Quest February 2016

The resettlement magazine

February 2016

RESETTLEMENT FOR ALL RANKS

Business start-up: Are you ready to RIY?* page 52

MAN WITH A TRANSMISSION! STEVE FARLEY TUNES IN TO THE CHALLENGES OF TRANSITION page 12 CAREERS IN THIS ISSUE: CONSTRUCTION HEALTH AND SAFETY OIL AND GAS SECURITY Plus: FACTFILE: resettlement rules and regs made easy!

The only monthly resettlement magazine distributed to all MoD Units by BFPO under contract

FINANCIAL HEALTH CHECK IS YOUR MEDICAL COVER FIT FOR PURPOSE? page 33 (*run it yourself)

www.questonline.co.uk

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

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Gastec Training has for many years worked closely with Britain’s armed forces as they prepare for civilian life. At Gastec we recognise the commitment you have made while serving and welcome the opportunity to ensure you have a prosperous future as you leave the armed forces. The Gastec New Entrant Gas Course will prepare you for an interesting and lucrative career in the gas utility sector. Call now for a special reduced pricing offer on this course.

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

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Quest WELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY ISSUE OF QUEST! In this edition our focus falls, as usual, on an array of different career options that continue to be popular with Service leavers: construction, health and safety, security roles, and occupations in the oil and gas sector. While, for those thinking of starting their own business, we spotlight the pros and cons of the startup as well as some of the help available. With money and health in mind, we sound out the benefits of continuing medical cover after service.

Finally, in this month’s cover feature (page 12), former Royal Navy man Steve Farley, now working in Canada as a Senior Project Manager for a radio frequency transmitter manufacturer, has his own message to broadcast to Quest readers: have confidence in the wide range of skills you have that will more than meet the challenge of the civilian workplace.

We hope you will find we’re on the right wavelength.

Read on and tune in to your own future this February!

6PAGE 30

6PAGE 14

HEALTH AND SAFETY

OIL AND GAS

6PAGE 20

SECURITY

6PAGE 24

CONSTRUCTION

6PAGE 52

RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS

RESETTLEMENT MATTERS Lynn Brown Editor

12 A different degree of pressure: Steve Farley on why you're already well prepared for the civilian challenge 33 Take cover!

Is your medical insurance fit for purpose?

REGULARS 04 Resettlement round-up News, training course info and first-hand reports to support your transition In-depth articles on all the career areas covered by Quest throughout the year are always available on our website: visit www.questonline.co.uk and click on ‘Careers A–Z’ for the full list.

34 Factfile – your guide to a better future Complicated rules and regulations, compressed and explained 50 Career Transition Partnership courses and events

Quest

is the number one magazine for education, retraining and job opportunities for all people in the Armed Forces, MoD civil servants and their families throughout the world. We are dedicated to achieving and maintaining excellence in these fields, and are determined to bring to you, our readers, the latest and the best information in these areas. You can help us by reading this magazine yourself, passing it to anyone you know who might want to use it, and by sending us your feedback about how we could serve you better.

53 Job opportunities February 2016 / www.questonline.co.uk

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Resettlement round-up

RESETTLEMENT ROUND-UP

News, training course info and first-hand reports to support your transition Why train with Train2Train?

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rain2Train is the UK’s leading provider of compliance training and instructor training courses, and is developing an enviable reputation worldwide. Train2Train possesses a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the Armed Forces and has very strong links with the MoD. All Train2Train courses are designed and delivered by leading subject matter experts, who utilise the best resources available.

Train2Train provides unbeatable customer service, professionalism and integrity. It has ‘preferred supplier’ status through the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) and is registered with the Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Services (ELCAS).

Its core staff consist of ex‐Forces personnel who are able to make a difference to the Service leaver’s transition to civilian life through the delivery of excellent resettlement courses; they will also receive guidance, advice and networking opportunities.

Courses available include the two‐week Compliance Training Instructor course, which aims to qualify learners to be able to deliver a vast range of compliance qualifications, including health and safety, food safety, first aid and fire safety. All attending learners also receive an iPad mini as part of the resources (which they keep).

Quest Quest and the Quest logo are registered trade marks of Bulldog Publishing Limited Unit B4, Beech House, Melbourn Science Park, Melbourn, Herts SG8 6HB Telephone: 01763 268120 Email: info@questonline.co.uk www.questonline.co.uk EDITOR Lynn Brown MANAGING DIRECTOR Bruce Hodge ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER David Lidbury

The NEBOSH courses that are available are ideal for those wishing to develop their skills in health and safety management, and are suitable for managers and supervisory staff with responsibilities for health and safety and fire safety in the workplace.

For further information on these or other courses, please …

Get in touch Tel: 01302 363136 email: info@train2train.org Web: www.train2train.org See the advertisement on page 7

Interact with Quest !

Account Managers Simon Blaaser Alec Burns Tony Heathfield Kate Horner Brian Tolworthy DISTRIBUTION Martin Sells DESIGN AND PRODUCTION CB Creative Limited Tel: 01223 750566 www.cb2creative.com DIRECTORS Peter Threlfall (Chairman) Bruce Hodge (Managing) Roger Dalzell Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of information at the time of going to press. The Publishers can take no responsibility for inaccuracies due to changes after that date, nor can they accept responsibility for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of any material in this publication. Whilst every care is taken with artwork or film supplies, the Publishers cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage. The opinions expressed are those of the individual authors and not necessarily of the Publishers. All advertisements are accepted only on the grounds that they comply with the terms of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 and all other relevant legislation. Inclusion of an advertisement cannot be construed as an endorsement for the advertiser or the product by the Publishers, their employees or agents. The Publishers cannot accept responsibility for any transaction between readers and advertisers. © All rights reserved. Not to be resold, lent, hired-out or otherwise reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the Publisher.

Quest and Bulldog Publishing Limited are registered under the Data Protection Act (1984) registration number PX4096798

You can follow and link up with Quest on social media, too.

