLY, THE LAYOUT…

• Include details of courses that you didn’t finish. If you are currently part-way through a course, and have an anticipated completion date, that’s fine. However, if you started a course and then didn’t finish it, for whatever reason, leave it off.

• Tailor your CV. Competition is fierce – make sure you show the recruiter that YOU are what they are looking for. This can be time consuming, but recruiters want to see that you’re committed to the role and haven’t just sent a blanket CV out to a whole host of random companies and hoped for the best. Scatter keywords from the job description throughout your CV.

risevaservicesRiseVAServicesrisevaservices1@gmail.com

The physiological lifespan of an emotion in the body and brain is 90 seconds,1 which means that any emotion we feel past this window is fuelled by the stories we create and replay about the situation. We are wired with a negativity bias2 – a safety mechanism in our brain, which means our body reacts more intensely to negative stimuli. This is why we focus on the tiny bit of constructive feedback and not the heaps of positive words that were also spoken, or we dwell on the one argument we had with our best friend and not the thousands of amazing conversations we may have shared.

I’m not for one moment saying that after 90 seconds you can flick a switch and turn off how you feel; what I’m suggesting is by bringing this 90-second rule into your awareness, you will be in a better position to make decisions that will change the narrative and steer your logical brain back on track and, hopefully, instigate a more positive, resourceful emotion.

By Kelly Farr

WHO AM I? We all wear so many hats – parent, employee, employer, child, care giver, friend… the list goes on. So invest some time rediscovering who you are or discovering a whole new you! I spent most of my adult life serving in the Royal Air Force and when I left in 2020, I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure who Kelly was. Now, at almost 44 years of age, for the first time in my life, I’ve discovered a love of wearing quirky print dresses (chosen by my 2-year-old every day!) bright tights, and Dr Martens, and I feel absolutely wonderful! Who knew!?

Like so much in life, not everything will resonate with you, so I invite you to take what you want and leave the rest.

EXPERT ADVICE - EMPLOYMENT 23 KELLY FARR FOUNDER, WELLBEING TRAINER & COACH YOURNORTH

“Kel, how can I do this?” I hear you cry! There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here – I’ve been working in the wellbeing space for quite some time and it’s taken me a lot of trial and error over the years to implement mechanisms into my life that work for me and also for many of my coaching clients.

Alan Watts YOU DO YOU Societal pressures, coupled with negative social media influences, can have a huge impact on our wellbeing and, ultimately, our happiness. We may see the polished snapshot of someone else’s life and all of a sudden feel inadequate and that our life isn’t as good or we are not as worthy. Comparison is the thief of joy, and one of the best pieces of advice I can give to you is don’t compare

I’m often asked, “How come you’re so happy all the Truthtime?”bomb:

YOUR HAPPINESS TOOLKIT

I’m not happy all the time. I go through a range of emotions on a daily basis, which is totally normal and completely healthy! Think about the last time you got angry – maybe someone cut you up in traffic, or you exchanged heated words with someone over the phone? How long did you stay angry… 5 minutes, an hour, a week, 3 years!?

“You are under no obligation to be the same person you were five minutes ago.”

LIFE IN BALANCE When we talk about balance, we usually say work–life balance. Why does work come first? I invite you to think about your values and determine what’s important to you. Is work your number one priority? Is it family, your health, or your social life? There’s no right or wrong answer here; your values are personal to you. If you feel inner conflict, it might be you have needs that are not being met or a value that’s being crossed, so pay particular attention to how a person or specific situation makes you feel and make changes that feel congruent and fulfilling.

FOCUS ON THE GOOD Gratitude – Vitamin G – is one of the greatest, most rewarding gifts you can extend to yourself. When we focus on what we do have, rather than what we don’t have, we look at the world through a different, more hopeful lens.

“The single best predicator for wellbeing is gratitude.”

Billy Porter FIND YOUR TRIBE

24 EXPERT ADVICE - EMPLOYMENT your Chapter 2 with someone else’s Chapter 10 – this is especially pertinent in business, as we don’t know the sacrifices others have potentially made or the journey they have been on to get where they are. What other people do is none of your business – you do you.

Struggling with your mental wellbeing and you got up and showered? Yes, that deserves a high five to yourself! You made that phone call that has been causing you crippling anxiety? – I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, another high five for you! A person who requires no external validation is a force to be reckoned with – stay in your own lane and use your energy to be your own biggest cheerleader.

Original author unknown LIVE WITH PURPOSE Living your life full of intention and purpose is so good for your physical and mental health. Ask yourself these questions: “What feelings do I want more of?”, “What does my heart desire?”, “What is the single most important thing I can work towards that will give me a sense of purpose?” Asking yourself these types of questions may be a new experience for you and you may find it challenging at first. I encourage you to sit with that feeling and give yourself permission to respond. You may be very surprised with the answers you present to yourself.

CELEBRATE YOUR WINS How often do you celebrate your wins? And I don’t only mean the big stuff; I mean the day-to-day things… I’m guessing not too often?

BE ChildrenPLAYFULlovetrying new things. Without the expectation of achieving what they set out to do, they go for it anyway! Whereas us adults can shy away from stepping out of our comfort zones for fear of ridicule or judgement. What if we put these fears aside, just for a moment, and had fun like we did when we were kids? I have 2 daughters, aged 13 and 2, and my toddler reminds me on a daily basis to have fun, be silly, and stay curious.

“When you’re doing what you love, it’s not exhausting at all.

Surround yourself with people who energise and inspire you, who encourage you to go after your dreams and who are there offering support if you need it. I spend

The more we are grateful for, the more we find to be grateful for, and this ripple goes far and wide – a thankful heart brings happiness and is open to opportunities.

It’s completely empowering and exhilarating.”

Sean Patrick Flanery About the author Kelly Farr, Wellbeing Trainer and Coach References 1 www.livingthemess.com/the-lifespan-of-an-emotion 2 intimidatedwww.rickhanson.net/how-your-brain-makes-you-easily-

Jim Roh LIVE AUTHENTICALLY

EXPERT ADVICE - EMPLOYMENT 25 a lot of time with the veteran community and am often told that one of the biggest struggles they have faced since leaving the military is the feeling of being “tribeless” or “alone”. Therefore, it is imperative we seek out like-minded folk and build our tribe – these people are worth their weight in gold and are a vital part of our happiness journey. “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Choose wisely.”

YourNorthUKKelly-L-FarrYourNorthYourNorthUKwww.YourNorth.co.uk

There is a blissful freedom in living your life authentically and without the need for external validation. Life has been very challenging these past 2 years and, regardless of how you feel right now, you deserve to be happy and live the life you want. Eat the cake, sing the song, wear the clothes you feel amazing in, not what fashion dictates you should wear… be unapologetically you! “You’re never too old to live a life worth living! Do the thing… whatever the thing is!”

Kelly Farr Happiness. What does this word mean to you now? What does this now look and feel like? If I asked a thousand people, every one of them would give me a different answer. There’s no set definition, and there is no set destination. It’s all about the journey – it’s your journey, so own it. If this article has resonated with you and you would like to learn more, we run a 1-day workshop, Your Happiness Toolkit, focusing on the themes in this article. We also run 4 other 1-day ‘toolkits’, focusing on mental wellbeing, communication, mindset, and mindfulness. “Do something today that your future self will thank you for.”

The Ripple Pond supports adult family members of serving and veteran British Forces personnel living with a psychological or physical injury. Our peer support network is made up of a community of unpaid carers supporting loved ones. Recently, we have spoken to our members about the impact that being a carer has had on their own careers.

• 66% of members reported that caring for their loved one has had a significant impact on their own mental health and wellbeing.

26 EXPERT ADVICE - EMPLOYMENT

The UK government, along with the majority of statutory bodies and charities, use the NHS definition of a carer: “A carer is anyone, including children and adults, who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction, and cannot cope without their support. The care they give is unpaid.”

Recent respondents to a Ripple Pond survey enabled us to ascertain the following:

• 80% of new members said they felt isolated and unsupported at the point of initial contact with The Ripple Pond.

• The average amount of free time available to someone caring for their loved one was between 0 and 5 hours per week.

In recent years, we have seen increased recognition of the difficulties faced by military spouses with regards to accessing employment. As a result, there is a growing network of organisations designed to guide and support spouses into training and employment whilst also helping individuals to recognise their own particular range of skills.

• 7% normally have their “me time” between 11pm and 3am and 45% report not having any “me time”.

It is widely acknowledged that the responsibilities of being a carer can have an adverse impact on an individual’s education and employment potential, which can lead to significantly poorer outcomes with regards to mental and physical health and quality of life.1

Whilst this recognition is helping to raise awareness of the usual employment difficulties faced by military spouses − such as regular moving, gaps in employment, limited access to childcare and flexi-working − there is a hidden community facing even further barriers: unpaid carers.

There is very little data in the public domain regarding the number of carers in the serving and veteran military communities. However, the ‘Young Carers in Armed Forces Families’ report, published by The Children’s Society in 2017, recognises that 1 in 11 UK military veterans who served in the regular Armed Forces between 1991 and 2014 will require significant physical or mental health support now or in the years to come. This presents an ongoing challenge that is not only having a significant impact on military families at present but will continue to do so far into the future.

IMPACTS OF CARING

Interestingly, the vast majority of The Ripple Pond members do not consider themselves to be ‘carers’.

UNPAID CARERS WITHIN MILITARY FAMILIES: THE IMPACT ON ACCESSING EMPLOYMENT

It is estimated that between 7 and 25% of the UK population are providing unpaid care, with 60% of these carers being women.

(Family Resource Survey/Care UK)

Possessing such a unique and substantial set of skills and qualities clearly demonstrates that military spouses have a lot to offer in the workplace. However, despite this, access to employment can still be extremely difficult for many carers. Living under unpredictable demands can result in minimal or unflexible free time to commit to work, longer gaps in unemployment, and effects on their own wellbeing.

What is referred to as ‘MOD reluctance’ to support spouses and partners

• The impacts of separation and deployment

CASE STUDY 2:

•

CASE STUDY 1:

The military lifestyle has an extensive impact on the entire family. An in-depth study into military spousal and partner employment undertaken for the Army Families Federation cited several specific difficulties, including the following:

• A lack of suitable childcare

Having to change career path

• General military culture. Military life demands many skills on a day-to-day basis, some of which military spouses may not even recognise themselves as possessing − organisation, multitasking, resilience, time management, dedication and commitment, dealing with pressure, problem solving, researching, managing new situations, communicating and negotiating, perseverance, and motivation.

“My husband served in the Forces from 1967 to 1982 and as a result of the time he served he was eventually diagnosed with complex PTSD. I have worked in the NHS and as a direct result of his PTSD and supporting him, my career was majorly impacted. I actually ended up having to retire early which had and still has an impact on my pension. It also meant I had to take a lower-grade job, reduce my hours during my working life which also impacted on my pension.”

As well as the above, those military spouses who additionally undertake a caring role frequently have to adapt to − and overcome − issues such as having little or no support for themselves, extensive demands on their time, living under pressurised and stressful circumstances, and often bearing the sole responsibility for other members of the household, especially children.

•

“Overall, the impact has been catastrophic. My husband last worked in 2015 due to his mental health, and since then I have been his carer.

I would love to work. I would love to study, but the practicality of actually committing to something would be impossible with the intricacies of caring for someone with a condition that can be exacerbated depending on the day or week that we have had. I have to be flexible in my daily life, and sometimes even a few hours of commitment can be difficult.”

•

• The challenges associated with keeping up with professional development The lack of training and/or retraining opportunities

• 46% of members spend up to 19 hours per week performing their role as an unpaid carer, with 22% caring for 20−49 hours and 28% caring for over 50 hours per week. 4% said the time spent varies.

EXPERT ADVICE - EMPLOYMENT 27

CARING/MILITARY EMPLOYMENT

OVERCOMING BARRIERS FOR CARERS/ JOINING A SUPPORT NETWORK

The Ripple Pond exists to offer support to adult family members who are caring for a physically or psychologically injured service person or veteran. We connect our members via an active peer support network, as well as providing talks and events, signposting and sharing information on all matters that are relevant to our members. The common feelings of isolation and loneliness are reduced by connecting with others who have lived experience of similar situations, and who offer both practical advice and emotional support through the peer support network. The care, concern, and compassion that members demonstrate for each other on a daily basis is truly amazing. There is always a listening ear and a kind word available when needed. Being able to access this support, as part of a welcoming and understanding community, alleviates some of the pressure and stresses experienced by those who are caring for a loved one, day to day.

28 EXPERT ADVICE - EMPLOYMENT

67% of carers who responded to the Carers UK’s 2018 ‘State of Caring’ survey said they did not have enough emotional support.

We have found giving our members the opportunity to find out more about these organisations, and ask questions prior to commitment, has led to them feeling less anxious about making follow-up contact and enquiries and a more positive outlook towards investigating their employment options.

HOW CAN A SUPPORT GROUP HELP MEMBERS ACCESS WORK?

Recognising the skills of carers When caring for a loved one, it can be difficult to identify your own qualities and skills. Many members find it difficult to explain that the gaps in their employment history are due to their caring responsibilities. Members also report that they would not feel comfortable with disclosing their situation to potential employers.

member experiencing financial concerns or uncertainty about benefits when working, we can help them seek professional advice via agencies such as the Citizens Advice Bureau or access military-based financial support.

Taking small steps towards a better mindset, and more personal resilience for carers, is vital to entering the workplace.

Building resilience

CASE STUDY 3: “There is a huge stigma attached to not only caring, but also combat PTSD. The “sympathetic eye” and jumping to conclusions about what caring for someone with a mental health issue really means would be detrimental to any application in my eyes.”

EXPERT ADVICE - EMPLOYMENT 29

A large part of the service provided by The Ripple Pond entails signposting, and we pride ourselves on offering signposting with a difference – we listen to what our members need and find solutions that are specific to their individual requirements.

This could range from accessing coaching or employment support programmes to getting help with CV writing, job applications, and training programmes, or accessing agencies that work with organisations that offer flexible working for spouses and are sympathetic to the challenges faced by unpaid carers within the military community. All-round support Establishing a strong support network is the ideal starting point from which to begin improving one’s own wellbeing and, in turn, learning to overcome and manage daily demands. With those foundations in place, members are better placed to consider career options − employment, training for work, or upskilling –whilst addressing any remaining barriers, step by step and at a realistic pace. For example, for a member experiencing poor mental health due to caring, we can help source professional therapy/counselling services, as well as our peer support network offering 24-hour support. For a 1 White Paper: ‘Caring for our future: Reforming Care and Support’ Notes: 43% of respondents of the 2021 ‘State of Caring’ survey were of working age (accounting for 1,500 respondents). Of these, 20% were in full-time employment, 17% were employed part-time, and 6% were self-employed.

theripplepondtheripplepondtheripplepondtheripplepond0333www.theripplepond.orghelp@theripplepond.org9001028

In addition to our peer support, The Ripple Pond holds regular member talks and events, with carefully chosen and vetted subject-matter experts presenting to members. These events have introduced a number of our members to organisations offering emotional support and coaching, thereby encouraging them to consider their own wellbeing and methods of managing the stress they are under.

WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT THE ‘LET-DOWNPOST-STRESS EFFECT’?

By Fiona Kearns

Have you heard of the post-stress ‘let-down effect’? No, I don’t mean the way you feel when you find out your spouse/partner won’t be home from exercise on the expected date. I’m talking about when you get sick on your holidays after working really hard or when a killer migraine floors you after a crazy week at work. These aren’t coincidences; this is the let-down effect in action. Being part of a military family means lots of opportunity for excitement and challenge. At times, it might feel like you have to do it all by yourself. Add in kids, pets, life… and it can feel like a very heavy weight on your shoulders. Doing all of that alongside a career can be a very tall order and military precision is a requirement just to get by. Sometimes, you might feel like you’re failing everyone as you try to do it all. You don’t want to let the side down but that often means letting yourself down. Too often the challenges you face are diminished because you’ve been through it before or others have it worse, but that’s really not the way forward. Holding space for yourself and acknowledging that you’re entitled to time for yourself helps you cope with challenges much better.

IT CATCHES YOU COMPLETELY OFF GUARD

30 EXPERT ADVICE - EMPLOYMENT

The let-down effect often sneaks up right after you’ve done a wealth of work. You think you’re over the worst of it and then, BAM! You crash. It can be the reason you never get to do the things you really want to do. You give your all to others but, somehow, your own stuff never gets done. Sound familiar? Working with women who are burnt out or dealing with huge responsibilities, I’ve seen this happen a lot! It scuppers your plans whether that’s doing something fun, going for a promotion, or setting up your own business. IS THIS YOU? In the run-up to annual leave, you cram in as much as possible so it’s all in order while you’re away. You dread coming back to carnage, so you cover off all the tasks that may occur while you’re gone. You work until the last minute in a massive effort to leave things ship-shape! Newsflash: you will still come back to a crazy number of emails and you will still have some cleaning up to do when you return!

1. Wind down gradually Set a fake deadline before the real one. I recommend treating the day before as your aim so that your real last day isn’t manic. It’s much better if you plan it out in a more measured way.

3. Prioritise If you have lots of tasks and projects in progress, don’t try to squeeze everything you haven’t managed to do in the past 6 months into the week before your holiday –you’re setting yourself up for failure. Prioritise the critical ones and do those.

EXPERT ADVICE - EMPLOYMENT 31

5. Eat, drink, and be well

Eating unhealthy foods and drinking alcohol to relax after a tough day won’t help you here. You don’t have to be an angel; just be mindful of what you’re doing. Also, I like to up the vitamins with a supplement to give myself a boost.

4. Don’t put everything else on hold While its tempting to focus exclusively on ticking off everything on the list, you still need to find time to exercise, have good quality sleep, and take some breaks. You’re smart so you ‘know’ these things but are you doing them?

YOUR CONFIDENCE TUMBLES

Are you drinking enough water and eating properly?

In modern military family life, the let-down effect is something we’re all likely to experience at some point. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. Making a few small changes can help reduce the stress that comes before a holiday, helping you feel more relaxed and better able to enjoy the time off with your family.

About the author Fiona Kearns, Certified Business Psychologist Kearns ConfidentConsultancyandPowerful Leadership 07341513095www.kearnsconsultancy.comFiona@KearnsConsultancy.comPresence

HOW TO MANAGE THE LET-DOWN EFFECT?

The good news is there are concrete steps you can take to protect yourself from this cycle. Here are 5 practical suggestions to manage this stress cycle.

2. Plan to fill the gap Do a handover to a colleague, covering the most critical issues, and communicate the holiday contact to clients/suppliers etc. If it’s your own business, a VA could help or you could set your email and voicemail to an automated reply telling clients when you’ll be back and, if appropriate, how to contact you if it’s urgent.

Despite doing your absolute best, the let-down effect stops you doing your own thing. You have no capacity for extras, only the everyday basics. You beat yourself up for not being able to follow through and you question whether you’ve got what it takes to reach your goals. Then, you recover and get back on the wheel, prioritising others, but now your goals are even further away. You wonder where that ambitious, fun-loving person went – they’re still there but fading until you take action to manage it.

THE MEANING OF COLOURS

B lack/grey - Power, formality, elegance, evil and mystery, death Brown - Down-to-earth yet credible, non-threatening Beige - Friendly, approachable, non-threatening White - Purity, freshness, innocence, faith Blue - Logic, safe, trust, peace Red - Energy, confidence, control, strength

Yellow - Joy, happiness, intellect, energy

FIRST IMPRESSIONS MATTER

Pink - Gentleness, empathy Orange - Calm, natural, fresh, balanced

Purple - Royalty, power, luxury, ambition

By Lindsay Edmeades

How much thought do you put into your work clothes?

For many people, attending interviews, starting a new job, and changing career are all times when a fresh look is needed. Personal image matters, especially when attending an interview, but the world has changed. Gone are the days where everyone must wear a suit to an interview. Instead, you need to show you are the right fit for the company. According to Forbes,1 the key is to dress for the role you want whilst maintaining authenticity. just as important as selecting one that suits us too.

Let’s look at the impact of colour in more detail.

32 EXPERT ADVICE - EMPLOYMENT

LOOKING THE PART FOR A CAREER CHANGE

Whether in person or online, appearance and behaviour count. Research from College Atlas2 states that 55% of first impressions are determined by the way you dress and walk through the door to a job interview, and 65% of hiring managers say clothes can be the deciding factor between two similar candidates. So, taking all of this into account – making a good first impression, dressing to impress, and maintaining your sense of self –how can colour help you land the job of your dreams?

Not many people consider the physiological effect the colour they are wearing can have on others. Choosing the right colour for the occasion or job is

Green - Nature, growth, freshness, fertility

Generally, dark colours portray authority. However, psychologist and wellbeing consultant Lee Chambers3 states, ‘Dress like a shadow and you will suddenly look untrustworthy and a little menacing’ – so you may want to avoid dressing head to toe in black. Medium-depth colours can make you look more approachable, and wearing blue has been shown to lead to success in interviews: according to the Daily Mail,4 a survey of 2,786 employees found that 81% were wearing some blue to an interview before being offered a job. Light colours can appear less professional for very formal environments and are more suited to casual workplaces. But beware, Indeed.com5 states that orange is considered the most inappropriate colour for an interview.

Find a balance between looking smart, keeping your personality, and addressing the company culture. Once you find this balance, it will help you remain comfortable

Top Tip: Wear items in complementary colours nearest to your face, such as tops, scarves, ties, glasses and jewellery.

What is your first impression of the people in these images and the colours they are wearing?

Think about the role you will be taking on each day and choose colours and clothes that reflect the situation and how you wish to portray yourself to those you are meeting or working with. The meaning of colours varies across cultures, so it’s important to research the company or person you are meeting. For example, in Chinese culture, white is worn for mourning, whereas red symbolises prosperity and power.

COLOUR CONFIDENCE Brands use colours to relay meanings; we see it in logos and marketing materials delivering non-verbal messages all around us. So, why don’t we think about it more in the way we dress and apply colour psychology to our clothing choices? You don’t have to wear the same colour or uniform every day, unless your profession or industry requires it, but wearing colours that complement you, or show your personality, can make you feel more confident.

DRESSING THE PART

To stand out in an interview or in your new workplace, differentiate yourself by using your personal image. Throw a little of your personality into the outfit. Yes, you need to look the part for the job, but if the outfit is something you would never wear, will you appear unnatural or uncomfortable? Research the company’s values and the dress code for the position you are applying for; a creative agency is probably going to place less importance on ‘suits and boots’ than an accounting firm, for example. However, following the Covid-19 pandemic, a co-working office/ work-from-home dress code has emerged for many people. The lines have blurred between homewear and workwear and it’s more mainstream to mix formal and casual clothes for a totally hybrid look.

Everyone can wear every colour, just not every shade of every colour. Your individual colouring will affect whether you suit lighter or darker shades and warmer or cooler undertones. Making small changes and wearing your most compatible shades can increase your confidence.

EXPERT ADVICE - EMPLOYMENT 33

Don’t forget to review your accessories: footwear, bags, hats, belts, jewellery, scarves, ties, and glasses. Quality accessories are an excellent way to update your wardrobe seasonally and introduce more colour. Look at how you can create outfits from what you have left. What combinations can you create and how do the colours work together? Make a list of the garments you need to fill any gaps. Bear in mind that building your capsule wardrobe may take a little time. Keep a list on your phone of what you need to fill in the gaps, so you have easy access to it if you spot something in the shops.

Top Tip: For interviews and meetings, whether virtual or face-to-face, wear a colour that is right for you AND that sends the right silent message to others.

performanceImproved ConfidenceLookinggoodrelationshipsImprovedself-imagePositive

Investment buys are always best in neutral colours as they are less likely to date and will go with any new seasonal items you buy. Neutrals include black, ivory, beige, pewter, brown, navy, grey, olive, and even teal. Build a capsule wardrobe with a limited number of garments that you can mix and match to create different combinations. By using a strong neutral base of staple items, you can add accent colours as you please for a wider variety of outfits.

34 EXPERT ADVICE - EMPLOYMENT and content in your new job. You’ll generate the right energy by being dressed for yourself and your role.

Don’t forget to update your profile picture on any professional social media accounts you have, considering colours, your personal style, and how you fit with your business, your new job, or the one you’d like to get.

You don’t have to spend a fortune on clothes. By choosing the right colours and styles and using what you already have, you can actually have fewer clothes in your wardrobe but more to wear (which helps the environment too!). Invest in quality coats, jackets, skirts, dresses, and trousers that suit you and you’ll get plenty of wear out of.

If you are starting your own business, don’t forget you are the main ambassador, so think about presenting yourself in a way that will relay your brand and values to your customers. Dressing the part is vital to your business’s image and how others view you.

SHOP IN YOUR OWN WARDROBE FIRST Establish which garments are in colours and styles that still suit you and are appropriate for your new job or lifestyle. Donate any that aren’t suitable and check that what you have is still current. Although some styles are timeless, ones that are very trend-specific might look a little out of place.

A NEW JOB OR CAREER DOESN’T HAVE TO MEAN A COSTLY NEW WARDROBE

According to the Association for Psychological Science,6 research has shown that dressing to impress not only affects other people’s perception of you, but also your own self-perception. This confidence in your clothes and the way you look can improve your body language immensely, helping you to make the best first impression possible.

EXPERT ADVICE - EMPLOYMENT 35

About the author Lindsay Edmeades is a Colour Me Beautiful consultant and personal stylist. Services include colour analysis, personal style and make-up consultations, available in person or virtually via Zoom.

Once you have a good idea of what to wear, consult friends, family members, or colleagues that you trust. Ask them for honest feedback to help guide you to your final outfit of choice. Consulting a professional stylist will also give you the knowledge and tools to look your best, feel confident and ensure that any mistakes in the wardrobe are a thing of the past. Wearing something you feel confident and comfortable in will help you feel prepared and polished for the interview or new enterprise ahead. Images from Colour Me Beautiful, Image Matters for Men and Colour Me Slimmer (Hamlyn).

5 www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/what-colors-to-wear-to-an-interview

Colour Consultant and Personal Stylist Colour Analysis and Personal Style for Men and Women Make-up Lessons | Cosmetics & Skincare

lestyleofcolourstyleofcolourwww.styleofcolour.co.ukhello@styleofcolour.co.uk

If you are not sure what to wear for an interview, it will help to research the company’s dress code and look around if you go for a pre-interview visit. What are the other staff wearing? What is the image the company is portraying? What are employees wearing on the organisation’s website images?

6www.psychologicalscience.org/news/minds-business/when-clothing-style-influences-cognitive-style.html#.WTmBucaZNBw

3 www.thesme.club/post/recruitment-and-interview-tips-to-help-uk-smes-and-employees

IF IN DOUBT, LOOK AROUND AND ASK FOR HELP

THE REAL COST OF NEW CLOTHES

Spend money on the clothes you will wear the most. There is little point in buying an expensive suit if you wear jeans most of the time. Cost per wear isn’t the cost of the garment but rather the number of times you wear it − the more you wear an item, the less expensive it becomes. Invest in pieces that will last. If you’re a fan of Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying Up, you might want to donate or recycle clothing items you don’t wear and don’t ‘spark joy’. Quality over quantity is key.

4 www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8685333/Psychologist-reveals-colour-avoid-wearing-interview.html

1 www.forbes.com/sites/chriswestfall/2020/01/19/the-new-dress-code-what-to-wear-job-interview-fashion-style/?sh=5c2f1db9547b 2 www.collegeatlas.org/34-crucial-job-interview-tips.html

However,36

it’s not just RJS Family Law’s ERS bronze award, its high success rate, its abundance of 5-star reviews, or even its carefully tuned family-focused range of services that makes it the go-to legal specialist for anyone in the military. What makes RJS particularly special is the passion and beliefs of its founder, managing director and specialist family law solicitor Rachel McGrath. Rachel explains, “Being patriotic and always having a thirst for a challenge, especially any outdoor, adrenalin-filled pursuits, meant that I always harboured an ambition to join the Army. Unfortunately, pressure from my family prevented me from doing so; I therefore pursued a career in law.

“The day RJS was awarded the bronze award was one of my proudest moments; it allows me, in my own way, to serve my country – something that I have always wanted to do.”

“At RJS, we understand how serving in the Armed Forces can place a huge strain on relationships and families. As a result, my team and I strive to offer the highest levels of attentiveness, understanding, and flexibility that is ideally required by any serving person.”

As an Armed Forces Covenant signatory and bronze award holder of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), RJS Family Law is very much the perfect choice for anyone in the military requiring legal assistance, to include separation, divorce, child contact, pre-nuptial, and cohabitation matters.

The Hive is RAF Cosford’s online information network hub, which is available to the whole service community, including married and single personnel as well as their Overfamilies.theyears, Rachel and her team’s relationship with the Hive and the Armed Forces charity SSAFA grew to the point where RJS was awarded the Defence ERS bronze award. Rachel signed the Armed Forces Covenant on behalf of RJS in October 2018, at RAF Cosford.

“Whilst I love my job, I have always recognised the importance of our military, the sacrifices that people in the military make, and the vital role they play in keeping our nation safe. It’s for this reason that I first approached the Hive, offering advice on all aspects of family law.”

RJS’s levels of both accessibility and flexibility are perfectly demonstrated by the offer of FREE initial consultations together with Rachel’s willingness to travel to any Army, RAF, or Navy base as and when required. With ongoing cases often colliding with tours of duty and military postings, Rachel can, in some circumstances, travel to see clients at overseas bases to help expediate legal processes. If in-person meetings are not possible, Rachel and her team are happy to organise online consultations.

RACHEL MCGRATH OF RJS FAMILY LAW, SIGNING THE ARMED FORCES COVENANT AT RAF COSFORD IN 2018

RJS FAMILY LAW – HIGH ON ENERGY, HIGH ON RESULTS, AND A PERFECT MATCH FOR THE ARMED FORCES

37

“As family law specialists, my team and I make it our business to know the UK family law legal system inside out, to include all the minutest and often overlooked changes in legislation as well as any possible loopholes.

A combination of Rachel’s expertise, flexibility, and energy, together with a highly efficient and experienced support team, means RJS has developed an enviable reputation for success, with an ever-growing number of highly satisfied clients. Many such clients go on to leave 5-star reviews and recommend Rachel and her team to others.

“We often get clients that come to us because they were fed up with having to constantly deal with different people each time contact was made with their previous solicitors. This is something we totally understand since not only does it waste time and money, with them having to re-appraise a new solicitor with their case, but also, it can often lead to miscommunication and costly mistakes.”

“Whilst we are always available, ironically, distancing oneself from the working environment can sometimes give the healthy space required to generate creative and effective answers for our clients’ requirements.”

So, what else does Rachel attribute to RJS’s success?

“Whilst this might sound obvious, this isn’t always the case for law firms where their attention and interests are split across other services – such as conveyancing and legal disputes – outside of the family law arena.

Rachel’s love of sport and outdoor pursuits means she can regularly be seen taking part in running and triathlon events all over the UK – and if she’s not doing that, she’s most likely climbing a mountain or abseiling down it! “It’s surprising the amount of strategic thinking that one can do whilst running, swimming, or hanging from a mountain top!

“I also believe fitness and good health to be very important since this helps me to deliver the levels of reliability and efficiency that RJS clients have come to expect.”

RJS has a very comprehensive, informative, and easy-to-use website that touches on all aspects of its specialist family law offering. Within the website, there are also useful and informative blogs surrounding some of the most frequently asked questions relating to all manner of family law matters: www.rjsfamilylaw.co.uk To organise a FREE initial Tel:rjs@rjsfamilylaw.co.ukconsultation:+44(0)1952466947/+44(0)7950

848241

ABSEILING OR STRATEGIC THINKING? RACHEL IS NEVER TRULY ‘OFF DUTY’!

“I think that because we are a small, caring team, we are able to offer a one-to-one approach and level of attentiveness that the larger law firms simply can’t achieve.”

MENTAL HEALTH IN BUSINESS

38 EXPERT ADVICE - SELF-EMPLOYMENT

By Jamie Farr

Stress is the body being out of balance. It is a part of everyday life and since we cannot eliminate it, learning how to recognise the signs of stress overload and boosting our ability to handle stressful situations is now more important than ever.

Here’s a really simple definition:

• On average, each person suffering from depression or anxiety took 21.2 days 4 off work during the year.

Work, for many of us, is a major part of our lives. It is where we spend much of our time, where we get our income from, and often where we make our friends. Having a fulfilling job can be great for your mental health and general wellbeing. of problems or the result of them? It is difficult to determine, but what we do know is that stress is the precursor to feelings of depression, feelings of anxiousness, addictions, OCD, and mental breakdowns.

We all have times when life gets busy. Sometimes, that’s work-related, like deadlines or travel. Sometimes, it’s something else: our health, our relationships, or our circumstances. A toxic work environment can be corrosive to our mental health. We believe in workplaces where everyone can thrive. We also believe in the role of employers, employees, and businesses in creating thriving communities. Good mental health at work and good management go hand in hand and there is strong evidence that workplaces with high levels of mental wellbeing are more productive. Addressing wellbeing at work can increase productivity by as much as 12%.1

• The main cause of work-related stress and anxiety was due to people’s workload, accounting for 44% of all Understandingcases.4 stress and anxiety is the first step towards positive changes. Individuals can get a better understanding of their stress and anxiety levels through self-help methods such as the NHS Stress & Companion app, which helps people learn about and manage symptoms; it assists with healthier thinking and provides ways to manage stress and anxiety at work.

“The reaction of the body and mind, to everyday challenges and demands.”

The value added to the economy by people who are at work and have or have had mental health problems is as high as £225 billion per year,2 which represents 12.1% of the UK’s total GDP. It’s vital that we protect that value by addressing mental health at work for those with existing issues, for those at risk, and for the workforce as a Therewhole.aremany things that can instigate poor mental health, and stress is the most common factor. Research has found that stress is the main cause of mental health problems in the workplace. Is stress the cause

• 602,000 workers3 suffered from work-related stress, depression, or anxiety in 2018/2019.

• 12.8 million3 working days were lost due to workrelated stress, depression, or anxiety 2018/2019.

improve or

to accommodate new responsibility for mental health awareness • Publicise your

in the

•

• Develop a mental health action plan and policy • Provide mental health training • Adjust job

JAMIE FARR FOUNDER, TRAINER & COACH YOURNORTH

WELLBEING

EXPERT ADVICE - SELF-EMPLOYMENT 39

• Manage

•

1. Determine your working hours: when you will start, take a break, etc. Following a schedule will help you focus and keep you from procrastinating or overscheduling yourself.

3. While you are working from home, make sure you keep active and maintain a balanced diet as part of your everyday activities.