We’d love to have you on board! Join, network, comment and post your own discussions. Here’s all the information you need: Twitter @questmagazine

Like our page at facebook.com/questmagazine

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/questmagazine LinkedIn Quest Magazine Group: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/quest Quest Magazine Company: http://www.linkedin.com/company/quest Quest Magazine Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/quest-magazine

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Website www.questonline.co.uk

www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

Follow us at twitter.com/questmagazine Download Quest Resettlement for iPhone or iPad from the App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/quest‐resettlement/ id998527913?ls=1&mt=8 Or, for Android devices, from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.questonline

Join our group

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

THIS IS WHERE

I prepare for my future with an ELCAS approved learning provider

This is distance lear learning ning at Leicester Leicester, r, with over 25 years’ experience delivering quality courses wherever you are are Our expertise, wherever kill or start a new career career, r, choose If you’re looking to retrain, upskill from over 50 varied and practical distance learning courses at Leicester.. the University of Leicester

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Look to the Set your future sights

Start your jour journey ney e: dladvisers@le.ac.uk www.le.ac.uk/thisiselcas www .le.ac.uk/thisiselcas

higher

You know the importance of looking ahead. Not only in your Service role but in your career. Whatever your role, ǁŚĞƌĞǀĞƌ LJŽƵ ĂƌĞ ƐƚĂƟŽŶĞĚ͕ LJŽƵ ĐĂŶ develop your career or your interests ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ĚŝƐƌƵƉƟŶŐ LJŽƵƌ ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂů and personal commitments. So can your dependants.

Discover more www.openuniversity.co.uk/quest The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC 038302). The Open University is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

February 2016 / www.questonline.co.uk

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Resettlement round-up

Health and safety training company opens new training centre in Derby

orporate Risk Systems Ltd (CRS), one of the largest training providers of health safety and environmental training, is pleased to announce that it will be delivering Health & Safety Open Training Courses at its new training centre based at Pride Park, Derby, with effect from 1 April 2016. CRS, which has been based at Burton‐on‐Trent, Staffordshire, for the past 16 years, has now moved to new offices at 14 Mallard Way, Pride Park, Derby.

Ros Stacey, CRS UK sales director, says: ‘Our move to our new premises in Pride Park is part our latest expansion plan to deliver more courses at our own training centre, with all our staff now relocated to Derby. We have two state‐ of‐the‐art classrooms in which we can accommodate groups of 12 or more, or we have a smaller classroom in which we can deliver bespoke courses for organisations that prefer the delivery of a course away from their own premises.’

The new CRS training centre is close to all the major road networks and just a few minutes’ walk from Derby rail station. The centre will be offering NEBOSH National General Certificate Courses, NEBOSH Fire Safety & Risk Management Courses, NEBOSH Certificate in Environmental Management Courses, and IOSH Managing Safely, IOSH Directing Safely and IOSH Working Safely – to name just a few.

Ros continues: ‘CRS has seen rapid growth over the past 12 months and more training venues are required to meet the demand from our customers. CRS looks forward to meeting the delegates who attend the Derby training centre in the future.’

For more information about the new training centre or CRS courses …

RECOVERY SUPPORT

Former soldier gets his future in focus ‘Help for Heroes has given me the tools to make a new career,’ says former Army combat medical technician Mark Dawson …

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Get in touch email: Ros Stacey – rs@crsrisk.com Web: www.crsrisk.com/mod See the advertisement on page 17

6 www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

The picture changes: Mark in uniform and in his new role as photographer

or Mark, looking through the camera lens is not just about taking the perfect picture. It also helps him to deal with the symptoms of post‐traumatic stress disorder. ‘Taking a photograph keeps you grounded and in that moment,’ says the 32 year old from Glossop, near Manchester.

‘When you are looking through the viewfinder at the people in front of you, you are not looking at that picture in your mind. If you get an amazing photo, then you are on a high as you have achieved something that’s good instead of concentrating on the bad stuff.’

Mark trained as a photographer after he was medically discharged from the Army in 2012 after a 12‐year career.

Through Help for Heroes, he received a £3,000 grant to buy the equipment he needed to set up his photography business.

His talents were recognised by the charity after he worked on several photography projects voluntarily for them.

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‘Help for Heroes has given me a platform to display my abilities,’ he continues.

‘Without their help, I would not have been as accomplished as fast.’

Mark took part in a Help for Heroes‐ run dance photography course at Tedworth House Recovery Centre and even won the UK Highland Photographer of the Month for March 2015 for a photo he took during the workshop, called ‘Possessed’. He also won the Daily Telegraph Big Picture photography competition in 2013 and 2014. ‘Receiving the awards, there was a mixture of disbelief and sense of achievement. I was cynical about my abilities so for someone else to recognise what I do was a good feeling.’

Mark joined the Army in 1999, serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He served with Three Army Corps at Wattisham and the Defence Diving School in Portsmouth.

For the last two years of his career, he transferred to the Royal Army Veterinary Corps as a dog trainer. He was diagnosed with PTSD in 2010. ‘Being a medic,’ he says, ‘I had an awareness of what was happening but it came to a point where I had no choice but to go to a doctor. It was due to my experiences of being a combat medic and the things I had seen.’

Mark says that the support he has received from Help for Heroes has helped him expand his career, which in turn has helped his mental health. Since launching his business, Mark has photographed weddings, commercial modelling, celebrity events and even royalty: ‘Help for Heroes has given me financial support, but it’s also about being part of a bigger family.’

He next hopes to take part in the Help for Heroes Pathfinder course, a community interest company set up to help the transition from military to civilian life. With guidance from a mentor, the course looks at helping individuals get established back into civvy street and prepare for employment.

Mark also teaches photography classes to other veterans, and runs a Facebook group called Armed Forces and Veterans Photography for those who want to learn photography skills.

The nearest Help for Heroes recovery centre to Manchester is Phoenix House Recovery Centre in Catterick, North Yorkshire. Anyone who served in the British Armed Forces who needs the support of Phoenix House can self‐refer by calling 01748 834148.

To find out how Help for Heroes can support you and your family, visit www.helpforheroes.org.uk

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As part of the course you will also receive a comprehensive instructor’s CD valued at over £2,400 which can be loaded onto your iPad mini (the iPad mini is included as part of the course for each delegate), this is inclusive of training presentations, handouts and delegate thumbnails.

Delegates will also be eligible to register with Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance (HABC), which will allow for the delivery and certification of the qualifications.

This unique course will allow you to teach either through your own company or on behalf of a training organisation.

It is also a fantastic addition to any CV to place in front of a prospective employer.

Training T raining v venues enues include*: • Doncaster Doncaster • Oak Oakham ham (Leics) (Leics) • Catterick Catterick • Gloucester Gloucester IInternational nternational T Training raining v venue: enue:

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Resettlement round-up

A career in information technology and education The IT industry offers an immensely diverse range of career opportunities hatever your length of service, leaving the Forces and the transition into civilian life and deciding on what course to do can often be very daunting. Through the training division at Open I.T, we will assist you every step of the way.

Open I.T is a UK learning centre that helps thousands of jobseekers, working professionals and Service personnel into IT training programmes every year.