• Work on improving communication and relationships • Learn

can you

There have been a number of positive employer commitments since the Stevenson-Farmer review of 2017. This review was commissioned by the Prime Minister to look into how employers can better support all employees to remain in and thrive at work (including those with poor mental health or wellbeing). And there have also been major changes in work practices that have added to the challenge of maintaining mental health at work. For many of us, working from home is the norm, and flexible working has so many advantages for both the individual and the organisation. However, ‘leavism’ (a term that describes the growing tendency of individuals to be unable to ‘switch off’ from work) is becoming increasingly common as working remotely and flexible working have become easier thanks to technology. This can lead to overworking, a reduction in workforce morale, and burnout. Here are five top tips to ensure you maintain the balance.

in the workplace and prioritise areas for improvement What

4. Rumours and myths flying around during these challenging times can fuel anxiety, therefore it’s important to have good quality information. Check out gov.uk and also your regional Public Health department; these are robust sources of advice.

to mental health • Evaluate

Good mental health and wellbeing is one of the most valuable assets to any organisation, and there are some steps, as an employer or manager, you can take to establish a mental health culture within your workplace. roles commitment possible causes of mental ill-health actions take mental health workplace? skills to work-related skills your personal wellbeing Discover healthier thinking Understand stress and anxiety

If you are aware of challenges with your mental health, ensure you have a list of contacts you may need to hand.

be more self-confident • Develop

2. Although it may be tempting to work from your bed or sofa, you will be more focused and productive working within a structured environment. Working at an uncluttered desk space, in a relatively quiet environment, will help with productivity.

5. Keep in contact with your work support network. Also be mindful of how much time you’re spending on social media during your working day. If you know this is a problem for you, maybe delete apps so that you’re not going on your phone so much. If you have a laptop for answering work emails, perhaps make sure you don’t have access to these functions on your mobile, or vice versa. Working from home can be lonely and isolating, but remember that you’re not alone. Know how to get in touch with your work and personal support network.

to improve your

About the author Jamie Farr Founder, Wellbeing Coach and Trainer YourNorth 1

Access to work

40 EXPERT ADVICE - SELF-EMPLOYMENT

The responsibilities of employers go beyond the first aid needs assessment when we put people first. The right thing to do is support people to thrive in work. Putting people above all else is the key to a productive and happy workplace – those that seek profit over people will soon see the rising cost of staff turnover, training, recruitment, and retention.

Government funded scheme to support employers to make reasonable adjustments to work. www.gov.uk/access-to-work Acas Conciliation service, providing briefings, training and support on conflict at work, discrimination, and dispute. www.acas.org.uk Equality act and disability discrimination

www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-andDeloitteguidancemental health and employers articles/mental-health-and-employers-www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/consulting/ refreshing-the-case-for-investment.html Health and safety www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/hssh1819.pdfexecutive Mental Health Foundation www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/h/humanrights-and-mental-health

432www.insightiapt.org/latest-updates/in-the-news/stress-awareness-monthwww.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/hssh1819.pdfwww.peoplefirst.nhsbt.nhs.uk/Wellbeing/stress.htmREFERENCESANDRESOURCES

www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-support-mental-health-work

Richard Branson has been quoted to say, “Train people so well they could leave, but treat them so well that they won’t want to.”

YourNorthUKjamie-farrYourNorthYourNorthUKwww.yournorth.co.uk

Then, of course, there is the flatlay: an amalgamation of the two styles – essentially a photo of your product laid on a flat surface, taken directly from above. Often, they are styled images that include a number of items arranged intentionally to create an engaging and visually pleasing photo. They are common in food and fashion photography but can be used effectively for all sorts of products. So here are my top tips for taking these three styles of image yourself, using your phone camera and affordable items that are readily available online or on the high street.

You’ve designed and created wonderful products that you believe in. The challenge now is creating images that will help you to sell them. In an Etsy buyers’ survey, 90% of shoppers said the quality of the photos were “extremely important” or “very important” in their decision to purchase, so having good photos of your products is key. If you are not at a stage in your business where you can invest in a professional photographer, don’t panic! It is possible to take great product images yourself. Here is my quick guide to elevating your product photography at home so you can take pictures that will convert browsers into buyers.

By Helen Holt

PHOTOGRAPH

ThePHOTOGRAPHYmostcommontypes

HOW

Studio product photography includes the classic image of your product against a plain (often white) background. These images give a clear picture of the product in detail and are commonly used on e-commerce websites like Amazon.

Lifestyle product images show your product in context or in a styled setting. These can help your customer to see themselves using your product, as well as giving an idea of relative size and use. TO PRODUCTS AT HOME AND ON A BUDGET

of product image fall into two broad categories: ‘studio’ and ‘lifestyle’ photography. They both have their benefits and a lot of brands will use a combination of the two to sell their products.

EXPERT ADVICE - SELF-EMPLOYMENT 41

STUDIO PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY Light Natural light is the easiest and most budget-friendly option – if you are shooting indoors, this means window light.

THE TWO MAIN TYPES OF PRODUCT

When planning your shoot, keep an eye on what time sunlight is shining directly into the room and avoid shooting at these times, as direct sunlight will create harsh shadows. If it is a very sunny day and you can’t avoid it, you can hang a white bedsheet over the window to diffuse the natural light.

Good lifestyle images put your product in the context in which it is used, like a candle on a mantlepiece or a hat being worn (see the example above taken on a smartphone, using portrait mode to blur the background). This kind of image helps potential customers to gauge the size of the product, see the fit and any special features, as well as helping them to visualise the product in their own life.

LIFESTYLE PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY

Background For studio-style images, you can use a very large piece (or roll) of paper. Bend it gently at the horizon line (so there is not an obvious mark) and tape it to your wall and table (or wall and floor). This helps to create a seamless look. Other options could include wallpaper or vinyl. (If you’ve ever fablon’d a kitchen in your married quarter, you will know the stuff!) Colour and material/pattern are up to you – just make sure whatever you choose suits your brand and has a matt finish to avoid a distracting glare. ‘sweep’

Set-up Have your set-up a little way from the window (around 1.5–2m) for more even light. You can have your product facing the window straight on so you benefit from all the natural light. However, you might find that your shadow is visible, in which case you can position yourself and your product at a 90-degree angle to the window. If you are shooting at right angles to the window, you will need a reflector placed out of shot, on the other side of the product to reflect the light coming in from the window. This will lift the shadows on the side of the product that is facing away from the window and create what is called ‘fill light’. A reflector can be as simple as a piece of white card or foam board. The diagram below should help this make more sense.

Camera equipment Tripods stabilise your camera to reduce handshake and help you take clear images. Phone tripods are inexpensive and a good investment, as they free up your hands and also allow you to get a consistent set of images, as you move your product and not the camera.

4. Foam board reflector 5. Window 1 24 3 5

DEFINITELY WILD WWW.DEFINITELYWILD.CO.UK

42 EXPERT ADVICE - SELF-EMPLOYMENT

Be sure to turn any lights off when you are taking the photos, so that the natural light is your only light source. This will help ensure the white balance (the colour temperature) is correct and whites appear white and the colours of your products are accurately represented.

1. Camera phone 2. Product 3. backgroundPaper

Even the smallest of tweaks, such as straightening and cropping your photo, will make a big difference to the final image. There are lots of free photo editing apps you can use to elevate your images – two I recommend are Lightroom and Snapseed.

EXPERT ADVICE - SELF-EMPLOYMENT 43

TheLIGHTbest

LITTLE VILLAGE WREATH WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/LITTLEVILLAGEWREATHS

FlatlaysFLATLAYSarea

of tweaks, such as straightening and cropping your photo, will make a big difference to the final image. There are lots of free photo editing apps you can use to elevate your images – two I recommend are Lightroom and Snapseed. Both have many features to edit images in ways you’d usually only find in paid-for computer software. The goal is to make the product look as good as possible, but the image should be an accurate representation of what your product really looks like, so filters, tints, and over-saturating the colour should be avoided or used carefully. Once you’ve finished editing your first photo, you can save the settings you used as a ‘pre-set’ and apply the same edits to the other photos in the set. Creating a pre-set saves time and creates continuity, but don’t forget to check after applying the pre-set, in case you need to make small adjustments to individual images. I hope you’ve found these tips useful and that they help you to have some fun with your product photography. The photos in this article were taken by brilliant MILSPO® businesses, using their phones and some of these tips and tricks!

About the author Helen Holt is a brand photography specialist, helping small businesses create magnetic images full of heart and personality. Her images have won industry awards from the National Photographic Society and the Guild of Photographers and she has a photographer’s portfolio with Vogue Italia. She is a member of the MILSPO® business network and is married to a serving member of the RAF.

times to take product photos outside are in the morning and later in the afternoon, when the sun is out but not too harsh. An overcast day is ideal, as cloud is nature’s studio lighting! If it is a very sunny day, find some shade to shoot in so you avoid harsh shadows.

helenholtbrandphotographerhelenholt_brandphotographerwww.helenholtphotography.com

SETTING AND PROPS

44 EXPERT ADVICE - SELF-EMPLOYMENT

Remember, the focus of each photograph should always be on your product. However, choosing a relevant setting and adding props can bring the image to life and add interest. Keep your setting and prop choices simple, in line with your brand/product colour scheme, and relevant to the scene or to your product so they do not confuse or distract the viewer.

EvenEDITINGthesmallest

great way to photograph products that can easily be laid flat. You can get really creative here! All you need is a large flat surface in good light (see above for indoor shoots or go outside in the shade). You can then play around with styling and positioning your product and any props to get the look you want. A top tip when you have very thin, flat items in your flatlay (like greetings cards or prints) is to put a pack of playing cards or a matchbox underneath the odd item to create depth and stop the flatlay looking too … flat. The example above used a large piece of coloured card and the product is framed beautifully by loose foliage.

By Gillian Jones

HOW TO RUN A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS WHEN LIVING WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS

MY SomeSTORYyearsstick

in our memories more than others, and 2014 was a good year. I had two children who were both at school and thriving, and I had started training to be a maths teacher. It was a long-held ambition of mine and I am still proud of the algebra lesson I planned, which was based on Marvel Lego characters! I had been having issues with my lungs, following a bout of pneumonia, but they seemed to be behaving themselves, so I threw myself into my new career. Unfortunately, it turned out that secondary schools and twitchy asthmatic lungs do not go together. Several ambulances later, I reluctantly withdrew from the training programme. Things did not get better. I couldn’t stay out of hospital for more than a couple of weeks and I was no longer bouncing back between asthma attacks. My health deteriorated until I barely left the house and I needed a wheelchair − obviously not ideal circumstances to get a job, but I was bored! I had been tinkering with military artwork for a while and people bought pictures occasionally, so I decided to put what little energy I had into turning my artwork into a business.

Initially my business grew through word of mouth. I registered as a sole trader with HMRC and set up a website and social media accounts. I bought a decent printer and ready-made frames and decided to focus on digital art because it was something I could do lying down, if necessary! Eventually, my health stabilised to the point I could mostly stay out of hospital (thanks to a brilliant consultant and the right combination of drugs) and I decided I should learn how to do this business thing properly! I went on a course run by X-Forces. Unfortunately, this was before the days of everything being available online, so I had to attend in person.

EXPERT ADVICE - SELF-EMPLOYMENT 45

The course involved me lying down at the back of the classroom quite a lot. There was one unfortunate day when the lift broke and I was rescued by a course mate – Neil, who now also runs his own business, Explorer Coffees. He borrowed an evacuation chair from the local leisure centre to get me down the stairs so I could go home! (Thank you, Neil from Explorer Coffees!) From these not-so-auspicious beginnings, a successful business has emerged. I have two fellow directors and we are now a limited company. We make all our frames in house and are expanding to offer framing as a service to others. Our turnover has nearly doubled year on year in the last two years. Our pictures have been around the

world, with the Carrier Strike Group 2021 deployment, and now hang in palaces, embassies, consulates, military bases, ships, and homes worldwide.

On a similar note, I am simply not interested in accounting and finance, so I invested in some brilliant software and an accountant. I physically cannot make picture frames, so I found a business partner, Emma, who could! Emma is happy and our frames are of the

We make pictures to order, which obviously takes time. I have banners on my website stating how long a picture may take and this is reinforced in the order confirmation email. If someone orders by email or phone, I always ask if they have a deadline for when the picture is needed. If I cannot meet it, I will say so. I also let people know that things may change if I am unwell. I have found that people are generally nice and empathetic. I have a footer in my emails that explains I have a chronic condition and can sometimes be out of action. It also gives the email address of one of my business partners who can be contacted if something is urgent. Obviously not everyone has a business partner, but this brings me neatly to my second point.

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Do what you are good at. When you run a small business, the temptation is to say yes to everything. I have certainly fallen into this trap. I started by doing all sorts of different artwork, including bespoke projects that had nothing to do with military art, and they took hours and hours because they were not my usual style. I finally realised the futility of wasting that time and now only say yes to military (and transport) artwork in my style. This means my business has a strong brand and I am not spread too thinly.

FOCUS ON CORE COMPETENCIES

As soon as you can afford it, outsource. Not long after I started the business, I found someone who could help me with framing, packaging, and more physical work. Interestingly, it has always been a military spouse! Understandably, this has reduced my personal income because I have been paying someone else. But it frees me up to do what I am best at – the artwork, thus increasing the range of pictures I can offer and enabling me to work on bespoke commissions. And this leads me to my next tip.

SettingCOMMUNICATIONsituation.expectationsisimportant.

So how do you run a business when some days you can’t get out of bed? When you don’t know if you are going to be able to work on any given day? When pain sometimes fogs your brain to the stage where you can barely string a sentence together? Everyone’s experience of chronic illness is different, but these are the lessons I have learnt over the last few years. Hopefully, they will be useful to others in a similar

OUTSOURCING AND DELEGATION

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE GOOD STUFF?

COPING WITH LIMITATIONS

I have focused a lot on the difficult things about running a business with a body that doesn’t always do what you want it to do. But what about the good things?

I enjoy it, it gives me purpose, I am proud of it, it gives me links to people all over the world, I have become part of a community of military spouses running their own businesses, and I now have two business partners who I adore and enjoy working with. And, in the era of the virtual world, I am more connected than I have ever been. If Covid can be praised for one

thing, it is making the world far more accessible to people like me. So, in summary, business and illness can go together. It can be a bumpy ride, but that is true of anyone who sets up a small business. Focus on your strengths and don’t be afraid of asking for help. I hope you love it as much as I do. About the author Dr Gillian Jones is a military and transport artist offering bespoke, limited, and open edition prints, which are perfect for gifts and awards. She is a Royal Navy veteran, spouse of a serving member of the Royal Navy, and an ambassador for the MILSPO® business network.

EXPERT ADVICE - SELF-EMPLOYMENT 47

This growth has all happened over many years. Because of my limitations, the business has taken longer to grow than it could have done. This is something I have struggled with because I could see the potential and simply could not fulfil it. But we got there, slowly and surely and without breaking me (too often!).

I also still struggle on days when I have lots of work and simply cannot do it all. It is difficult to stop and accept that rest is what is needed. I am slowly learning to accept this, with the help of counselling and a health coach. It is tricky having a chronic condition and I have complicated that by throwing in a business to run. I have gone through periods of severe depression but I am now able to recognise when they are coming and get help or use the techniques I have learnt from counselling.

standard I want. I physically cannot set up stalls at shows or stay there all day, so I found another business partner, Amanda, who could! Amanda is happy and we have been able to increase the number of shows we do in a year because they don’t exhaust me anymore.

GillAJonesgillianjonesdesignsGillianJonesDesignswww.gillianjonesdesigns.cominfo@gillianjonesdesigns.com

By Nadine Monks

If you are going self-employed, you may have thought, how can I possibly recreate some of the benefits I would get with an employer, such as sick pay? Or you may have asked, how would my business continue to run if I was unable to work, or worse?

If you are a sole trader, you could take out your own personal policy for this purpose. If you are a director for a limited company, the premiums normally qualify as a business expense, provided that the employee/person insured doesn’t have a controlling financial interest in the business and that the premiums are paid by the business for the purposes of the business’s financial protection.*

Currently, if you were employed, you would get £96.35 per week Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if you became too ill to work. It would be paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks.1 This is the minimum you can receive, but some employment contracts may offer more. As someone self-employed, you get nothing.

You may also feel you have adequate savings to cover this eventuality, but it is worth considering how this would set you back financially if, for example, you were saving for a house, a new car, or equipment. We generally all work in exchange for payment and, for most of us, the amount of money we ask for is based on what we need or what we feel we are worth. However, very few of us consider ourselves a financial asset. If you were to take the time to work out your annual salary with any increases year on year over your working life, you might see yourself a little differently. This is your true financial worth to yourself, your business, and your family. For someone self-employed, this can be harder to ascertain, but we all have an equivalent financial worth. Anything worth this much must be worth insuring, right? Your livelihood and lifestyle are far more valuable than a fancy phone or washing machine. Yet, just 9.4% of the self-employed own a policy, in comparison to 19% having mobile phone insurance.2

HOW MUCH ARE YOU WORTH?

Would an absence affect business expansion plans or ongoing projects? Would the business be in danger of losing customer orders and/or revenue?

Now, you may be thinking, I don’t even pay myself, so what am I covering?! However, you should still have the same security as someone employed, so you know there would be a little coming in, just like SSP, if you were too ill to work. In addition, your business costs would still continue, in most cases, so it would help to cover them and the loss of income that you could no longer generate for the business; you may even need to hire some help. Essentially, this kind of cover can improve the financial resilience of both yourself and your business and is probably cheaper than you think.

There are also similar concepts for life cover, with current guidelines stating that tax relief may be given on the premiums if the life insured is an employee (or minority shareholder with a share of less than 5%).* This could be where you, as the director, and other key people in your business are worth insuring, due to your value to the business – not only creating a package for you but your employees as well!

Ask yourself some simple questions like, how easily could the business replace its expertise?

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About the author

GLOSSARY

Nadine Monks, Director, Mortgage & Insurance Adviser, Will Writer

Income protection: A policy designed to replace your income if you are unable to work due to accident, illness, or injury. You can choose for the policy to pay out from day 1, 30/60/90 days, or 6/12 months. This is known as the deferment period and is the length of time you have to be unable to work for before you can benefit from the policy – think of it a bit like an excess. The policy would then pay out for a set period of time – 1, 2, or 5 years. You can also get comprehensive ones that cover you until the age of retirement or when you are able to return back to work, whichever is sooner. There is generally no limit to how many times you can claim during the life of the policy, as long as it can be verified by a medical professional.

Private medical insurance: A policy designed to allow you to use the benefits of a private health care service, the extent of which depends on your selected policy options. This could be for a consultation, surgery, or treatment, for example.

Life cover: A policy designed to make a payment, either by lump sum or monthly pay-out, in the event of either your own death OR that of a key person.

Critical illness cover: A policy to make a payment (normally a lump sum) upon diagnosis of a specified critical illness.

References 1 www.gov.uk www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay 2 Drewbury Insurance Blog 2020 insurance-statisticsincome-protection-insurance/guides/interesting-income-protection-www.drewberryinsurance.co.uk/

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Something such as income protection could be a really simple and affordable solution. There may also be other things on your wish list, like private health cover or a critical illness plan. We have provided a short overview in this article; however, there is clearly a lot to consider and we would suggest you get some quality financial advice around the subject. At Forces Family Finance we provide completely free whole-of-market tailored advice to help you identify which policies would be most suitable for your situation, with a personal adviser on hand to guide you through the process, review your policy regularly, and be there at point of claim should you need it.

*These points are not exhaustive and guidance should be taken from the HMRC site. It is important to obtain tax advice from your accountant specific to your circumstances as this article cannot be deemed taxation advice.forcesfamilyfinanceForcesFamilyFinance03303322614www.forcesfamilyfinance.co.uk(localcallratesapply)

Microphone: the onboard one in your phone or, ideally, the built-in one in your headphones that came with your phone. Record into: phone, tablet, or computer Edit with: Audacity (free on MacOS, Windows, Linux) or Garageband (MacOS)

Alternative: Anchor.fm is owned by Spotify and offers a free all-in-one solution from an app on your phone. Be aware, the big trade-off is that Anchor owns your podcast feed on Apple podcasts, has limits on the size of files you can upload, and the options for editing within the app are pretty limited.

Host and distribute with: Podbean (you’ll get 5 hours for free on its free plan)

JO MILMINE PODCASTING UNPACKED

START YOUR PODCAST ON ANY BUDGET

By Jo Milmine

It’s one of the most common questions when deciding to start a podcast: what sort of budget do I need to get going? With so many options for equipment, hosting, editing software, and so many opinions on which is best, it can be pretty overwhelming! And that’s before you’ve started reading the microphone reviews or watching the YouTube videos of various set-ups. There are a few different items and types of software you need to produce your podcast, but the good news is it can be as simple as recording into an app on your phone (Hello, Anchor.fm). Whilst there are trade-offs, particularly with cost-free options, it’s absolutely fine to go with these, so long as you’re happy with the constraints (more on that below). In general terms, you’ll need a microphone, something to record into, something to edit with, and some way to host and distribute your podcast. If you’re keen to get going with your podcast and want to avoid hours of research, I have you covered. With recommendations from free to pricey, there’s a solution for every budget. Remember, you can always upgrade your set-up at a later date, so don’t let ‘I don’t have the right kit’ be the reason you avoid getting started. Likewise, the best microphone for you is the one that makes your voice and audio sound the best, and this varies from person to person. Have a play around with different types and test them out to find the one that works for you. WithFREEthe caveat that ‘free’ in this case means using equipment you already have, it’s totally possible to start your podcast with no extra cost involved except time. However, you need to be aware of issues such as who owns your content and how your data is being used by the host platform. It doesn’t need to be a showstopper, but as the old adage goes, if there is no product, you are the product, so check the terms carefully and ensure you’re happy before committing.

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It’s totally possible to start your podcast with no extra cost involved except time.

UNDER £100 If you’ve £100 to spend, you can get a pretty decent set-up that will give you more control over the quality of your audio and the amount of content you can store before needing to move to a higher storage plan. It’s a big step-change in quality from in-line microphones in headphones, and it’s worth doing to improve your home/office video set-up, just for those ever-present Zoom meetings if nothing else. It will eliminate swishing noises from the headphones moving whilst you speak and your recording will sound clearer..

Alternative: Audio Technica 2100 ATR2100x-USB mic (£79); Buzzsprout for hosting ($12 per month) UNDER £350 Now we’re getting into the realms of really decent kit whilst still being affordable enough to get started, especially if you look to the second-hand market to pick up some of these pieces. You can definitely wait and build up to this sort of set-up over time by adding some of these bits, such as the audio interface, into the £100 set-up.

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Microphone: Samson Q2U (£72.80) or dynamic USB and XLR mic, with Sennheiser HD206 headphone (£20.83) Record into: Computer or tablet (you may need a USB adaptor for tablet) Edit with: Audacity (free on MacOS, Windows, Linux) or Garageband (MacOS)

Microphone: Rode Procaster (£135), Rode PSM1 Shock Mount (£31), Rode NT1 microphone stand with pop filter (£30.99), Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface (£134.99) with Audio Technica Mx20 headphone (£40)

Host and distribute with: Libsyn ($5 + $2 stats add-on) with 162Mb per month storage (of new uploads – previous months’ uploads don’t contribute to this storage limit)

Alternative: Blue Yeti (£95–£119). Be aware this is a condenser mic, so whilst it does record rich sound, it’s pretty fragile and also reasonably unforgiving in a non-studio environment, so expect to have to edit out background noise.

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Record into: Computer or tablet – consider adding a digital recorder such as the Zoom H4N (£208), which can be used instead of a computer to capture the audio, both in studio, as an on-the-road recorder using the built-in mic, and as a backup recorder if you are recording interviews remotely.

Rode DS1 Desktop Mic Stand Rode shock Mount Rode Procaster

ABOVE £350 The sky is the limit when it comes to setting up your ideal podcast studio and fitting it out with equipment. For this recommendation, we won’t go too stratospheric with the budget – if you have more money, I would spend it on marketing your show. That said, if you find that a higherpriced microphone is the one that really makes your voice sound great, then go for it.

Edit with: Hindenburg Pro (£9.46 per month) Host and distribute with: Libsyn ($5 + $2 stats addon) with 162Mb per month storage (of new uploads –previous months’ uploads don’t contribute to this storage limit)

Microphone: Shure SM7B Dynamic microphone (£389), Cloud microphones Cloudlifter CL-1 microphone amplifier (£145), Gator Frameworks 3000 series microphone boom arm (£129), Mackie 402 4 Channel Compact Mixer (£128), JBL Tune 660 headphones (£59.99) Record into: Computer or Zoom H6 6-track portable recorder (£279)

LINKS: www.adobe.com/uk/products/audition.html www.audacityteam.organchor.fm www.buzzsprout.com/pricing www.hindenburg.com www.libsyn.com/plans-and-pricing www.podbean.com

Shure SM7B Samson Q2U Mic Rode Boom Arm Edit with: Adobe Audition (£19.97 per month)

Host and distribute with: Libsyn ($5 + $2 stats add-on) with 162Mb per month storage (of new uploads – previous months’ uploads don’t contribute to this storage limit)

About the author

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podcastingunpackedwww.podcastingunpacked.comjo@podcastingunpacked.comUnpacked

Jo Milmine, Multi-award winning podcast host Founder of Podcasting

Dive in, test with what you have around the house, and upgrade as you go

Alternative: Rode NT1-A Microphone (£135) So there you have some suggestions for getting started. These are all personal preferences from my own experience – there are lots of other options out there at all kinds of price points. Dive in, test with what you have around the house, and upgrade as you go. Prices correct at time of writing (March 2022).

If you’ve been in the job market or started your own business, the chances are someone’s said to you, “You’ve got to get on LinkedIn.” And with good reason – LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking social media platform. But when you’re on there, what do you do? And what value can it bring to you, your career, and your business? BUILDING YOUR ONLINE BRAND ON LINKEDIN By Al Topping 54 EXPERT ADVICE - SELF-EMPLOYMENT

‘A brand is an intangible marketing or business concept that helps people identify a company, product, or individual.’ Will Kenton, www.investopedia.com Simply put, it’s more than just a logo or your appearance; it’s the morals and ethics, the appearance,

1. Make a plan It is entirely possible to not make a plan and still create a brand, but it will be more difficult to remain consistent to it and that’s what will help you become recognisable and familiar to your target audience.

• What do you want to be known for?

• How do you want to be seen?

To make some of those aforementioned things happen, you’ve got to have a profile and you’ve got to make some connections. What makes the second part easier is having a clearly identifiable brand. But what exactly is a brand?

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The first thing to note is, this isn’t going to happen overnight. Even if you’ve got your profile in good order and you’re ready to start promoting your business/job hunting, you’re reliant upon other people seeing your brand and being exposed to it over a long period of time before you’ll notice the benefits. However, with persistence and consistency, you’ll get there.

Try answering the following questions:

• Do you have a logo or colour scheme you want to use?

• What kinds of things do you want to talk about on LinkedIn? What are your expertise? How can you convey them to others?

Having a recognisable brand will help you become more identifiable for the thing you do best; it will open doors that might previously have been shut, and it will allow you to charge more. And it can all start on LinkedIn, if you want it to.

BUILDING YOUR BRAND

If you’re thinking about starting a business, get an account NOW and start reading, liking, and, most importantly, ENGAGING. Trust me, you’ll thank me in the long run! So, how do you create your brand?

For the last three years I’ve been using LinkedIn as the primary social media platform for my business; I’m a commercial photographer by trade and know that my most desired audience hangs out on LinkedIn over any other social networking sites.

As a result of my presence on LinkedIn, I’ve been able to have conversations with new clients in person at trade shows because their colleagues have recognised me from the content I’ve pushed into their LinkedIn feeds.

the voice, the messaging, the why and the how of an individual or group, and much more.

• What are your morals and how do they translate into the way you deliver your services?

BRAND MATTERS

Getting noticed on LinkedIn has made it easier to be seen as an authority in my chosen niche and, therefore, I’m likely to make more sales. This stuff works! LinkedIn is more than a job-hunting platform; it’s a professional community. People use it to network for jobs, yes, but they also advertise vacancies, build relationships with people in businesses they want to work with, become aware of events, find contact details for persons of interest before making targeted sales calls, sell their products and services, and chat with former colleagues and friends about personal stuff.

6. Make sure you don’t use any acronyms or jargon in your profile that others may not understand. Keep your language accessible and inclusive.

2. Create a solid profile This is your ‘shop window’. Regardless of whether you’re looking to be employed or build a business, if you’ve got a sub-standard profile, people won’t be able to find you; they won’t know what you do or how your experience and expertise relate to solving their problem.

Here are some tips on creating a great profile:

WHAT TO POST Knowing what to post is usually the biggest problem people have.

2. Put something relevant into the space at the top of your profile – your banner. If you’ve got brand colours, fonts, a logo, and/or a strapline, put it in there, along with your email address and your phone number. This makes it really easy for visitors to see who you are, what you do, and how to get in touch with you.

3. Change your profile heading to include what benefit you offer the world. This is SO important! If you’re a service leaver, put what roles you’re looking for; if you’re a business owner, explain the value you give to your clients. Mine is “Providing outdoor businesses with epic eye-catching adventure-themed photographic content.” Why do this? Because every time you publish a post, an article, make a comment, or apply for a job, this text will appear next to your profile image, so anyone who sees that content will know how you can help them.

1. Make your headshot as professional as possible. If you can afford to, enlist the help of a skilled photographer. If not, read up on how to take one with your phone at home (tip – you can read my article on how to take a great LinkedIn headshot without being a pro in the 2021 edition of Career Pursuit).

4. Use the featured section to highlight the key things you do and offer.

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5. Start your ‘About’ section with your ‘call to action’. This is the thing you want readers to do as a result of viewing your profile. For example, the first two sentences of my About section says, “UK Outdoor Industry Branding and Product Photographer. DM me to arrange your outdoor content creation discovery call.” Why start with this? Because the first three lines show up when the rest is hidden from view. Once you’ve done this, go into what you do and what you can offer in more detail. Be sure to put your contact details at the end and finish with a repeat of your call to action.

There’s a simple way to deal with this. If you’re looking to build a brand, base your content on ‘content pillars’. These are categories that your ideas sit within. For instance, as a photographer I could have photography tips, equipment reviews, case studies of work I’ve done, and my thoughts on what’s happening within my industry. All my posts then fall out from one of these categories.

7. Ask people you’ve worked with for recommendations. These are mini testimonials/references from people you’ve worked with in the past. The more the better. But make sure to give them to others too.

LINKEDIN PROFILE HEADING HEADSHOT EXAMPLES

If you want an example, feel free to check out my profile at www.linkedIn.com/in/altopping. I can’t promise it’s perfect but it’s worked for me and has helped me to become a recognisable and trusted provider in my industry. Good luck with your brand. It will take time but the important things to remember are engagement, consistency, and perseverance. About the author Al Topping is an ex-regular commissioned army officer turned commercial adventure photographer. He started Xtreme Exposures in 2019 to help brands achieve their marketing goals by creating bespoke adventure-themed photo content within the UK outdoor industry. He also provides non-outdoor industry B2C services through his personal brand, Al Topping Photos & Film.

EXPERT ADVICE - SELF-EMPLOYMENT 57

If you’ve got an idea of what industry or role you want to go into, pick your content pillars around establishing yourself as an expert within that industry or doing the kind of job you want to do. An example could be, if you want to become a leadership coach or consultant, your content pillars might be talking about leadership styles, discussions on historical leaders, conversations on current affairs and how leadership styles are good or bad, and top tips for improving your reader’s leadership abilities. Hopefully you get the idea. GOING FURTHER Doing these things already? Want a bit more? Here are some resources that will help you get on better with LinkedIn: Richard Van Dem Blom – LinkedIn consultant –www.linkedin.com/posts/richardvanderblom_ linkedin-algorithm-report-edition-2021-activityMichael6848141573990051840-spu1/Stelzner

– Owner of Social Media Examiner –Social Media Marketing podcast and www.socialmediaexaminer.com Louise Brogan – LinkedIn with Louise podcast and YouTube channel Xtreme altoppingwww.tinyurl.com/AlToppingAlwww.tinyurl.com/xtremeexposuresExposures:ToppingPhotos&Film:

A decade later, Jonny left the RAF to pursue his other career interests in business and finance at the London Business School, where he studied for an MBA. This transition was triggered largely by the desire to make a lifestyle change. Jonny explains, “I’d had the most amazing job in aviation, but working crazy hours with my wife working as a captain for British Airways wouldn’t work long term. We also wanted to start a family and I’d just been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. With all of these things combined, I was reluctant to rely on flying as a career. I wanted a fresh start.” Following business school, Jonny joined a start-up called Mergermarket in the financial media space. The concept was led by a team of journalists reporting on mergers and acquisitions. Jonny headed up the account management team, which saw the media company grow from 50 people in the UK to 500-plus people globally. After five years it was bought by the Financial Times and changed its name to Acuris under private equity ownership, before it was bought again by ION Investment Group. It was during this time that Jonny got to interact with wealth managers in this space and it marked the beginning of his interest in finance, although it wasn’t a direct route. Not long after leaving Mergermarket, an ex-military friend approached him to set up a private jet company.

As with most things in the financial advice industry, the strength of your conversations and connections can often lead to great things. One of the regional directors of Jonny’s private jet business had a share in a St. James’s Place practice and whilst he could have joined him, Jonny was determined to pursue a business of his own. This led him to the St. James’s Place Financial Adviser Academy and, ultimately, to set up his own St. James’s Place partner practice.

THE VALUE OF RELATIONSHIPS

A CHANGE IN DIRECTION

Jonny explains, “This opportunity for me was head and heart: a combination of business with my love of flying. Moving the family to Portugal when my youngest was six weeks old was all part of the adventure. But, unfortunately, this all changed with the financial crash of 2008 – as a result, it totally changed the luxury industry.”

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Jonny returned to the UK and to a role at Egencia, the corporate travel arm of Expedia, and this experience, over two years, finally led him to pursue his ultimate goal: to run his own business.

Jonny quickly found that a career in financial advice provided responsibility (for clients’ wealth) and problem solving in equal measure and that the ability to build relationships built on trust were key attributes. With regards to Jonny’s key driver to own his own business, he found that becoming a financial adviser through an academy such as St. James’s Place Financial Adviser Academy allowed him to be “entrepreneurial within a framework”. This had obvious benefits for Jonny starting out as a financial adviser, but it also benefitted his clients

FLYING HIGH – FROM TORNADO PILOT TO FINANCIAL ENTREPRENEURADVICE

GOING IT ALONE AS A FINANCIAL ADVISER

Jonny left university to join the Royal Air Force in a career that saw him flying fast jets including the Tornado. The job came with a responsibility for a £30 million armed fighter jet, all at the age of 25. His RAF career spanned a decade and culminated with his last job: training instructors on the Hawk aircraft as well as spending two years on the airshow circuit, display flying.