The most common issue raised among training providers is that skills learned often don’t prepare you for the outside world nor how to build a career from your newly gained qualification. Open I.T recognises these issues, so offers hands‐on blended learning solutions, interview techniques and soft skills training, which upon course completion will help individuals with job placements by involving and introducing recruitment agencies.

Open I.T recognises that, in these uncertain times, it is more important than ever that you continue to develop your technical skills in order to keep your career moving forward, by offering a comprehensive range of IT training programmes to a wide variety of individuals across all sectors. Open I.T is constantly adapting to changes within a rapidly moving industry providing market‐ leading and advanced e‐learning training and a passion for educational development.

Open I.T understands that certifications and experience are of paramount importance in determining a candidate’s employability, so we tailor‐ make training programmes to provide both. Strong ties have been established with Hays Recruitment, and training solutions are provided to schools, colleges,

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Barclays Corporation, the Armed Forces, the NHS and governmental departments, including the Department of Work and Pensions, where we help thousands of people get back into work every year.

Each student is given our undivided attention, commitment and support in helping them with job placements, with the aim of securing employment and a successful career within a highly desired industry.

With more than 18 years’ experience, Open I.T is a market leader within its field of IT training and offers ‘best of breed’ IT learning solutions specialising in online and classroom‐based training with bespoke packages for those currently serving in the Forces and ex‐Service personnel alike.

Open I.T has placed students into academic and professional roles such as IT engineering, IT administration, telecommunications, programming, teaching and education, IT networking, IT security, project management, business marketing, web design and many more.

We work with the MoD to provide resettlement training and accreditation on behalf of all major vendors, such as Microsoft, Cisco and CompTIA, covering industry‐recognised professional courses and certifications such as the MCSE, MCSA, CCNA, CCNP, CCIE, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Security+, ITIL, Prince2, CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker), social media for businesses and web design, to name but a few.

A career in IT, teaching or management If you would like a career in: ● server infrastructure, mainframes and networking ● IT technical/desktop support ● programming or web developer ● counter‐hacking and security ● data centre and database professional ● machine virtualisation and cloud professional

IT field engineering IT communications ● teaching and mentoring ● business marketing and management or if you’re looking to start your own IT business, we have the courses, experience and technical know‐how to get you into a new career. We guarantee to find the right training programme and certification for you. For full course listings, information and prices, please contact our reliable and helpful, but friendly, resettlement training staff (see contact details below). They are highly experienced in the ELC claims process, and can offer free support and career guidance on your new journey. ● ●

Get in touch Tel: 0800 599 99 98 or 01279 621 750 email: resettlement@openittraining.com Web: www.openittraining.com/elc See the advertisement on page 11

EVENTS ACCESS

Get in free with TFT! ickets for Troops (TFT) was set up in 2009 to provide members of the Armed Forces with free tickets for major sporting events, theatre performances, music concerts and cultural attractions. Since launch, it has had more than 800,000 tickets donated and more than 140,000 troops have registered on its website. Tickets are available on the TFT website (see below) to troops who are currently serving or who have been medically discharged since 2001.

TFT has teamed up with a wide range of organisations and has already been able to offer free tickets to a huge number of high‐ profile events, including the London

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www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

Olympics and Paralympics, Invictus Games, the BRIT Awards, the Isle of Wight Festival, Formula One British Grand Prix, the FA Cup, Les Misérables, the Ideal Home Show, Premier League Football, the Aviva Rugby Premiership, the British Summer Time Hyde Park series, the Calling Festival, Coldwell Boxing, darts and many others.

This initiative has attracted maximum support from a host of patrons, including James Blunt, Steve Hayes, WO1 Kim Hughes GC and the Prime Minister’s wife Samantha Cameron.

Troops are encouraged to register at www.ticketsfortroops.org.uk to take advantage of the fantastic ticket offers available.

APPROVED BY MoD IN SUPPORT OF THE ELC SCHEME

E LC

PROVIDER NUMBER

1024

Resettlement round-up

Look to the future with the OU

START-UP SUPPORT

Five hundred ex-military start-ups supported to launch ince its launch in July 2013 X‐Forces has nurtured and guided 500 new businesses and facilitated £5,307,275 in seed funding, as an official partner of the government’s Start Up Loans Company. The 500th business to launch – Doddl –produces an innovative range of children’s cutlery. Run by ex‐RAF Servicewoman Rosie Phelps and her sister, Catherine (Cat) Dodd, Doddl has received support from X‐Forces for its innovative range of children’s cutlery.

Doddl combines Rosie’s business acumen with Cat’s creativity and, after a two‐year journey through research, design, manufacturing and crowd funding, the strikingly different products will go on sale in a matter of weeks. The products are the first of their kind, taking a new approach to the grip of a tiny hand, and give parents a solution to mealtime heartaches.

X‐Forces has helped by guiding the sisters to access the crucial funds required to begin manufacturing their first batch of product.

Says Rosie: ‘From the start, X‐Forces showed a strong belief in me as an ex‐Services entrepreneur, and understood our drive and determination to succeed. The advisers are very knowledgeable, their processes are thorough and they take extra care in assessing whether your business is viable so they can lend responsibly. It is fantastic that this support is available to nurture the potential that comes out of the Armed Forces.’

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Exploiting opportunities he MoD looks to your future by being strongly committed to your resettlement, giving you access to help and tools to set you up for civilian life. One of the ways it does this is by working closely with the Open University (OU) to invest in your education. No matter what rank you’ve achieved, where you’ve served or what trade you’re in, the OU can help you to develop an exciting career path, making you more attractive to a civilian employer.

With more than 600 OU modules to choose from, across a wide range of subjects, including Business School qualifications, you really can develop your career in any direction. Choose from a range of cutting‐edge science, engineering or mathematics courses, and study at certificate, diploma, degree or master’s level. If you want to develop your technical skills, then the OU is a certified Microsoft IT Academy and a Cisco Academy, offering programmes that are highly valued in the IT industry.

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Getting financial support As you’re in the Armed Forces, you’re eligible for significant financial support (whatever you choose to study) through Resettlement Grants and the Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) scheme – an MoD scheme that makes a considerable financial contribution across three years. You can take advantage of these initiatives when applying to study with the OU. Fitting study in There’s no denying that OU study requires commitment and self‐discipline, but you’ve already got that. The distance learning approach enables you to fit study around your changeable personal and professional life. No matter what branch of the Forces you’re in, you can adapt your study schedule around your military commitments, earning a valuable qualification wherever you’re stationed.

To find out how the OU could help you broaden your career horizons or be better equipped for civilian life, visit www.openuniversity.co.uk/quest

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See the advertisement on page 5

www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

To find out more about running your own business and the support available from X‐ Forces, turn to page 52, or visit www.x‐ forces.com Look out for Rosie and Cat’s full story in an upcoming issue of Quest!

Child’s play: Doddl cutlery in use

Sisters Cat Dodd (left) and Rosie Phelps (right)

Late payers put companies in peril! n 1997, the government, supported by leading business organisations, launched the Better Payment Practice Campaign. Its purpose was to reduce the difficulties experienced by smaller businesses in not having their bills paid on time.

Now, 19 years later, around half of invoices owed to small firms still become overdue. In August, a poll of 1,000 business owners revealed that a quarter of them could have gone under because of unpaid invoices.

The good news is that the Credit Protection Association plc (CPA) is an established, highly reputable organisation with a proven record of providing best‐practice solutions for businesses large and small. In recent years, it has resolved hundreds of millions of pounds of slow‐paying accounts for tens of thousands of clients. Typically, CPA resolves more than 80% of all referred accounts within days, while preserving goodwill.

CPA has launched a unique franchise

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offering, with the aim of achieving complete market penetration. Suitable franchise partners are sought to drive the brand onwards. Franchisees need to be articulate, well educated and of the utmost integrity; most have a broad business, ex‐Services, sales or management background.

Common strengths are that they are self‐motivated, and possess outstanding drive and determination.

This opportunity will suit those of you who aspire to achieve an excellent income while building a substantial asset. Comprehensive initial sales and product training is provided, as is full nationwide support. Most business is achieved within standard office hours, Monday to Friday.

Get in touch Tel: Peter Uwins – 020 8846 0000 email: franchise@cpa.co.uk Web: cpa.co.uk/franchise See the advertisement on page 58

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

The Ambulance Services need YOU Our courses are the ONLY qualifications recognised by UK NHS Ambulance Trusts and Private Ambulance Services. There is a high demand for service leavers who complete either of the courses below.

Edexcel IHCD Ambulance Technician This 7- week course leads to a BTEC Level 3 in Ambulance Aid. It equips you with the clinical skills required to work in pre-hospital health care.

2016 courses - must be booked by 18/03/16: 21st March to 6th May 6th June to 22nd July 8th August to 23rd September

CMT 1 / RN LMA / RAF MA – to – IHCD Ambulance Technician Conversion This two-week course leads to a BTEC Level 3 in Ambulance Aid. It teaches military medics the additional skills required to work in pre-hospital care.

2016 courses - must be booked by 18/03/16: 9th to 20th May 23rd May to 3rd June Our training centre in Moulsford, Oxfordshire is 7 miles from RAF Benson, 9 miles from Abingdon & Didcot Barracks.

Contact: John Leitch on 01324 620 720 or 07803 887 510 Email: jleitch@ftssolutions.com

www.ftssolutions.com APPROVED BY MoD IN SUPPORT OF THE ELC SCHEME

ELC

PROVIDER NUMBER

3891

11 February 2016 / www.questonline.co.uk

Resettlement matters

A different degree Face the future with confidence, thanks to your ‘master’s in making do’ Former RN avionic mechanic Steve Farley has a message for Quest readers: look at the amazing breadth of different skills you can offer to potential employers, not to mention the ability to get a job done in almost impossible conditions – and very possibly under significant threat to life and limb. What greater challenges can the civilian workplace pose than that?

spent 27 years in the Royal Navy, specialising as an aircraft avionic mechanic, but I never used to consider myself as a veteran. It is not a term I believe we used in the UK – other than for people like my father, who was a Lancaster navigator in the Second World War. We didn’t used to celebrate the Services as much as we do now. Due to the long‐running Northern Ireland conflict, we weren’t even allowed to wear our uniforms openly or overtly display that we were Service personnel in case we attracted unwanted attention. Now, due to the tremendous sacrifices made by our Service people in recent years, they are rightly lauded for their bravery and sacrifices.

This, I believe, has led to a ‘rebranding’ of our image. We are now not ‘just’ ex‐Service people in the eyes of the public, but veterans, having seen all too much action in the highly visible wars and conflicts of recent times.

Previously, ex‐Services personnel were seen as people who had gone away from their

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Steve with one of Nautel’s 100 kW transmitters, part of the largest MW AM digitisation project in the world for All India Radio,

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the project he was originally taken on to manage

Steve enjoying some leisure time with his son Ethan, Nova Scotia‐style!

www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

community years ago, served Queen and country, were good for a few stories down the pub, useful for security jobs and maybe set up a small plumbing and heating or electrical business following their four weeks’ or so ‘resettlement training’ … but who also were too used to taking orders and spoke a bit too bluntly to be really useful in the wider business sense.

The veteran is seen as quite similar to the ex‐Service person, but a little more tortured by the sights he has seen and obviously very brave, but again is he (and, obviously, increasingly she) useful in the wider business world? The answer to this question, I believe, is a resounding ‘Yes!’ Veterans have so many skills. They are used to working in sometimes pretty uncomfortable situations and conditions, and getting the job done in those conditions. Think about working inside the hangar of an aircraft carrier while travelling through Persian Gulf in summer. There is no air conditioning, you have to wear overalls and it gets to 40 degrees plus. You have to keep working – they need the helicopter repaired and on deck ASAP, so you just keep going …

Veterans can adapt to different situations very easily. If there is one thing you come to understand fully in the Services it is that, at some point, all your carefully laid plans are going to fall apart and you are going to have to adapt pretty damn quickly or you are in trouble.

Service personnel are used to doing things to a high standard. If you don’t fix the helicopter properly, it’s going to probably crash. If a soldier’s rifle is not cleaned properly, it’s going to let him down in a literally life‐and‐death situation. If you don’t plan your ‘actions on’ (risk plan) properly, then when the first plan you have made falls apart ‘in contact with the enemy’ – as you know it will – again you will be in life‐threatening trouble.

I remember when I left the Navy six years ago, for my first ‘official’ project management job, thinking ‘I hope I can keep up with all these experienced business people’ and ‘I only got this job because I can talk a good game; I’m going to get found out within a week!’

Resettlement matters

of pressure At the interview for that position someone came out with the statement/question: ‘So, this role could involve quite a bit of pressure; what sort of pressure situations have you been involved in?’ Now obviously I hammed it up a bit, relaying the pressure situation, with some hand waving and Oscar‐worthy acting, but essentially it was the truth. I told the questioner to imagine being the Flight Deck Supervisor of a helicopter squadron, on an aircraft carrier. You are in charge of about 30 personnel, you have six helicopters (three in the air) and it is night time.