YOURbusiness.NETWORK IS EVERYTHING

LONG-TERM GROWTH PLANS In terms of growth, Jonny’s business expanded gradually within the first year when he took on a serviced office; the following year, he engaged extra resources to support diary management, administration, and the delivery of pre- and post-appointment packs for clients.

For more information, please visit or contact St. James’s Place Financial Adviser Academy: 07768www.sjp.co.ukGee.foottit@sjp.co.uk553718

“My experience of going through St. James’s Place Financial Adviser Academy was incredibly supportive, not least because it valued diverse backgrounds and celebrated difference.” Whilst Jonny acknowledges that you can’t be all things to all people, his background ‘story’ is beneficial to his

Jonny counsels that the first year of operating as a financial adviser after graduating from the academy is often spent advising mainly friends and family. The second year can also be difficult as this is the first point of renewals and it’s likely that this stream is not well established yet. Similar to a client’s investment portfolio, building a financial adviser business relies on a strong network, and growing this network is lucrative over the long term. A decade on, Jonny’s client base is a diverse mix of contacts including those he flew with in the RAF, contacts from his days in the private jet industry, commercial pilots, business owners, senior city professionals, C-level execs, and former Acuris employees. This certainly demonstrates why having a varied background pays off and why connections and conversations are essential in developing a sustainable financial advice business.

Jonny concludes: “When starting your own business, everyone needs a bit of luck. But if you have the support of knowledgeable people and an established brand with great resources, you get a head start. St. James’s Place Financial Adviser Academy is there to support you throughout. The industry that we operate in requires a lot of hard work and a lot of patience – after all, you can’t rush a client into making decisions. But when you build that trust and work as your client’s partner, it’s truly the most rewarding career.”

59 as well. Jonny explains, “When starting out as a financial adviser, clients understand that their investments are with you for years rather than weeks. So, the strength of your relationship with them is crucial. But at the same time, clients have the peace of mind that I have the backing and credibility of a large organisation – moreover, with great values and integrity – to support them.”

Jonny now feels that he has a career that he will struggle to retire from. He is even considering expansion or acquisition further down the line. In fact, he has no plans to retire, because his business offers him the perfect work–life balance and a purposeful and meaningful career working with people he genuinely likes.

Okay, so you understand that social media is important for your business, but what’s changed in 2022 and what are the trends?

We all remember TikTok exploding onto the scene in 2020; in fact, it was the soundtrack to many people’s first lockdown. Many predicted it would be a flash in the pan (just like Clubhouse) but, here in 2022, TikTok is the 6th most popular social media network.1 In response, Instagram rolled out Reels – its version of this short-form video trend, and the popularity of those is still rising rapidly. In February 2022, Facebook launched Reels worldwide, so now Facebook users as well as Instagram users will be able to watch your Reels, reaching even more people than before. I highly recommend having a go at short-form video content. It can be used on so many networks and is great for brand awareness and audience building. There is another trend that is common across all social media channels and that is… … nostalgia for millennials. Millennials are now reaching the age where nostalgia creates a hugely emotive response, and many posts that tap into this market are going viral – just look at all the song recognition challenges and the music being used for videos. If you can stimulate nostalgia within us millennials, you’ll be quids in!

There are 4.62 billion social media users around the world , a number that has grown by 77 million since last year, with the average daily use being 2 hours 27 minutes.1 Mind-blowing, right?

So, as a business, it makes complete sense to have a strong social media presence, even more so now in 2022 compared to last year. A key point to note is that the average person uses 7.5 social media platforms,1 so you might want to use more than one for your business. And when you’re deciding which to use, take into account the world’s most used social platforms: Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, and Instagram. People do use different apps for different purposes, so it’s important to not just use the same posts across all platforms.

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SOCIAL MEDIA CHANGES AND TRENDS FOR 2022

Well, it’s impossible to predict the trends for the whole year, but we know one thing is for certain… … short-form video is here to stay.

By Rachel Luke

IT’S ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY Groups are one of the most popular parts of the Facebook platform, with over 1.8 billion people using them regularly ,2 and let’s not forget about the communities on TikTok like PlantTok, CleanTok, and pretty much any other community you can think of. Twitter has even started testing a feature called Communities. If you can build a community around your brand, your marketing efforts will do really well, but don’t underestimate the amount of work a good community takes to build and maintain.

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Something users have been asking about for a long time is the ability to have their chronological feed back on Instagram, and this has finally been delivered in 2022. Businesses panicked, but it doesn’t seem as though too many people are using the feature, opting to stick with the normal settings they’ve had for years now. Will this change as more people realise it’s an option? Perhaps, and this is where building community around your business is key, as it will promote you to someone people want to see more of in their feeds rather than just a business.

InMETAVERSEcaseyouhaven’t

The Metaverse is an embodied internet where you’re in the experience, not just looking at it. (If you’ve seen/ read Ready Player One, you’ll have a bit more of an idea of where we’re heading!) It’s not going to impact us too much in 2022 and not from a business perspective, yet. But it’s one change that we’re going to start to notice more of from now on.

INSTAGRAM FEED CHOICES

Did you know that, after search engines, the second most important place people research a brand is on social media? Almost 60% of internet users (aged 16–64) buy something online every single week.3 Having an active presence with visible reviews is absolutely key to tick the boxes of these people doing research on your brand online. That dusty Facebook page you’ve not posted on for 2 years just won’t give an aura of confidence, will it?

HashtagsHASHTAGSare an area of social media where use and trends are ever-evolving. At the time of writing, #aesthetic is a trending hashtag and rising rapidly, but as language evolves, so will hashtag use. If you keep an eye on language use (especially among your target audience), you will be able to keep on top of the most current hashtags. And don’t forget, you should check your hashtags every 3–6 months to make sure their use hasn’t evolved and now mean something completely different to what you intend them to. I’ve had clients learn the hard way about this one!

heard, the Facebook parent company has rebranded to Meta, and you might have noticed that Facebook Business Suite is now called Meta Business Suite. But what is Meta and the Metaverse?

SOCIAL COMMERCE

HopefullyCONCLUSIONthesetips will get you started on what’s new in social media for 2022. But, it can be hard to keep track of the current trends and changes on social media, which is where a social media manager (SMM) comes in.

1 takeaways3communities2takeawayswww.hootsuite.widen.net/s/xf2mbffsbq/digital-2022-top-www.facebook.com/community/whats-new/power-virtual-www.hootsuite.widen.net/s/xf2mbffsbq/digital-2022-top-

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You can find me online

RACHEL LUKE CREATING INSTAGRAM CONTENT

References

several new features in 2022, such as downvotes – the ability to record reaction videos (shortform video again!) and more options for Super Followers (a way for creators to create subscriber-only content).

If you feel overwhelmed by your socials, you can bring in an expert to help. An SMM can help you create and plan content, build brand recognition, manage engagement, build a relationship with your audience, and increase traffic to your social pages. So don’t feel you have to do it all alone if this is a task you would rather outsource. Outsourcing to an expert can save a lot of time and help drive business results.

rachellukevarachellukevawww.rachelluke.co.ukcontact@rachelluke.co.ukat

TwitterTWITTERistrialling

About the author Rachel Luke, Social Media Expert and Virtual Assistant

By Alex Aldhous is your baby a baby, it can take a village to raise

and, just like

one! EXPERT ADVICE - SELF-EMPLOYMENT 63

DOHOWYOUWHENOUTSOURCING:SHOULDDOIT?ANDDOYOUIT?

Your business

If you are at much more than 80% capacity and haven’t yet outsourced, it is time to start looking at it as your next step to allow you to continue to grow your business. In fact, you should outsource as soon as you can afford to!

There is a common misconception in the entrepreneurial world that we should do all the work ourselves and only outsource when we finally run out of hours in the day to complete everything. This is actually the wrong way to think about it, and business owners are often hampered by not outsourcing early enough in their business. Not only are you at greater risk of burnout from working stupid hours trying to do it all, but it will make delegation harder as you won’t have the time and space to do it strategically.

The trigger you should be looking for is a consistent income; once you have regular monthly revenue at a maintainable level that is slightly more than you need to cover your expenses each month, start looking at outsourcing. It does not need to break the bank and there are many VAs (virtual assistants), OBMs (online business managers) and SMMs (social media managers) who welcome smaller monthly contracts over large ones. An investment of £100–£200 per month will have a much higher return on investment than keeping it as profit or taking it as lifestyle spending money.

Just because you can do certain tasks, doesn’t mean you need to, and outsourcing them to someone else frees up your time to focus on the income-generating work that is your core skillset. When you are looking at what you should outsource, start with tasks that you struggle with, or that could be done better by an expert, and tasks that take unnecessary time and do not require your intellectual input.

Just because you can do certain tasks, doesn’t mean you need to, and outsourcing them to someone else frees up your time to focus on the income-generating work that is your core skillset.

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WHAT SHOULD YOU OUTSOURCE?

WHEN SHOULD YOU OUTSOURCE?

Delegation can be particularly hard when we have done something for a long time, as it can be easy to fall into the “my way is best” trap. When you find yourself micromanaging, consider whether your way is actually best, or whether its just more familiar. As long as the outcome is being reached, the method of reaching it doesn’t actually matter!

Typically, business owners start outsourcing tasks such as bookkeeping and social media and diary management as these are all areas where time can be saved by having someone else take the reins. The benefit of having a bookkeeper or accountant take over your financial admin is they often do more than save you the time it takes to manage it: they can help to optimise your business and financial set-up, ensuring you are making the most of your tax allowances, keeping an eye on your expenses to make sure you are not wasting money, and removing a lot of the stress that comes with tax season!

When speaking to people, ask them about their process, the sort of work they have done before, their preferred communication channels, how much input they need from you and what is in scope/out of scope for them. Trust your instincts. You will know whether you trust this person or not. They don’t need to be your friend, but you will need a friendly relationship.

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Ask each person to send over a proposal document with a quote and their terms of business; it is hugely important that both parties are protected by a contract, so if they don’t have one in place, this is a huge red flag.

Social media management and email marketing is another great way an expert can help you drive your business forward. Not only will they save you time creating graphics and posting to your social media profiles, but they will make sure this is done in the best and most optimal way for your audience. They will also make sure your posts are planned according to a marketing strategy, with a specific end goal in mind each time.

WHO SHOULD YOU OUTSOURCE TO?

Trust is the hardest step of delegating, and so finding the right person to outsource to is hugely important. This is another reason why you should be outsourcing early – because you need to have time to follow the process rather than making a panic-based reactive decision. Once you have decided what you are going to outsource, you can start asking your business network for referrals. This is always my first place to look for someone who has been recommended and tried and tested by someone I know and trust. A referral acts as a type of quality assurance. I don’t, however, recommend going with the first person you are told about. Everyone is different and it is important you gel with the person you hire. They could be perfectly good at the job but if communication between you is not easy, it will become a strained relationship. You should be speaking to around 3 people – more than that will be overwhelming but too few doesn’t give you enough to compare.

When making your choice, remember it is a business decision – you should never consider “hurting people’s feelings” as part of the process.

About the author Alex Aldhous, Founder of the Business Freedom Method

alexandra-aldhousalexaldhous_arcgroups/thebusinessfreedommethodwww.businessfreedommethod.co.uk

ONCE YOU HAVE THEM Once you have someone on board, the hard work is not necessarily over. It can take one or two months for them to settle in and it is important that you enter this process knowing your own productivity may take a dip initially. Although this seems counterintuitive, twice the people should mean twice the work done. The time you will spend training and onboarding will inevitably take time away from your other work. This is totally normal and much easier to manage when you’re expecting it.

A BASIC GUIDE TO SETTING UP MEDIASOCIALADS

Who does your product or service benefit? What issue does it solve for them? And where does that audience sit?

So, now we know you want to be using Instagram to target recently engaged women, aged 24–35 and based in the UK.

STEP 2: SETTING UP YOUR AD ON YOUR SELECTED SOCIAL MEDIA SITE

You can track where each customer has come from, what actions they take within your brand, and re-target them anywhere on the internet. You can reach new cold audiences, send traffic to your pages, and generate sales effortlessly all from your Facebook page.

Facebook and Instagram are managed as one platform, which now comes under the ‘Meta’ brand. To advertise here, you’ll need: a business or personal profile on both platforms. If you’re advertising through Instagram, you’ll need to change your profile to a business account. If you’re using Google, you’ll need to create your advertising account through Google Ads Manager. You’ll then need to create a Business Manager. You can do this by heading to business.facebook.com and clicking ‘Create’ in the top right-hand corner. It’s a quick and easy process to do, and from here you’ll be able to manage your entire business presence on the Meta network, including your domain, pages, inboxes, ad accounts, and tracking. - SELF-EMPLOYMENT

For example, let’s say your product is a gift box for bridesmaids. This product is most likely going to benefit recently engaged females looking for gift ideas for their bridesmaids. Your product solves the time and creative issues they may have when thinking about these gifts.

Now, where does that audience sit? The average age for brides in the UK is mid–late 20s, which makes up a large segment of the 45 million active social media users in the UK. As a gift box is largely an aesthetic product, your audience is more likely to convert from visual sites, such as Instagram and TikTok.

Once your Business Manager is set up, you can create your ad account. It’s important to note, you can only have one per business. This is where you’ll manage all of your ad campaigns.

It’s a common question I hear every day: “Are ads for me?” Well, in short, yes, ads probably are for you, unless you’re advertising something prohibited by social media platforms, like firearms, narcotics, or adult services.

By Marc Clifford

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Promoting your company’s products or services through social media and search engines is one of the most highly attributable forms of marketing, with the lowest costs. There are at least 1.6 billion active monthly users across Facebook alone, and you can reach hundreds of thousands of those for a small investment.

STEP 1: DEFINE YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE

“So, where do I begin?” It may not be as difficult as you think. In this article, I’m going to explain, step by step, how you can set up your first social media campaign, which can help generate revenue for your business.

Your text should do the same: describe what the product does, who it’s for, and include a clear call to action. The website link should ALWAYS go to the product page of your website. And there you have it, your first advertising campaign. It’s important to note that social media ads are a lot more comprehensive than this, but this is the foundational building block of advertising for your business. If you want to know more, have your ads managed for you, or even learn how to do it yourself, you can contact me on the channels below.

STEP 3: SETTING UP YOUR CAMPAIGNS

If you choose ‘Sales’, Facebook will automatically place these in front of people more likely to purchase.

At this point, you should name your campaign and set the budget. To begin with, I’d recommend starting with £5 per day as a minimum for cold audiences and 10% of your monthly ad budget for warm audiences. Then, you’re going to choose your audience. In ‘demographics’, select your target gender (female), age (24–35), and location (UK).

front of your audience, and start

Now it’s time set up your push it in getting sales. Awareness • Traffic • Engagement

campaign,

Key Checklist: • Payment information • Linked to your website • Domain verified with Facebook • Pixel installed on your website (this helps track your users)

IMPORTANT: with your location, you want to select people living in this location, or you’ll be wasting money targeting people who’ve been passing through and won’t convert. You can then browse by demographic for ‘recently engaged couples’ and add that to your targeting. Finally, you need to create your visuals and copy for your ad. The correct size for a Facebook ad image is 1080px x 1080px. It needs to be a clear on-brand image of your product that shows its function/purpose/content.

About the author Marc Clifford, Founder of Social Media and Marketing Agency On The Line marcpjcliffordonthelinedigitalwww.onthelinedigital.comDigital

• Leads • App promotion • Sales

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to

You can choose one of six campaign objectives for your ads: •

I WISH I’D THOUGHT ABOUT BUSINESS INSURANCE!

The clients were not keen to travel or attend their event during stormy weather, and they had not pre-paid so were in a strong position to cancel. The entrepreneur involved had arranged limited business insurance for the event but had not prepared policies and terms and conditions for the booking to back up their insurance. Neither party were clear about what they should do.

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Years of secure employment in the high-trust environment of the forces can mean we assume clients will always operate under the same values we have. Sometimes they don’t and that is where careful consideration of your business insurance, strengthened by policies and robust terms and conditions, can save your income. I run an outdoors training business and support veterans changing careers by training them in outdoors qualifications. This is becoming increasingly popular as people recognise the value of the outdoors in optimising

By Vicki Stewart

Let’s start by painting a picture. What happened when a winter storm caused high winds and a corporate group pulled out of an outdoor event the day before?

The clients lost confidence that the event could be saved.

Advice for Entrepreneurs on Planning for the Unexpected

Veteran entrepreneurs have a good reputation in business. We are ‘can do’ people, keen to develop good relationships with clients and go the extra mile. However, we are often too trusting.

The entrepreneur had not collected payment for costs in advance, as they assumed the good relationship with their clients would not cause this to be a problem. However, they were left substantially out of pocket, having booked staff and prepared food for the event. These costs still had to be paid for by the entrepreneur. This was a real case brought to me by one of my coaching clients and we worked together to prepare her outdoor business to be more resilient for future unexpected events like this.

Veterans work well in outdoors industries because they are resilient, practical people – running an outdoorsrelated business is a natural move for many. However, many businesses suffer from not thinking through their business insurance when it comes to unforeseen circumstances. Working outdoors, we also have to manage the natural environment, which is affected by the weather and uncontrollable elements, and we have to prepare our clients for Plan B. There are three things I’d recommend doing to prepare your business for unexpected events, when you really need your insurance to back you up:

Step 3: Determine how best to address each risk With a good client relationship, you may be able to reschedule the event and this can help retain the long-term relationship with your customer, which will keep them loyal to you and they are more likely to recommend you to others. It is predicted that acquiring new customers can cost five times more than retaining existing customers.1 This expenditure will occur through your marketing and personal efforts and time engaging with potential clients before they convert to actual clients. Therefore, it is worth considering all options to mitigate risks to ensure your events are resilient against the unexpected events you listed in Step 1. A good relationship with clients cuts both ways. Responsible clients will be happy to ensure costs are paid in the form of a deposit before the event occurs so that you are not out of pocket, even if you ask for the remainder of the payment after the event. It is not a good idea to pass the costs of cancellation onto your own staff or suppliers, as you rely on them to support you in your business.