There’s a squadron of Harrier Jump Jets in the air and they are running low on fuel.

Two helicopters are ‘burning and turning’, and being refuelled on deck, and you are trying to get the last one down the forward lift. Suddenly one of the helicopters has smoke coming out of one of its engines, then the forward lift gets stuck. In your earpiece, ‘Flyco’ up on the bridge is shouting at you to sort it out, as the Harriers need to land in ten minutes.

Essentially it is, as we would say, a bit busy!

You have to make a tremendous amount of critical decisions – and fast.

Anyway, I was in full story mode and looked up at the person who had asked me the original question, to see him wide‐eyed.

He then just said, ‘Er, right, so that’s the

pressure question ticked off!’ To me that wasn’t really pressure, I loved it.

It was just your job and you got on with it. We used to have a saying that, while most of us didn’t have traditional degrees, we all had a master’s in ‘making do’. Once I got into the PM job I realised that, actually, other than some more domain knowledge, my fellow workers didn’t have the edge on me – I had the edge on them.

So when in the real world non‐veterans think the pressure is on, our frame of reference is slightly different and we can see a problem for what it is: something for which we just have to find a solution. All of our skills then come into play. Switch our carefully laid ‘orders’ plan for a project plan, our ‘actions on’ for a risk management plan; we always debrief, so it is second nature for us to call a ‘lessons learned’ meeting, to fully understand how we did in preparing for that bid or delivering that new product, and how we can make it better next time.

We are confident talking to group or giving a presentation, whether it be to a small team or the CEO. We think team first and look to help our team improve because, in the world we have lived in, if one member of your team is below par, it could mean your life is at risk.

Talking things through with the team in the transmitter room

I had better wind up, but I hope I have made my point. To businesses wanting to hire personnel that are adaptable, calm under pressure, meticulous in planning, produce high‐quality work, are confident but also have a team‐first mentality and are unbelievably loyal, take a second look at that resume and ensure you get to talk to that veteran. To you ladies and gentlemen reading this and about to leave the Forces you have served so bravely, remember you are not just an ex‐Service person, you are a veteran – with a master’s in making do!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Running a requirements workshop at Nautel

Steve is now living in Nova Scotia, Canada, and working as Senior Project Manager at Nautel Limited, which makes RF (radio frequency) transmitters for the radio and TV broadcast market.

He and his family have lived there for three years.

He served for 27 years, his final rank being POAEM(R), Fleet Air Arm, and his last squadron 771 NAS, the SAR squadron, at RNAS Culdrose.

February 2016 / www.questonline.co.uk

13

Health and safety

Health and What’s involved? he role of the workplace health and safety (H&S) adviser is to offer the expert skills and knowledge necessary to promote a positive H&S culture within a business or organisation. H&S advisers play a vital role in helping to prevent and control occupational risk, demonstrating that H&S has moved away from reactive, accident‐ based management towards a more preventative approach, as highlighted by NEBOSH’s Certificate in the Management of Health and Well‐being at Work.

Stress prevention and management continue to be highlighted in the media (not always positively), along with attempts to reduce the number of creative ‘sickies’ thrown by workers wanting a day off.

T

Where do H&S advisers work?

H&S advisers are based in a huge range of organisations – from small consultancies to multinationals – and work in partnership with a host of different people, from employees and employers, to trades unions and directors. They are responsible for ensuring that all current H&S legislation is adhered to, and policies and practices adopted. They help to plan, implement, monitor and review the preventative and protective measures that companies are required or choose to follow, and they work to minimise accidents and injuries, occupational health problems and operational losses.

Employers must appoint ‘competent’ people with responsibility for H&S, irrespective of the size or undertaking of their organisation. A ‘competent’ person is somebody with sufficient experience, training, knowledge and/or other qualities to undertake the role, particularly risk assessment. Because there is a requirement in law to employ such a person, training and experience are legal necessities for the management of H&S. A breach of H&S law is a criminal offence that can result in fines, imprisonment, or both.

Smaller organisations will often make the H&S ‘competent’ person function one part of a job, with the individual concerned responsible for it as part of their role while doing another job too. Larger organisations will employ a specialist (or specialists), or use a consultancy.

“Employers tend to favour those job applicants who have good people management and interpersonal skills” 14 www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

Health and safety

safety H&S skills gained in the Services

specialising in the field. Grades of membership depend on a combination of qualifications, experience and achievement. You can The Armed Forces have individuals in all branches and trades who find out more on the IOSH website (see ‘Key contacts’). have some practical experience and awareness of H&S at work. Most For the manager interested in H&S, the IOSH also runs a series people work for at least some of the time in potentially hazardous of courses that promote a culture of safe working. Its modular environments or with dangerous equipment, or both. Indeed, Managing Safely course, for example, is aimed at many people actively involved in H&S work may not even managers and supervisors in any sector or recognise that is what they are doing, or they may organisation. It aims to give them the information regard it as a relatively unimportant part of their job. they need to help them handle all the main Many have benefited from the Forces‐run NEBOSH health and safety issues. Find out more on the modular environmental training courses in H&S, National Diploma in IOSH website (again, please see ‘Key contacts’). leading to a certificate, which has meant Occupational Health and opportunities to gain qualifications during Safety Service. (Tri‐Service‐sponsored university one‐ Other qualifications Find out more at week short course modules are available free to Scientific, engineering or technical degrees, https://www.nebosh.org.uk/ those who can justify the training need.)

HNDs, HNCs, National Diplomas and National qualifications/diploma/ Many Forces people are currently in posts that Certificates are particularly appropriate for H&S. would enable them to gain significant H&S The Open University recognises many Service qualifications (N/SVQs or NEBOSH awards). For those qualifications, and awards points towards degrees coming to the end of their Service career, there are H&S on production of the necessary evidence. courses aimed at the potential manager who sees the subject being part of a job description (e.g. the IOSH Certificate in There are also postgraduate qualifications in H&S, with Managing Safely) or the person looking to specialise in this field particular emphasis on occupational, environmental and hygiene (e.g. the NEBOSH National General Certificate). aspects. Some universities have MSc distance learning programmes that focus on H&S and lead towards corporate membership of the

Get qualified!

All occupational H&S practitioners need a common core of knowledge in order to practise effectively.

NEBOSH NEBOSH offers its National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, which is seen as the qualification for aspiring health and safety professionals, designed to provide students with the expertise required to undertake a career as a safety and health practitioner.

The qualification also provides a sound basis for progression to postgraduate study. It assumes prior learning equivalent to the National General Certificate, and, to date, more than 10,000 passes have been awarded. Exams are held each year in January and July, and the syllabus comprises four core units; you can read about these in detail on the NEBOSH website (see ‘Key contacts’). Students may choose to take these individual units in any order over a five‐year period and will be awarded a certificate for each unit passed.

In particular, N/SVQs at levels 3 and 4 in occupational health and safety practice provide people with good career opportunities.

Recognised by the IOSH as being equivalent to the NEBOSH National Diploma, each takes approximately a year to achieve.

IOSH Membership of the IOSH is seen as essential by most H&S professionals who are well beyond ‘competent’ person status and are

THE ‘BIG THREE’ ORGANISATIONS IN H&S 1.

2.

3.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – a government body that ensures risks to health and safety from work situations are properly controlled.

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) – the professional body for H&S practitioners.

The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) – an independent awarding body for H&S qualifications (universities and other bodies also provide qualifications recognised by IOSH).

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February 2016 / www.questonline.co.uk

15

Health and safety

IOSH (see above) within one year. Training can be expensive, but there is financial help available (see ‘Factfile’).

Finding employment Openings in the health and safety sector include, for example, the pharmaceutical, chemical, medical devices and healthcare sectors – particularly for those with relevant experience. Vacancies can also occur within the police force, oil industry and construction industry. Good advice for job seekers is that employers tend to favour those job applicants who have good people management and interpersonal skills.

Health and safety professionals should also keep their skills up to date. And, if they can bring a range of additional skills – such as being able to provide in‐house training in areas like manual handling or first aid – that is another benefit as far as employers are

TRANSLATE YOUR SKILLS

16

The qualities and experience that are essential for an H&S professional will be familiar to most military people: • self-confidence • attention to detail • systematic approach to work situations • supervisory and managerial skills • diversity of work environment • a determination to achieve • flexibility • wide-ranging responsibilities • the ability to analyse what went wrong and, importantly, how to put it right.

www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

concerned. In addition, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations outline the legal requirements for safety management issues – if anything, this increases the need for companies to employ ‘competent’ persons themselves, as opposed to dealing with safety issues via consultants.

Jobs range from a small company employing an individual to a major organisation that has an entire safety team.

Some companies specialise in H&S issues such as planning supervision, safety audits, engineering surveying and insurance company safety assessments. Facilities management is another sector where employment possibilities are enhanced by a safety qualification. As noted above, many employers look for H&S advisers to have training qualifications, and to be able to assess the need for, design and deliver safety training.

The HSE employs inspectors and other staff through an online recruitment process.

Trainees will usually spend their first two years training in the Field Operations Directorate. After that, some may be deployed into the Hazardous Installations Directorate to meet business needs or for personal development.

What can you earn?

Salaries vary widely, depending upon appointment, location and type of company. Some roles within the NHS and education sectors offer salaries on the low side for the range of responsibilities required, but this is often offset by the

benefit of longer‐term contracts. An hourly rate of around £50 for a self‐employed consultant is not unheard of, and some specialist roles can command daily rates of £550‐plus, although such contracts are rare.

H&S trainers are also well paid by current standards. A NEBOSH National Diploma holder could earn over £25,000 per year, depending on experience and managerial responsibility, and directors and heads of H&S can earn in the region of £50,000– £60,000.

“Health and safety professionals should keep their skills up to date” KEY CONTACTS Health & Safety Executive, Tel: 0300 003 1747 email: advice@hse.gsi.gov.uk Web: www.hse.gov.uk Twitter: @H_S_E Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), Tel: 0116 257 3100 email: reception@iosh.co.uk Web: www.iosh.co.uk Twitter: @IOSH_tweets National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH), Tel: 0116 263 4700 email: info@nebosh.org.uk Web: www.nebosh.org.uk Twitter: @NEBOSHTweets

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Security

Security What’s involved? any people protect themselves, their families, their businesses and their property by employing security companies to safeguard them against criminal and terrorist threats.

Security is currently high on the UK agenda and, as a result, the market is strong and expanding, and offers a host of roles – as outlined in this feature – to those looking to work in this diverse sector.

M

The major security organisations The Security Industry Authority (SIA)

investigation services will require a licence.

That includes employees, employers, managers, supervisors and directors or partners of private investigation companies. It is as yet unclear if the Home Office will also require the SIA to regulate ‘in‐house’ private investigations.

Please check the SIA website (see ‘Key contacts’) for the latest available information.

How much does an SIA licence cost?

The SIA’s current licence application fee is £220 for a three‐year licence, except for front‐ line vehicle immobiliser licences where the fee is £220 for a one‐year licence. Some people may need more than one ‘We aim to process a licence; in such cases the second licence will be discounted by minimum of 80% of all 50%.

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) aims to reduce criminality and correctly completed raise quality standards applications within 25 The British Security Industry within the private working days’ security industry. The Association (BSIA) SIA following sectors or The British Security Industry activities must be covered by Association (BSIA) is the trade an SIA licence: association for the professional security industry in the UK. Its members work in: ● Manned Guarding, which includes ‐ Cash and Valuables in Transit ● access control ‐ Close Protection ● associate (suppliers of products or ‐ Door Supervision services) ‐ Public Space Surveillance (CCTV) ● cash and property marking ‐ Security Guarding ● cash and valuables in transit ● Key Holding ● closed‐circuit TV (CCTV) ● Immobilisation, Restriction and Removal ● civil aviation security of Vehicles. ● close protection The SIA is currently developing its approach ● crowd management to the licensing of private investigation ● export council activities (see below). ● information destruction To gain an SIA licence, you must attend ● leisure industry security an approved training course, attain nationally ● physical security equipment recognised qualifications (see the box on the ● police and public services SIA’s modular training scheme), and undergo ● security consultancy identity and criminal records checks. ● security equipment distributors Everyone working under contract in ● security equipment licensable sectors needs to be licensed; this manufacturers includes employees, managers, supervisors ● security guarding and directors of security companies. ● security systems.

20

Private investigation update!

The SIA is currently developing its approach to the licensing of private investigation activities. It has already endorsed a qualification and will ensure that licence‐ linked qualifications are available when it regulates this sector – so, operating as a private investigator, security consultant or precognition agent will be licensed in future.

Once the new legislation is in place, anyone involved in providing contracted private

www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

Skills for Security Working alongside the BSIA is Skills for Security, the skills body for the security industry. It is the skills and standards‐ setting body for the sector, responsible for working with employers and other

stakeholders to deliver a range of educational and related services to improve skills, raise professionalism and enhance business performance.