Now that you have a list of your activities, and a risk management assessment, you can find the right insurer to cover your needs.

• Carrying out an assessment of your needs • Finding the right insurer • Creating clear booking terms and conditions ASSESSING YOUR NEEDS Before looking for insurers or paying an insurance broker to work for you, you can carry out a lot of the assessment work yourself, which will cut costs and allow you space and time to think through all of the details. To find the right insurance, you’ll need a risk management assessment and a list of the activities you will need to be insured for. Don’t be tempted to miss out any aspect of your activities, such as overnight events, as you risk losing your insurance cover. Your risk management assessment might look like this:

FINDING THE RIGHT INSURER

EXPERT ADVICE - SELF-EMPLOYMENT 69 VICKI STEWART BRIGHTWOOD TRAINING

Step 2: Determine the costs that could lead to a loss You need to factor in your own time in negotiating the event, planning and preparation, insurance, resources, rent, staffing, and profit. If you have to reschedule the event, you will want to consider the potential loss of trading on that day. Perhaps the event was to be during your quiet season and the rescheduled event will now need to take place in a busier, more popular period, meaning the loss of a more lucrative booking.

our mental health. I’m also a volunteer X-forces business mentor as I want to pass on my experience to others.

Step 1: A list of potential events that could lead to a loss In the outdoors industry, this will include weather-related circumstances as well as staff absence, resourcing issues, and accidents/near misses. A good example of this could be the storm-affected event described above. Can you ensure you have an alternative venue/resource provider/power provider/freelance staff contacts if you need to go to change your plans in an emergency?

vickibrightwoodvicki-stewart-ba-hons-ma-22649953brightwoodtrainingBrightwoodForestSchoolwww.brightwoodtraining.comvickibrightwood@gmail.com

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Vicki Stewart, Director of Brightwood Training Reference 1 vs-customer-acquisition-marketingwww.outboundengine.com/blog/customer-retention-marketingGood client relationships are built on trust. The clearer you can be right from the outset of your event planning, the more confident both of you will be about what to do in the event of unforeseen circumstances!

There are insurers who specialise in each type of business and it is worth using one that has knowledge of your type of work, as they will understand the best type of cover for you, ask the right questions to ensure you are covered for all of your activities, and be up to date with events in your industry (legal cases and accidents), which change the nature of the cover you need. Recommendations from your contacts in the industry you are involved with are invaluable. Additionally, if you are a member of a professional body, you can usually get discounts from some insurers. Insurers who work with professional membership bodies, such as the Institute for Outdoor Learning, will have up-to-date knowledge of insurance issues and should be able to offer you good advice in case you need to make a claim.

The 3-step risk management assessment can now be turned into your booking polices and terms and conditions, so that you and your clients are clear about the payments and processes and what should happen in case of an unexpected event. Good client relationships are built on trust. The clearer you can be right from the outset of your event planning, the more confident both of you will be about what to do in the event of unforeseen circumstances! About the author

CREATING CLEAR TERMS AND CONDITIONS

3. Overcoming loneliness and isolation by having opportunities to Meet & Connect with new people.

1. How to Create a Future alongside military life –business and career

• Connecting them with like-minded people via social and professional events

Specifically, we aim to make their lives easier by:

OUR ONLINE COMMUNITY

In fact, we take the ‘musketeer approach’ of “All for one, one for all.” There is a lot of expertise within the military spouse community, and we actively encourage our members to share their knowledge and experiences for the greater good of all.

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THE MILITARY COWORKING NETWORK (MCN)

• Signposting them to organisations that can help with all aspects of their life but also providing meaningful insights to help them navigate their way and make informed choices – so much better than Google!

• Offering learning and development opportunities – free, funded, or discounted – to support their upskilling and advance their careers

• Sharing inspirational stories to drive positive change in their lives.

The MCN is a not-for-profit tri-service initiative set up to enable military spouses and partners to create independent, professional lives alongside military life. The MCN recognises the challenges they face and seeks to address these via its online community and coworking hub network.

The outcomes of our 2020 research, which surveyed over 2,200 military spouses and partners, identified three core themes, which underpin everything we do:

2. How to Improve Wellbeing – everything that impacts how you feel, from family matters to financial concerns and life planning, as well as physical and emotional health

• Providing places to work and study via our coworking hubs

Membership of our online community is FREE to all military spouses and partners of serving personnel, veterans, and reservists. And it is free for life* because we recognise that the impact of being a military spouse continues well beyond their partners’ service careers. Our online community is founded on the principles of mutual support, respect, and trust.

72 RESOURCES Benefits of online membership include: • Full access to our exclusive Members Area • Member discounts on training and events • FREE business listing in our online Business Directory • Latest updates from the network, including our monthly newsletter.

• Learning and development opportunities, such as Beyond 2030’s Visionary Women Programme, which offers a 50% discount for all MCN members.

OUR MEMBERS AREA Our new members area, which launched in January 2022, provides an excellent resource library for military spouses and partners. Members can search across the three core themes – Create a Future, Improve Wellbeing, and Meet & Connect – as well as sub-themes such as Business and Career, Family Matters, Life Planning, Healthy You, and physical and virtual events. They can also search against resource type, allowing members to identify resources in line with their individual learning preferences. Resource types include blogs, top tips, case studies, videos, events, and learning and development opportunities. We work hard to always negotiate the best deals for our members.

Here are a few examples of topics we have covered:

• Tips on setting up your own business, including funded opportunities and insights into programmes that can help you on your way.

• Careers that work well alongside military life –insights and top tips, e.g. how to set up your own virtual assistant business, get a job with the Civil Service, or step into tech.

• In-depth information on organisations that can help with mental health and wellbeing issues, including how they work, who’s eligible, and what to expect, allowing members to explore in confidence before taking the first step.

And the great thing is, it is a resource that will keep on growing and growing.

• Blogs, such as our two-part feature on the menopause, which looks clinically at the menopause, examines the research that sits behind public opinion, and discusses what you can do about the menopause.

OUR COWORKING HUBS

Trust Fund for funding our work, and the three service Families Federations and the Royal Air Forces Association for their support throughout.

Membershipabroad.ofour

*Subject to continued eligibility HUB

COWORKINGOPENINGHUB militarycoworkmilitarycoworkingmilitarycoworkingnetworkmilitarycoworkingnetwork

Our coworking hubs are solely for the use of military spouses and partners of serving personnel, although we do accept adult children over the age of 18; however, this is restricted to private study, such as exam preparation or writing a dissertation. Our hubs address a very specific need by providing our members a place to work or study, recognising that many do not have adequate facilities to do so from home, or find working remotely too isolating, which impacts their mental wellbeing. Being able to ‘go to work’ gives them back a sense of self, provides much-needed separation from work and homelife, and creates a community of like-minded people, which is important in a transient military life. We currently have coworking hubs at Akrotiri, Blandford, Bovington, Bulford, Chivenor, Clyde, Leuchars, Sandhurst and Valley. We are limited to how many hubs we can open at the moment as we are still at the proof-of-concept stage but, if successful, we aim to open many more across the UK and coworking hubs is subject to a membership fee, which starts at as little as £20 per year. We offer three levels of membership –Gold, Silver, and Bronze – catering to the different coworking needs of our members. The most expensive membership comes in at just £120 per year. When you consider the average cost of a coworking space is £200+ a month, our coworking hubs really do provide excellent value for money. We are fortunate that the hub facilities, including Wi-Fi, have been provided to us free of charge by the MOD, so our membership fees simply cover the cost of things like printer ink, paper, tea, and coffee. Any remaining funds are reinvested back into our coworking hubs to improve the member experience and support the growth of our hub network. To find out more, visit our website at www.militarycoworking.uk

WeACKNOWLEDGEMENTSwouldliketothanktheArmed

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Forces Covenant

74 RESOURCES

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Naval Families Federation: www.nff.org.uk (Magazine – Homeport) Army Families Federation: www.aff.org.uk (Magazine – Army & You) RAF Families Federation: www.raf-ff.org.uk (Magazine – Envoy)

All three Families Federations are independent to their single service and offer confidential advice and guidance to you as part of the Armed Forces community. We are often pivotal in achieving improvements such as changes to government policy. Our role is to highlight emerging problems and themes to the chain of command or service providers and to work with them and other agencies to improve the support they provide to you. We also offer a signposting service, as well as providing useful information for each of the three communities, through our own websites, e-newsletters, and magazines. Some of the main areas we deal with include housing, health and additional needs, education and childcare, employment and training, support to nonBritish families, deployments, money and allowances, and family life. You’ve told us all about the challenges of starting, maintaining, or changing a career whilst being part of a service family. So we set up Forces Families Jobs (see page 89) − a free platform for employment and training opportunities specifically for you. This has gone from strength to strength, but we know the employment landscape continues to change, so please keep talking to us about any challenges you face – each Families Federation has a specialist dedicated to dealing with employment issues.

INTRODUCING THE THREE SINGLESERVICE FAMILIES FEDERATIONS

The Naval, Army and RAF Families Federations are separate organisations that act as independent voices for you as military families, continually working hard to improve the quality of life for families around the world experiencing the unique challenges that can come with living a military lifestyle.

“The Families Federations work to improve the quality of life for military families around the world. We understand the unique experiences and challenges of service life, particularly in areas such as employment and training. We help you to successfully access the support available, and advocate for change when your needs as a service family are not being met.”

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Collette Musgrave, Chief Executive, Army Families Federation

The Recruit for Spouses Career Academy Our career eco-system seeks to coach and mentor spouses through our incomparable Career Academy, created for military spouses by military spouses who understand the unique challenges that spouses face and seek to support and motivate our community. Informed through scientific data and research* and managed by our experts who are qualified in coaching and NLP, this unrivalled mentoring and coaching experience is free to use and tailored towards individuals’ personal needs, providing participants with the tools to develop, grow, and gain confidence in the workplace. Coaching Our award-winning coaching programme (BAE Chairman’s Award) provides free professional coaching to people who are at different stages in their professional development. We know that many military spouses are employed but maybe working in roles that are beneath their capability leaving them feeling Whether it’s starting a new business, re-entering the job market, or simply gaining enough confidence to put yourself forward for employment, our coaching programme is just one of the tried-and-tested initiatives that have seen spouses up-skill and thrive since our 2017 launch. We work tirelessly to identify talent within the UK military community and connect the partners of our serving personnel with employers. We seek to break outdated perceptions about mobility and suitability as we continue to support and empower military and veteran spouses, both nationally and internationally, to reach their true career potentials. In 2021, as a company, we grew exponentially. However, in 2022, we seek to consolidate this growth and push our determination into opportunities as we continue to provide a collaborative community for spouses to get back into the workplace in a post-Covid-19 world.

HOW CAN RFS HELP?

Insight workshops Insight workshops are run on a tri/quarterly basis, sponsored by numerous corporate clients. These prepare individuals to return to work and take a holistic approach

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RECRUIT FOR SPOUSES

In the past two years, we have encountered unprecedented times and been forced to adapt towards a change in lifestyle and employment habits. We, as military spouses, have been prepared for ongoing change through our military lifestyle and are accustomed to changing environments, people, and procedures. A sense of resilience and resourcefulness surrounds military spouses, and at Recruit For Spouses (RFS) we seek to capitalise on our uniquely acquired skillsets to push ‘ahead of the curve’ in the changing environment of modern employment. through encouraging candidates to review their values, learn about organisational culture, engage in interactive CV and LinkedIn profile writing, gain insights into HR processes, and receive support with interview preparation.

Personal development and up-skilling 2021 saw us launch the Career Mentorship Programme in partnership with Virgin Red. This initiative has seen great success in creating a relationship with industryleading experts, including directors of finance and heads of business development as well as project, portfolio, and delivery managers. We will continue developing this programme in 2022, with an exciting partnership in the works with Google, where our clients will receive free online courses in digital marketing and small-business start-up advice − just two of many opportunities coming this year.

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unfulfilled and ultimately not using their talents to their advantage. The coaching programmes helps people to identify transferable skills, strengths and formulate goals that are realistic. The coaching programme also works for people whose CV gaps have led to low confidence, low self-esteem, and imposter syndrome and who are, therefore, unsure of where to go next in their career. Since our launch in 2017, over 200 spouses have been coached (that’s over 2,000 hours of free professional career coaching). Mentoring Our mentoring programme matches spouses with exceptional C-Suite-level mentors from across the country, increasing career confidence and employability by more than 95%. The journey of each spouse is unique, and matches are made based upon their stated aims, skills, and interests.

Our Liquid Workforce has cracked the code to military spouse employment as an innovative way of harnessing the talent of our community. Working with you, we seek to translate your qualifications and skills into what modern employers require. This support is available to members of the Foreign and Commonwealth communities, to veterans and military spouses. We work with progressive employers who recognise the value of hard work, determination, and resilience. These businesses see the potential of employing agile teams from the military community and the diversity, experience, and focus they bring. Whether you require two hours a week or 40, with one person or a team of people, we have the solution, for both employer and employee. We recruit for permanent, fixed-term, full-time, part-time, office-based, remote, and agile roles across a broad spectrum of industries. We worked from home before it was fashionable!

OUR APPROACH TOWARDS RECRUITMENT

2022 is the year for growth, and we are here to help. Whether you require coaching, mentoring, or employment opportunities, RFS has the answer.

78 RESOURCES *MOD ‘Living in our shoes’ report and Forces in Mind Trust research WHO WE WORK WITH ToJTINationalNationwideAMSTrustregisterwith us and discover the career opportunities, lifestyle support, and industry experts available to you, or to see more information about our free coaching and mentoring programmes, please email onlinewithveteranAdditionally,careeracademy@recruitforspouses.co.uk.youcanjoinover2,000militaryandspousesonourprivatemembersforumaccesstoourfreeresources,CVtoolkits,events,andnetworkingpoolshere: www.facebook.com/groups/246044645598267 Catch up with us over on our website, socials, and check out our podcast, Recruit for Spouses, on all conventional streaming platforms! recruit4spousesrecruitforspousesrecruitforspouseswww.recruitforspouses.co.ukBootsICOVirginMike-Alpha

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?

GONE WILD MENTEES RESOURCES 79

Through our free bespoke mentoring programme, we provide support on all practical aspects of setting up a business venture. Our wide community of business mentors is made up of highly successful entrepreneurs, business leaders, and senior corporate figures, all of whom volunteer their time freely to provide advice and support borne from their own extensive experiences.

Heropreneurs was established in 2009 and is the only registered charity in the UK that works exclusively to help members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and military dependants to fulfil their potentials to set up and run their own businesses. Our business mentoring programme is free and available to any member of the military community with a vested interest in establishing their own business, and we have the backing of successful entrepreneurs, politicians, Armed Forces veterans from all ranks, and business leaders. Whilst our mentoring programme manager is on hand to facilitate successful relationships through our online MentorNet platform, mentees are given the freedom to choose their own business mentor, making our programme a truly personalised experience driven entirely by the mentee, delivering maximum benefit to them and their business. We do not offer grants or monetary input to the businesses on our mentoring programme – all the advice from our mentors is objective and unbiased; Heropreneurs is not trying to sell anything to anyone. Our mentors can offer support on all aspects of building a successful business at any stage, from startup to scale-up, including sales, marketing, finance, negotiations, and the preparation of business plans and business strategies, to name a few. Heropreneurs directly supports the ambitions of many current and former military personnel and their partners through one-to-one mentoring and hands-on guidance, given freely by some of the country’s most successful business leaders. Mentors on the programme are highly aware of the tough and lonely road that creating a new business can lead to and are there to provide support to alleviate some of these concerns and smooth the path to a successful business. The number of beneficiaries of the mentoring programme is continually growing by 40% year on year and we look to maintain this trajectory. Many more have been helped through digital channels, networking events, and workshops.

HEROPRENEURS

HEROPRENEURSWHOAREWE?

AWARDS

THEopportunities.HEROPRENEURS

THE HEROPRENEURS COMMUNITY

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We have an established community consisting of past beneficiaries, successful entrepreneurs, Heropreneurs mentors, business leaders, and major corporate and academic partners through which we are able to provide extensive networking possibilities. Alongside our mentoring programme, we provide an extensive schedule of events, including webinars, workshops, and networking opportunities, all of which provide fantastic opportunities to upskill, increase your knowledge in a variety of areas (such as marketing, negotiation skills, implementing sustainable and ethical processes, and raising money for your business), and make valuable contacts to build your networks. Additionally, we have established partnerships with major organisations, such as Warwick Business School and Goldman Sachs, which provide huge value for our community, including collaborations on events, networking, and learning and development

Our prestigious annual awards programme was established in 2018 to showcase the veteran and wider military community as a positive economic asset. The awards recognise the exceptional achievements of veterans, Armed Forces personnel, and dependants in business. Start-ups, employers, entrepreneurs, and technology businesses all feature alongside charities and companies with a strong veteran-supporting mentality. Sponsors of the awards include major organisations, and the prizes available offer significant, even life-changing, opportunities. Heropreneurs takes every opportunity throughout the year to encourage personal and business growth and celebrate success and achievements within our community of entrepreneurs and business owners. However, there is one special night in our events calendar when we go all out. New for 2022, the annual awards night and gala dinner is an evening dedicated to bringing our network together to recognise the many different aspects of business ownership and entrepreneurism that exist within Heropreneurs. To be accepted as a nominee, individuals and businesses should be actively participating as a beneficiary on the Heropreneurs mentoring programme. This year sees us take the award count to ten, with the introduction of the ‘Business of the Year’ award. Following nominations, the winners are selected by an esteemed and experienced judging panel of professionals and award sponsors. GET IN TOUCH Take a look at our website, www.heropreneurs.co.uk, to see feedback from our beneficiaries, check out our latest news, hear about our events, and find out more about the variety of support we offer to the military community. Find out what we are up to by following us on social media

heropreneursHeropreneurheropreneurs_charityHeropreneursCharitys Heropreneurs is established as a company limited by guarantee and is a registered charity with the Charity Commission (No 1136671).

Founders of SWiRL Global, Steph Wilson and Rachael Ladd, are setting out to change that fact by supporting the swimming journeys of children by initially offering swim float covers that meet children’s sensory needs safely and hygienically. The pair aim to develop other swim aids, toys, and accessories that will promote accessibility and encourage neurodivergent individuals and those with disabilities into swimming. Steph and Rachael joined the Heropreneurs mentoring programme in October 2020 and were assigned business leader Andy Bourne as their mentor.

Mentor Andy Bourne comments, “From the outset, the founders of SWiRL Global, Steph and Rachael, had a clear vision and, importantly, a passion to develop sensory considered products to support neurodiverse communities to learn to swim. Their efforts have been targeted at autistic children, their parents, and swimming instructors delivering the Learn to Swim programmes. As a start-up organisation, they had to face up to the challenges of launching a venture when swimming pools have been closed during the Covid pandemic. They have used this time to refine their vision and goals and to network with agencies and organisations across the globe to listen and understand their challenges.“ “Their determination and persistence are remarkable and will add value to the lives of autistic children over the coming years.” Reflecting on their time on the mentoring programme so far, the team note, “We are beyond grateful to Andy for his support and his input in helping us develop from an idea into a business that has designed and launched two additional products since our initial idea for a float cover. Andy really bought into our story, our passion, and determination for what we were aspiring to and helped us channel that so we can grow and bring about real change. Anyone joining the Heropreneurs programme will benefit from the mentorship on offer, and we would recommend Andy to anyone who is starting out in a similar industry.”

SWiRL Global has quickly grown into a community of swimmers, advocates, parents, teachers, athletes, and much more, all focused on bringing inclusion and community to the world of aquatics. Both members of the team are military spouses and Steph is a former Royal Navy chief petty officer.

Informed by Rachael’s experience as a parent of a child with sensory needs and Steph’s knowledge through her role as a swimming teacher, they spotted the potential in the market for their products and services. Together, they set out to ask swimming teachers if they knew of existing products and were overwhelmed by the number of people asking for such items.

CASE STUDY: SWIRL GLOBAL

According to Autism Swim Australia, children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are 160 times more likely to drown than their neurotypical peers.

Find out more about SWiRL Global at www.swirlglobal.com

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IfFUNDINGyou’reconsidering starting a business, it’s likely you will need funding at some point. As long as your business has yet to start, or you’ve been trading for less than three years, we may be able to provide support via the government’s Start-Up Loans programme. Unsecured personal loans for business purposes of up to £25,000 (average of £11,000) are available. These come with 12 months’ free mentoring support, no early repayment penalties, access to free events and workshops, and a dedicated business adviser.

X-FORCES ENTERPRISE (XFE)

ENTERPRISE FOR LIFE TM

self-employment but are unsure whether the enterprise route is right for you and your family, you can sign up for our free one-day Self-Employment Discovery Workshop and discover the pros and cons of starting your own business. You’ll get to know your own red lines, increase your understanding of the commercial world, and make an informed decision about starting your own business. Learn more about this workshop here: www.x-forces.com/training Additionally, we have a self-employment training programme designed exclusively for tri-service spouses, partners, and family members. This three-day course is a great opportunity to develop valuable enterprise skills, learn all about the self-employment landscape, determine the viability of any business idea, and network with others going on a similar journey. RAF spouse Natalie Jackson, also known as The Longevity Coach, talks about her experience on the course: coach-levels-up-on-xfe-spouse-coursewww.x-forces.com/military-spouse-and-health-

We believe learning lifelong enterprise skills is of immense value for both aspiring entrepreneurs and those seeking career advancement. Understanding business basics gives individuals commercial know-how and the building blocks for success, whatever their chosen career path.

In 2012, X-Forces Enterprise (XFE) had a vision to support successful business start-ups from the wider military community: veterans, spouses, family members, cadets, and reservists. To date, XFE have provided 42,000 hours of enterprise training, supported the launch and growth aspirations of 2,334 business owners, and facilitated access to £25.1m in seed funding. 1

IfTRAININGyouarecontemplating

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NETWORKING AND KNOWLEDGE

Whatever stage of your journey you’re at, if you’re looking to connect with like-minded people, XFE holds regular Military in Business® networking events, hosted by our amazing regional ambassadors. These feature special keynote speakers who are experts in their fields, as well as guests from a variety of organisations that support enterprise. Learn more about these events and register for your free place on the XFE Eventbrite page.

Peer-to-peer support and mentoring is fundamental to XFE’s DNA, and our Knowledge Exchange Hub features a growing army of ‘business captains’ – experts from across society and sectors, waiting to support you in a confidential and secure environment. Additionally, the free-to-use digital XFE Hub includes a vast library of articles on the topics that matter most to both aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs. Please do get in touch today. Our aim is to give people knowledge and information so they can make informed choices about their self-employment career options. The above are all FREE resources for the Armed Forces community and the team at XFE are here to help. For advice and support, contact: x-forces-ltdofficialxforcesXForcesXForceswww.x-forces.cominfo@x-forces.com

XFE beneficiaries pictured opposite: Michelle Williams, Elementary Science; Olivia Smith, Olivia and Pearl; Fizz Festivals; Hannah Saunders, Toddle; Julie Martin-Davy, Present Purrfections. Reference 1 X-Forces Enterprise Activity Report 2020–21 NATALIE JACKSON, THE LONGEVITY COACH IRENE POTHEADSMITH,AND PANFACE SUZY MAMAOLIVIER,ANDBELLE

We have a bespoke range of business masterclasses to support current business owners, with topics ranging from building your online presence to understanding your audience in 2022. These are produced in partnership with partner organisations such as ABF, Amazon, The Soldiers Charity, NatWest, and Barclays. You can learn more about the masterclasses and register for free here www.x-forces.eventbrite.com

ALREADY TRADING?

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Our name reflects how inclusive the network is – Milspo® stands for Military Spouses, Partners, and Other-halves, so no matter which group you fall under, you will be very welcome to join us. Over the last five years Milspo® has expanded to become a family of over 1,300 and counting!

Military life can be a bit lonely sometimes, can’t it? Add running your own business and a pandemic into the equation, and there’s a chance you will be feeling even more isolated than ever! Thankfully, there’s a growing online community stuffed full of amazing business owners who always have your back.

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Valuable business contacts and networks are lost with each posting. If a business fails, it just reinforces feelings of isolation and low self-worth. That is where the Milspo® Network comes in. It provides vital support to militaryspouse-run businesses, but more than that, it provides a place to belong that can move when you do.

THE

“I’m not sure I would have started my business without Milspo! The Milspo community has been instrumental in helping me grow my business and raising my selfconfidence alongside like-minded business owners that truly value connection over competition.”

NETWORKBUSINESSMILSPO®

The Milspo® Network is an inclusive online global community that supports all UK military spouses, partners, and other-halves (SPOs) to build successful and resilient businesses that can endure the nomadic forces life. Since 2018 we have been networking, collaborating, and supporting each other to build posting-proof businesses that showcase how hard-working, dedicated, and inspirational our amazing community is. Although the Milspo® Network has its roots in business support, its strength and true meaning lie in the fact that it connects our isolated and dispersed community and inspires us to achieve something greater for ourselves.

As military partners we are often faced with shortnotice moves, long separations, and starting over. This transient and unpredictable life doesn’t fit well around traditional ideas of employment, which is why many of us have found the solution lies in the flexibility of selfemployment. But it is difficult to build an understanding client or customer base when you move every few years.

The Milspo® Network is not like any usual business network; it’s about giving the partners of our brave Armed Forces personnel the means to live a better version of their military lives, with greater support, so that, in turn, they can support their serving person and our UK’s defence mission.

The Milspo® team is made completely of SPOs who understand exactly what life as an entrepreneurial military partner can involve. We would love you to join our friendly community so that you can build the business you deserve. Head over to our main website, www.milspo.co.uk, for more information. Or, to find inspirational business owners to work with, check out our directory: www.findamilspo.co.uk – we can’t wait to meet you!

COME AND JOIN US

milsponetworkMilspoNetworkwww.milspo.co.ukhello@milspo.co.uk

Milpso® runs regular free virtual events that can be accessed by our members from anywhere in the world. We organise casual meet-ups, formal networking events, expert workshops, annual events, and business support that is not limited by location, enabling Milspo® members to share experiences and champion each other to achieve their dreams no matter where they are posted. Members also have opportunities to share their company, work on their business goals, and support others who can learn from their business or military journey. “Milspo has been essential in getting my business off the ground. The people I have met throughout the world have given me their time, knowledge, and support, which would have been a lot harder to come by had it not been for Milspo.”

OUR #MILSPOMOVEMENT CAMPAIGN AND OUR FINDAMILSPO.CO.UK BUSINESS DIRECTORY

The Milspo® Movement is a grassroots campaign on a mission to encourage everyone to support, value, and buy from the entrepreneurial spouses, partners, and other-halves of the serving UK Armed Forces. Milspo® has been highlighting the value that our members can bring to everyone, particularly our wider Armed Forces and their contribution to the UK economy. Our business directory, www.findamilspo.co.uk, has been built to answer a question that we get asked a lot: How can we support Armed Forces families? Our answer is simple – by directly supporting the spouses, partners, and other-halves of serving UK military personnel.

“It is the constant in my evermoving, ever-changing, surroundedby-packing-tape, magnolia-walled nomadic life. For that, I thank you.”

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OUR SOLUTION – ONLINE SUPPORT

Now, for the first time, anyone can access this network of amazing Milspo® business owners who will provide a top-notch service, and share the same ethos as their serving military partners. In turn, when people choose to #shopmilspo, they will be directly supporting Milspo® businesses and, on a greater scale, supporting the UK defence mission. “Signing up to the findamilspo directory was so quick and easy to do. Just five minutes and I know my business is going to get increased visibility to those of us that like to support the amazing Milspo® businesses that are out there − I’ve already had my first enquiry through the site!”

“It is overwhelming to know that we have been able to positively influence more than 1,500 Armed Forces families who have gone on to start their business journey, with many now entering their third and fifth year of trading. We look forward to enabling hundreds more this year to achieve their ambitions and turn their bright ideas into real business opportunities.”

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SUH comprises a four-day business training course followed by a ten-month mentoring programme. It is FREE to service families and has continued to grow in popularity, having already been attended by more than 1,500 delegates at MOD bases in the UK, overseas, including in British Forces Germany, Belgium, Italy, and Cyprus.

Supporting the Unsung Hero (SUH) is so much more than a training course. Its delegate network is unique, comprised completely of entrepreneurs from the Armed Forces community. Now in its ninth year, this FREE business training programme delivered in person, at MOD bases throughout the UK, overseas, and online has been in high demand from Armed Forces families, veterans, and reservists to help them realise their ambitions to start up and develop their own businesses.

ABOUT SUPPORTING THE UNSUNG HERO

The SUH business start-up programme has been developed specifically for Armed Forces families, to provide them with the transferable skills and support required to start and maintain a business, enabling families to become more financially stable and help delegates develop a sustainable career. The course is designed to be as informative, fun, and relaxed as possible and to provide encouragement throughout.

“I can’t recommend the business start-up course delivered by Supporting the Unsung Hero enough! I have been living overseas with my husband who serves in the British Army and had been struggling to get my business off the ground. When I saw the course, I immediately went for it and my eyes were opened. I was able to learn from subject-matter experts and develop a business brain to complement my creativity. It has helped my business grow – I now have a steady client base and time to enjoy my photography rather than worrying about whether I’m running my business effectively. A big thank you to Sarah and the team who have been supportive throughout.” Daniel Knott, Semper Fi Photography and SUH programme delegate.

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THESUPPORTINGUNSUNG HERO (SUH)

Hundreds of Armed Forces families are set to benefit from the award-winning Supporting the Unsung Hero business start-up programme as the Black Country Chamber of Commerce announces the extension of its training and mentoring programme until 2023.

The FREE business training and mentoring support programme is open to spouses and adult dependants of serving, veteran, and reserve Armed Forces personnel. Applications from veterans and reservists are also welcome. With the support of qualified and experienced business mentors, attendees will have the opportunity to start and grow their businesses and meet likeminded entrepreneurs who are part of the Armed Forces community. From graphic designers, writers, sports coaches, crafters, and artists, the SUH team are there to offer guidance through the early stages of setting up a business.

STAGE 1: Introduction to Self-Employment (Monthly Webinars) This session is designed to answer all the questions you may have about becoming self-employed and starting a STAGEbusiness.2: Four-Day Business Start-Up Course

SUH is particularly popular with Armed Forces families who are posted to EJSU (European Joint Support Unit) locations, as employment opportunities are varied and can be limited dependent on location. Many spouses choose self-employment to continue their career or start a new business venture. Sarah Walker, SUH Project Manager, says, “We are so pleased to announce the extension of Supporting the Unsung Hero to continue providing service families with the tools, skills, and opportunities to optimise their capacity for business and self-employment. We have come a long way since our first cohort in 2013 and to date we have delivered 64 cohorts throughout the UK, at MOD bases from Scotland to Portsmouth and overseas in British Forces Germany, Belgium, Gibraltar, Naples and Cyprus as well as online. It is overwhelming to know that we have been able to positively influence more than 1,500 Armed Forces families who have gone on to start their business journey, with many now entering their third and fifth year of trading. We look forward to enabling hundreds more this year to achieve their ambitions and turn their bright ideas into real business opportunities.”

The programme consists of three stages of support.

The course is taught by experienced business advisers from the Black Country Chamber of Commerce. Areas covered include: STAGE 3: Mentoring Following completion of the four-day course, you will be assigned a dedicated business mentor and given an eight-month mentoring programme, consisting of five individual and two group mentoring sessions. The mentoring sessions have been designed to support you through the process of starting and maintaining a business.

• Market Research • Marketing • Law and Legislation • Business Planning • Cash Flow and Profit • Balance Sheets

So if you are considering starting up in business, wish to develop your enterprise, or would simply like to learn more about self-employment, why not register for your FREE training place and join a unique and friendly business community? For more information and to book your place on the ‘Supporting the Unsung Hero’, supunsungherosupporting-the-unsung-herosupportingtheunusungherosupportingtheunsungherowww.supportingtheunsunghero.co.ukinfo@supportingtheunsunghero.co.ukvisit

88 RESOURCES • Break-even • Financial Forecasting • Keeping Records • Tax, National Insurance, and VAT

SUH TRAINING AND MENTORING

WHAT IS FORCES FAMILIES JOBS?

Forces Families Jobs is an employment and training platform designed to support military families into meaningful employment and provide opportunities for training and development. It’s being delivered by a tri-service partnership between the Naval Families Federation (NFF), Army Families Federation (AFF), and Royal Air Force Families Federation (RAFFF).

FORCES FAMILIES JOBS

If you’re a partner of a serving person, you will likely be familiar with frequent moves and the subsequent need to hand in your notice, update your CV, and look for a new job whilst trying to move, sort out schools, or organise childcare in a new area. You may have to look at changing your career or applying for jobs that are not at the same level as the one you had previously.

FFJ is a platform that bridges the gap between spouses, partners, and family members of current serving personnel, organisations who have signed the Armed Forces Covenant, and organisations offering training and development opportunities as well as access to career-related information.

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FFJ IN 2022 FFJ continues to grow and has thousands of live jobs available for you to view and apply for on the website. The number of job seekers registered on the site now exceeds 12,500, highlighting the service community’s need for a jobs and training platform, now more than ever.

HOW IT STARTED

FFJ came about as a result of AFF research conducted by the University of Warwick, entitled ‘Military spousal/ partner employment: identifying the barriers and support required’, which stated a key recommendation to be the introduction of an online jobs platform.

PROMOTING THE AFC

• Spouses, partners, and family members of service personnel who have left the Armed Forces within the last 12 months

1. Employers who have signed the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) – Any organisation that has signed the AFC can advertise their job opportunities free of charge. For employers, it’s an opportunity to promote their organisation and showcase their commitment towards fulfilling the AFC. As well as advertising their job vacancies, employers can access a large, highly skilled candidate database of Armed Forces family members from all three services.

forcesfamiliesjobsForcesFamiliesJobswww.forcesfamiliesjobs.co.uk

For employers to be able to advertise on the site, they must have signed the AFC. The Families Federations are working with the MOD’s Defence Relationship Management to encourage all those employers who have signed the covenant to use the site to promote their jobs and increase their exposure to a highly skilled and relatively untapped area of the labour force.

NEW DuringFEATURESautumn2021,

2. Training providers who demonstrate a commitment to the Armed Forces community – Training providers who offer training or career opportunities without charge and companies who offer a discount specifically for Armed Forces families on a training course.