Security skills gained in the Services Service people spend a great deal of their lives thinking about, planning and implementing security. Part of basic and more advanced training in some parts of the Forces is the accumulation of units leading to national and Scottish vocational qualifications in security.

Get qualified!

During resettlement a range of intruder alarm and security systems installation courses are available. Modules start at the most basic level, moving through intruder alarms, to access control and CCTV, and should provide sufficient knowledge to allow you to visit premises and quote for contracts.

For the manned guarding sector, there are also specialised programmes to prepare Service leavers for all sectors of this field. In addition, there are security management courses available if you wish to convert your

Security than 40 hours a week, Monday to Saturday, Specialist dog handling sometimes operating in plain clothes as store As well as the dogs used to patrol premises detectives. They check for shoplifting, alongside ‘static’ security guards, that delivery contents are correct, another facet of security work and deal with general emergencies that can offer a range of such as sick customers and lost opportunities is specialist SIA children. To work in this field, dog handling – e.g.

Licence applications: you will need good working with a ‘sniffer’ www.sia.homeoffice. interpersonal skills, and the dog. In partnership with a gov.uk/Pages/licensin ability to produce written correctly trained dog, this g-applying.aspx reports and give evidence in any kind of employment can case of theft where you have include explosive device and made a citizen’s arrest. narcotic detection, and searching for cash, bodies, firearms, oil leaks and even SIM cards.

Security alarm fitters Work with a search and rescue dog might Security alarm fitters install and maintain range from earthquake zones at one end of systems that have ideally been planned by a the scale to searching for lost hill walkers at trained surveyor. They have to make good the other. Sniffer dog handlers can work any damage, and could be working anywhere Job roles in the security worldwide. For example, in recent years from a small private house to a modern office industry private‐sector search teams have routinely block. They work normal weekday hours Static and mobile security guards been used in conflict areas such as Iraq and with some requirement for overtime, jobs at Most security is carried out by static guards Afghanistan to support the military and to weekends and response to emergency call‐ who patrol premises, and use CCTV and help with private companies rebuilding outs. Much of their work involves cramped surveillance equipment. They will probably damaged infrastructure. The nature of this conditions and working at heights. have radios, and may combine security with work relies on the handler being flexible, gate control and reception duties. Some will confident, dedicated and willing to learn, as use dogs. Mobile guards use vans to patrol a Locksmiths well as having core skills such as being able number of establishments, while cash‐in‐ Locksmiths install and maintain security to work safely using their own initiative, but transit guards protect money and other devices, including locks and safes, in being able to work as part of a team, too – all valuables. commercial and private premises. They cut skills that are well‐established for ex‐Service keys and can often work closely with security people. Working hours vary from a basic 35‐ alarm specialists. They often provide a 24‐ Store security officers hour week to several consecutive days when hour call‐out service.

Store security officers usually work more overseas, depending on what each client needs. Rates of pay can differ according to MODULAR TRAINING FROM THE SIA location, duration and complexity of work.

The SIA has implemented licence-linked qualifications, bringing training up to date and implementing a modular An appropriate SIA course (see above) is a structure. The specifications reflect current industry best practice so that individuals working, or wishing to work, requirement to work in the civilian sector. in security undergo good basic training for their specific role. security and management expertise into a recognised qualification.

For specialist dog work (see below), ex‐ military dog handlers/trainers will find it easier to gain a route into this sector, but it is possible, with the right aptitude and training, for people from other Service roles to succeed in this area, too.

As mentioned above, Skills for Security develops standards and training for the industry. A list of the national occupational standards that have been approved to date can be accessed via its website (see ‘Key contacts’). As well as vocational qualifications, it has also co‐developed industry‐led apprenticeship and advanced apprenticeship programmes.

To apply for a licence (with a couple of exceptions),* you need to take two compulsory modules: Common Security Industry Knowledge (the ‘Common Module’) and Conflict Management. Once you have attained the compulsory module(s), you can then ‘bolt on’ the relevant specialist modules for the sector in which you wish to work and obtain a licence (e.g. Door Supervision, Security, Cash and Valuables in Transit, Close Protection, Public Space Surveillance (CCTV), Vehicle Immobiliser). (For all other licence-linked qualifications, the SIA will accept the modular qualification(s) for the relevant sector and a current qualification, as long as it is less than three years since it was awarded.)

This structure, with core-plus-specialist modules (see table), means less overlap and duplication in content across sectors, which makes it easier to qualify to obtain more than one licence, as only the required and relevant training will need to be taken for each additional qualification.

Licence Door Supervision Security Close Protection Public Space Surveillance (CCTV) Cash and Valuables in Transit Vehicle Immobiliser

Common Specialist module module ✓ Door Supervision ✓ Security Close Protection ✓ Public Space Surveillance (CCTV) ✓ Cash and Valuables in Transit ✓ Vehicle Immobiliser

Conflict Management ✓ ✓ ✓

Physical Intervention Skills ✓

✓

Source: www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk To find out more, visit www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/Pages/training.aspx

* The Conflict Management module is not compulsory for those wishing to attain Cash and Valuables in Transit or Public Space Surveillance (CCTV) licences; the Door Supervision licence requires applicants to take an additional module in Physical Intervention Skills; the Close Protection licence covers the ‘Common Module’ as part of its specialist module, so it does not need to be taken separately.

Do I need my own dog?

It isn’t necessary to have a dog already. Some training companies provide their own dogs with a view to the company employing the ‘team’ after training. Others are happy for the handler to use their own untrained dog, which might necessitate successfully passing a pre‐course assessment. Others still will take handlers with trained dogs, provided

TRANSLATE YOUR SKILLS The personal qualities for which people are selected to work in security, and which are then developed during training, are highly relevant, and you may well possess many of the skills that security employers look for. You will need to be: • physically fit, and • able to patrol an area, take note of what you see and write a report.

The following skills are also vital: • the ability to work as part of a team • common sense • integrity • courage • ability to react to the unexpected • self-reliance, and • self-confidence.

February 2016 / www.questonline.co.uk

21

Security

What can you earn?

they have been certified by an external professional body and subsequently pass an in‐house assessment.

the relevant aspects of security and management, and give the individual personal and professional confidence.

Security management roles

The Security Institute

Graduates and postgraduates

There has been an increase in the range and nature of academic and vocational security‐ related qualifications, and security practitioners in management positions need their abilities to be understood clearly by employers, who have inevitably been confused by the mix of qualifications, experience and professional affiliations available. For this reason, the Security Institute (SyI) has developed a programme to assess security management experience, academic qualifications, vocational qualifications and contributions to the security profession through an independent professional validation board, which can award three grades of membership (Associate, Member and Fellow). The criteria considered are: ● work experience, including roles and areas of responsibility ● qualifications, including academic security‐related and non security‐related ● training, including non‐examination vocational and non‐vocational courses ● other contributions, such as publications written, and participation in projects and work outside direct employment.