• Bereaved spouses, partners, and family members for up to two years post-service

FFJ went social and can now be found on Facebook and LinkedIn! This means we can update our audience more frequently with news and events. We have also launched our new ‘Other Routes to Employment’ page. As well as displaying apprenticeship opportunities for our employers, we also showcase any special employment pathways that organisations may have for the Armed Forces community.

WHO CAN USE IT?

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More than 1,300 employers are now registered and the number of training opportunities on the site is also growing, with 79 different providers now signed up, all of whom offer free or discounted training for Armed Forces families.

3. Spouses, partners, and family members of current serving military personnel

• Spouses, partners, and family members of current regular and reservist personnel

ABOUT THE SITE As a jobseeker you can register to create an account, upload or build a CV using the site’s CV builder, create job alerts, and search for jobs using a variety of filters. The site is for all service families, anywhere around the world. If you have any queries, or if you’re an employer or training provider who would like to sign up, please contact the team on help@forcesfamiliesjobs.co.uk.

The advantage of employers all being AFC signatories is that partners, spouses, and family members can be reassured that the employers are aware of the challenges presented by the military lifestyle, won’t discriminate against them because of this, and are committed to being supportive of this community.

The number of job seekers registered on the site now exceeds 12,500, highlighting the service community’s need for a jobs and training platform, now more than ever.

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» Join in on discussions specific to your Serving Persons Unit.

» Find out how you can be intouch with your Information Officers and Forum Moderators.

» Share your experiences, ideas and knowledge. Keep up to date with events and activities specific to Service families.

» Use the links to the online booking forms.

» Join the groups that you are most interested in and keep intouch by receiving notifications of any updates.

»

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» Keep informed with Service-related updates by visiting the ‘Topics’ area where you will find information from MOD Departments, NAVY Command, external organisations, and Charities.

» Build friendship groups with like-minded people in a safe environment.

» Share your feedback and photos with other members.

» View and download useful resources.

A Safe, Secure area for Family Engagement

INFORMED - INVOLVED - INTOUCH

» Subscribe to areas of your choice and receive updates to your inbox.

» Read about what has been going on within the RN Community.

» Get involved in the discussions and provide your feedback and ideas.

» Be informed on who to contact at times of personal crisis.

» Keep up to date with news from deployed Units. www.royalnavy.mod.ukhttps://forum.royalnavy.mod.uk

RFEA – The Forces Employment Charity – offers employment support to military spouses and partners (including separated, divorced, widowed and overseas) looking to take the next step in their careers. Delivered by a team of specialist families employment advisors, the service currently offers career diagnostics, help with job searches, CV reviews, interview preparation and techniques, mentoring, confidence and self-esteem building opportunities, and wider needs advice including signposting to welfare and wellbeing support. New for 2022, we are extending our services to help those interested in pursuing careers in tech and cyber through RFEA’s TechVets programme, as well as offering free coaching sessions.

Lee Johnston, RFEA families employment advisor and military spouse, says, “The Families Programme advisors are all partners of serving personnel, so we each have a first-hand understanding of the issues our clients face. For instance, frequent moves to often isolated locations, as well as a lack of social support and existing employment networks available to tap into, can all be challenges that hit military spouses and partners particularly hard. The pandemic has also added an additional level of complexity as many of the roles that offered the flexibility that is so important to our clients, such as those in hospitality or retail, have all been hugely disrupted. The good news is that there is help and other options available, and RFEA is there to support people with finding an opportunity that is right for them. Everyone has skills and the key is recognising what they are and how they can be transferred to a role. I am so proud of every spouse and partner that has signed up for the Families Programme to achieve their goals, whether they be big or small, short-term or long-term, to do with finding that big job or helping improve their confidence and getting the guidance they need to make a change. This doesn’t feel like a job for me, because I am so passionate about providing the guidance and support that our clients deserve. We will continue to offer our support but also increase our reach, so we can access every spouse and partner that needs our help.”

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RFEA

Offering more support than ever to military partners and spouses

FAMILIES PROGRAMME

Founded in 1885 and operating across the UK, we have the specialist knowledge and understanding to bridge the gap between military life and civilian employment. We work in partnership with other organisations and employers who, like us, respect and value the unique qualities and abilities of all those who have served.

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Military spouse Jenny Monaghan sought support from RFEA’s Families Programme and has since secured the role of Marketing and Events Coordinator at Heropreneurs.

“My biggest challenge was the lack of confidence I had on returning to work after being on maternity leave and out of employment for two years. My CV was out of date, and I was struggling to find a job that would fit around our military lifestyle/family. I was so anxious about returning to work but my adviser, Lee, gave me the confidence to pursue the career I have always wanted. She completely understood my concerns, given her military background, and empathised with my situation. She really listened (which was so refreshing), helped give me the tools to give my CV an overhaul and adapt to the job I was applying for.

• Anyone seeking support or further information about RFEA’s Families Programme, generously funded by Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund, can find out more by visiting www.rfea.org.uk/families

Not only was she my personal cheerleader when I was feeling nervous for my interview, but she gave me everything I needed to prepare for it.

ABOUT RFEA

How to find out more about the RFEA Families Programme and what to expect:

• A families advisor will be in touch to find out more about your situation and how your job search is going.

Not only did I get a job that I’m so passionate about, but my mental health has significantly improved. This is something I never thought would be possible, but my confidence is going from strength to strength. I’m so excited for what our future holds.”

• We can support you with interviews, both before and afterwards, to help you find employment opportunities that enable you to thrive.

RFEA_UKrfea---the-forces-employment-charityrfeafamiliesprogrammeRFEATheForcesEmploymentCharitywww.rfea.org.uk

• Our families advisors can then help develop your employability to present you to employers in the best possible way. We provide advice on what to apply for, how to find work, and how to develop a good CV, all based on our expert knowledge of local employers and the job market in your area. We can also provide support with Royal British Legion Employment Support Grant applications to secure funding for training.

• The UK-wide programme is open to civilian spouses and partners of still-serving and ex-service personnel – including divorced, separated, and widowed – in the UK and overseas, subject to eligibility checks.

RFEA exists to provide life-long, life-changing support, job opportunities, and training to service leavers, reservists, veterans and their families, irrespective of circumstances, rank, length of service, or reason for leaving.

• We will carry out a ‘needs assessment’, which will help us understand any barriers to employment, such as issues relating to health, housing, debt, etc. If any additional needs are identified, your advisor will then be able refer you to other organisations who can provide the relevant help required.

“Not only did I get a job that I’m so passionate about, but my mental health has significantly improved. This is something I never thought would be possible, but my confidence is going from strength to strength. I’m so excited for what our future holds.”

RESOURCES 95

Over the course of 2021 e50K Group developed from an on-paper business case to a collective of individuals, in a variety of roles, working to achieve real impact for the military community. Our flexible approach to accommodating the differing needs of the team includes multiple pathways for the different stages of people’s working lives.

e50K Consultancy provides bespoke strategic development and advice to businesses seeking to develop their social-value creation and support the communities within which they work. Our clients include suppliers to the Ministries of Defence, Justice, and Transport, and profit made from this work funds e50K.

e 50K GROUP

e50K Group is an entirely SPSO (Spouse, Partner, and Significant Other)-led organisation that provides opportunities to all those with a lived experience of the Armed Forces community.

96 RESOURCES

Founded in 2020 e50K Group works across two subsidiary companies led by the vision to reduce the discrepancies between civilian and military life –removing barriers and increasing opportunities for those within this community on both a local and national scale. Through engaging with the community, we determined the need for a two-prong approach to support, and so e50K and e50K Consultancy were born.

e50K Communities contributes to vibrant and resilient military estates, where residents are engaged, enabled, and empowered to deliver community-led solutions to local problems. The ambition for all our community projects is to create purpose-built schemes where our beneficiaries can form genuine relationships and interactions through shared activity. The transient nature of our community often means training, employment, and career development are difficult, and barriers are compounded by SPSOs taking the weight of the domestic burden squarely on their shoulders. Part of e50K’s vision is to recruit, first and foremost, from this talent pool – providing bespoke roles for all.

It’s often disheartening having your best qualities underestimated time and time again, isn’t it? Those with a lived experience of the Armed Forces community have a unique skill set, which is still hugely undervalued and overlooked by the average employer. Well, not at e50K Group! As an SPSO-led organisation we value these skills of adaptability, flexibility, humility, and creativity and we utilise them in both our business and our not-for-profit.

“We are problem solvers and outof-the-box thinkers. Our team comprises dreamers, realists, and ‘positive spoilers’ who innovate, design, and critically challenge those in positions of power within the public, private, and third sector to consider their social return on investment from boardroom to grass roots.”

- Dr E. Newman-Earl (Partner) Benefiting from investment from e50K Consultancy, seed funding, and numerous trusts, grants, and donations, the e50K Communities team are project managers, coordinators and deliverers who develop and sustain meaningful relationships in the communities we serve and live and are interested in practical solutions to local concerns. “We are operational thinkers and doers. We get out into our communities to encourage, participate, and develop activities at local level –highlighting and creating things which make a real difference to those living in our communities. Our office is our community!”

Quincey Ankrett (Director)

Throughout 2022, e50K Group will be expanding. Winning additional consultancy contracts will require additional research talent at associate, graduate, and intern levels whilst civic demand and supplementary funding will take e50K Communities to new geographical locations across the UK, requiring project coordinators, community developers, and fulland part-time volunteers.

We will be searching for people who want to make a difference, to their own lives and the lives of others. So, whether you are looking for high-level strategic career development, full- or part-time employment, entrylevel programmes, internships, work experience or volunteering, we have the right positions for you.

RESOURCES 97

Those working within e50K Consultancy are strategic business developers interested in desk-top and field research, analytics, and troubleshooting.

98 RESOURCES Research Associate Associates will be educated to degree level and looking for paid consultancy work delivered on a project-by-project basis. Graduate Those who have recently graduated from university or are in their last year can join for a summer programme for 3 months as research associate support. Intern This role provides desk-based assistance such as finding research papers, data, and supporting evidence to help enhance the performance of the team.

Community Developer

Interested? Find out more about our work at Project Coordinator These individuals work alongside our project leads on specific organisational and managerial tasks to help community developers build networks.

This role is out in the community, building and maintaining our relationships on a part-time basis from 8 to 20 hours a week, which is determined by you. Volunteer This role is out in the community, attending events to talk to attendees and support community developers. It can be anything from 4 to 38 hours a week depending on what you want to do!

E50Korge50ke50k_uke50Korgwww.e50k.org.ukwww.consultancy.e50k.org.uk

Already know we are the company for you? Great! Simply email info@e50k.org.uk.

Anotherweek.newelement to Lifeworks is our Rapid Response job service, which specialises in finding people employment within a week. Working closely with the employer, our rapid-response process aims to fast track the candidate through the employment process and get them into paid work and feeling good about themselves. Rapid Response was first designed to support the serving community when faced with short-notice service discharges, postings to other locations, or for spouses requiring employment support. We have also been working hard to enhance our Lifeworks Families programme, a national offer to support serving families and offer them all the added benefits that Lifeworks now includes. Lifeworks recognises there is a pool of employment talent in this area that should be supported towards employment solutions that will fit around busy service family life. Please do visit our website or email us if you would like support or want to know more about lifeworks@rbli.co.ukwww.rbli.co.uk/how-we-help-lifeworksLifeworks.

RESOURCES 99

RBLI

We have not stopped there – we are now further developing what we offer through more flexible options, such as bitesize course modules for those in employment who are looking to change career but cannot spare four days to attend one of our residential courses. To support this, we now have dedicated online employment support via our job HUB, which really helps to enhance our service by linking our beneficiaries directly to Armed-Forces-friendly employers, who recognise the value that service personnel bring to an organisation. Our Lifeworks team are working closely with employers to forge partnerships with the Lifeworks programme. Our job HUB, which can be found on our website, has a wide range of opportunities across all sectors and areas of the country and is being added to each

LIFEWORKS

Lifeworks has been busy supporting over 900 beneficiaries in the last year whilst also developing new ways to support serving families and the tri-service veteran community. We were delighted when our hard work was validated at an awards ceremony last year hosted by the Ex-Forces in Business Awards. We won the ‘Initiative of the Year Award’ for our commitment to supporting veterans through the challenging times of lockdown and the Covid pandemic by rapidly switching our courses and support to an online provision.

Here is our checklist of things to think about when starting a business. Depending on your type of business, there may be industry-specific things you also need to think about, but we have covered the business basics!

YourBRANDINGbusinesswilllikely need a logo, even if it is just your name. If you want professional branding that resonates with your target audience, then it is better to pay a professional designer to set your business up for the future. If you don’t have the budget, you can design one yourself using a programme such as Canva.

PLANNING – THINGS TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Set up business social media accounts. The type of customer or client you are targeting will influence which social platforms you should use. Think about your target audience and the type of social media they use.

BUSINESS OPERATIONS

You must register with HMRC if you plan on being a sole trader. If you want to set your business up as a limited company, you need to register it with Companies House. You also need to complete the ICO checker to see if you need to register and pay an annual data protection fee.

a domain name to create a website – Squarespace, Wordpress, and Wix are all popular options. You could get a web developer to create one for you if you don’t have the skills required.

Consider creating a mailing list, so you can email clients, customers, or people you have met about what you are up FINANCESto. By law, you must open a separate business account if you are a limited company. If you are a sole trader, you can continue to use your own current account. However, it does make life simpler by keeping personal and business finances separate.

ChooseMARKETINGandregister

By Emily du Feu

100 CHECKLISTS YOUR NEW BUSINESS START-UP CHECKLIST

What’s your business idea? What’s the problem you are solving for your consumers? How big is your potential market? How are you different from your competitors? And, importantly, what’s your business’s name?

Most small businesses pay around £40 a year. You must also pay for the relevant insurance you need, depending on what your business does. These usually include professional indemnity, public liability, and business equipment insurance.

ANNUAL LEAVE – Check your annual leave allowance: how much have you used and how much do you have left? Have you got leave still to take? Are you moving earlier than expected and have some to pay back?

RESOURCES – Not going straight to a job? Changing career? Starting a business? Check out the resources in this guide, make contact, and start using the resources available to help you transform your LEAVEcareer.ONA

BUSINESS CARDS – Update your business cards and have a new set printed off to take with you on your move. If you use a digital card, make sure all your details are updated.

PACKING – Keep your business cards, CV, documents, and relevant career materials separate from your household packing. Take them with you in your personal goods.

REFERENCES – Make sure all your references are up to date, save their contact details, and check they are happy to be approached by a future employer.

PERSONALISE YOUR COVER LETTER – Give your cover letter a fresh new look, and make it relevant to the new position you are applying for.

CHECKLISTS 101

GET A RECOMMENDATION LETTER – Request a letter of recommendation from your supervisor, as it may help with future applications.

Are you moving locations soon? Keep your career organised with this handy checklist.

LINKEDIN – Optimise your LinkedIn profile and add relevant connections from your current company and city to stay in touch. Ask your current colleagues for endorsements. Connect with future companies you are interested in working for.

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By Emily du Feu

HIGH NOTE – Whether you have loved your current job or not, finish strong. Remember, your current employer will need to give you a reference for your future career. Having a strong, professional ending to your job will stand you in good stead for the next position.

CAREER-ON-THE-MOVE CHECKLIST

UPDATE YOUR CV – Make sure your CV and contact details are up to date when you move.

NOTICE PERIOD – If you are currently employed, check your notice period as soon as you know you are moving. Hand in your notice at an appropriate time to ensure no penalties are faced.

• Include professional social media profiles, like LinkedIn, if CreatePERSONALrelevant.STATEMENTashort(3–4sentences)statement about who you are and what you can offer. Aim to include 1–2 of your top skills or achievements – you want these to be relevant and appealing to the job role you are applying for.

DESIGN

StartEMPLOYMENTwithyourmostrecent job role and continue in reverse chronological order. Keep your job descriptions brief and relevant. Use active words to highlight your strengths and skills, such as organised, managed, created, produced, prepared.

Here is a handy checklist to ensure your CV will get you past the first hurdle and on to the interview stage!

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Finally, read it, check it, read it, and check it again! About the author Emily du Feu, The Business Widget

By Emily du Feu thebusinesswidgetthe_business_widgetTheBusinessWidgetwww.thebusinesswidget.com

• Have your name at the top of the page – no need to add ‘CV’ or ‘curriculum vitae ’.

• Use a Word document with a standard font in size 10 or 11 • It should be no longer than 2 A4 sides.

• Include keywords from the job description that match up with your skillset.

• Use bullet points to avoid lengthy paragraphs.

List your degree or highest qualification first. Just like the employment section, continue to list in reverse chronological order. Be sure to also include any certified IncludeADDITIONALtraining.anytechnical skills, languages, driving competencies, ProvideREFERENCESetc.yourreferee’s details and specify that you have already sought permission – include a phone number and email address. Alternatively, you can state ‘References are available on request’.

• Don’t use colours, images, or fancy fonts as recruiters often use specialist CV software that will strip all of this out, or be unable to read it, which may result in your application failing at the first hurdle.

• Avoid unnecessary acronyms and abbreviations.

102 CHECKLISTS YOUR CHECKLISTCV

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Check your personal details are up to date. There is no need to include age, date of birth, marital status, or nationality.

• Make sure your email address sounds professional – not something you obviously made up in your teen years!

career_pursuit_ukwww.medicalandhealthwriter.com/career-pursuit CAREER Pursuit SUMMER 2022