Security managers need to have organisational and management skills, a knowledge of law and criminology, an acquaintance with risk theory and the ability to conduct a risk analysis. They should also know the principles of physical security and information security; they need to be familiar with computer security and contingency planning, and must be able to communicate their ideas professionally. Many employers look for a postgraduate qualification.

Security industry‐specific qualifications, up to master’s level, demonstrate knowledge of

KEY ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS FOR A SECURITY OFFICER • • • • • • • • • •

Honesty Communication skills Ability to deal with people Supervisory management Reception duties Looking after visitors First aid Mail handling Fire duties Driving (useful in some, but not all, jobs)

Because of the wide range of job opportunities available in this industry it is difficult to offer specific information about rates of pay – although it is generally true to say that larger organisations tend to offer broader benefits but with lower basic pay, while smaller firms compete by offering higher pay but fewer benefits. Starting salaries may be comparatively low, but increase with training and experience, and there are opportunities to earn considerably more for operating advanced equipment and working in high‐risk situations. Overtime is likely to increase the overall value of any package.

KEY CONTACTS British Security Industry Association, Tel: 0845 389 3889 email: info@bsia.co.uk Web: www.bsia.co.uk Twitter: @thebsia Security Industry Authority, Tel: 0844 892 1025 Web: www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk Twitter: @SIAuk Security Institute, Tel: 0845 370 7717 email: info@security-institute.org Web: www.security-institute.org Twitter: @SyInstitute Skills for Security, Tel: 01905 744000 email: info@skillsforsecurity.org.uk Web: www.skillsforsecurity.org.uk Twitter: @Skills4Security

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22 www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

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

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23 February 2016 / www.questonline.co.uk

Construction

Construction What’s involved?

in both categories are small, with the vast majority employing fewer than ten people. onstruction is the UK’s biggest Furthermore, many of those working within industry. Private housing, and the sector are self‐employed, representing especially industrial and over one‐third of the available labour in the commercial requirements, are contracting sector. expected to continue to be the main drivers for the sector over the next few years. The Home Builders Federation (HBF) recently Construction skills gained in reported that thousands of jobs were the Services created in England alone last year as a result Apart from a handful of people employed in of a surge in house‐building activity. This units to carry out minor building boom supported the creation carpentry and repair of 106,000 jobs, either in jobs, and Army construction firms themselves or pioneers who ‘The house building in the wider supply chain. have basic industry has increased its Work in this field covers a building output at the steepest rate for huge variety of roles – if you skills, all decades. It is recruiting and are a practical person, three training tens of thousands of someone who is interested in Services rely new people to ensure it can how things work and are put on the Royal provide the high-quality homes together, why not consider Engineers for the country needs.’ construction as a possible way to construction, Stewart Baseley, build your ideal next career? including Chairman, HBF airfield and port repair and Who are the employers? maintenance.

Most employees in this sector, for both Some officers may have a first contractors and professionals, work within degree in an engineering discipline, on‐the‐ medium‐sized companies (those with 10– job training and experience, postgraduate 250 employees). However, most companies qualifications and/or membership of a civilian institution. Their experience of THE CONSTRUCTION PLANT managing engineering projects may be COMPETENCE SCHEME (CPCS) particularly attractive to any future Plant is a varied part of the construction industry – employer. there are more than 66 different categories of plant Non‐commissioned ranks will have in use. Construction plant operators work with the completed anything from NVQs at level 2 in diverse machinery and equipment that is used on basic training and level 3 after higher building sites, roadworks, railways and in forestry. training, to an apprenticeship. Trades vary The CPCS provides a single skills card for the plant from surveyor to plant operator, and sector of the construction industry; it covers many from draughtsman to bricklayer. categories, including some very specialised

C

24

equipment.

Most contractors will insist that plant operators are in possession of an up-to-date CPCS card before they allow them to work on site; it is the largest and most recognised card scheme for the construction plant industry. A valid card is proof of the operator’s skills and shows that they have passed the relevant health and safety tests.

After close communication with the industry, the scheme was updated to make it easier for plant employers to get their staff accredited in a more flexible way, without losing any of the quality that has always been associated with the CPCS. Accepted on all major construction sites, possession of the CPCS card is an excellent way to make sure that plant operators are qualified to work on any project.

For further information, guidance notes or to search for test centres, visit www.citb.co.uk/cardstesting/construction-plant-competence-schemecpcs

www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

Professional and management careers Those employed at this level will usually be qualified as one of the following: ● architect ● architectural technologist

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

building control surveyor building engineer building services engineer building surveyor civil engineer construction manager facilities manager general practice surveyor geomatics surveyor geospatial modeller geotechnical engineer hydrographic surveyor landscape architect land surveyor project manager quantity surveyor structural engineer town planner.

Get qualified!

Entry to the industry at this level requires academic qualifications. These could include the following: ● national certificate (NC), national diploma (ND), Scottish vocational qualification level 3 – college qualifications in construction‐related subjects such as building studies or construction and the built environment, which roughly equate to A‐level ● higher national certificate (HNC) or higher national diploma (HND) – college or university qualifications; HNCs are usually taken part‐time and HNDs full‐time; both can take two or three years to complete; those qualified at this level usually start as advanced technicians or

Construction

●

●

trainee managers, and work towards professional qualifications such as Incorporated Engineer foundation degree – takes two years to complete full‐time or three to four years part‐time; provides entry to the third year of an honours degree honours degree (BA, BSc, BEng or MEng) – usually in subjects like civil and structural engineering or construction management – takes three to four years to complete full‐time, and five or more years part‐time; graduates coming into the industry usually join a specially tailored training scheme leading to such professional qualifications as Chartered Engineer or Chartered Surveyor.

●

●

●

Technical careers Technicians generally make things happen by combining theory with practice. They can be qualified in any of the areas appropriate for professional and management careers, or in roles such as: ● architectural technician ● buyer ● CAD operative ● estimator ● planner ● plant technical support ● roofing technician ● site engineer ● site inspector ● site technical support.

To start training and/or do a college course requires four GCSEs, or equivalent, at grade C or above, with maths, English and the sciences being the preferred subjects. However, some people start training with A‐levels and others qualify through craft skills (see below), often attending an FE college to gain, say, national qualifications.

Still others enter with NCs/NDs or vocational qualifications.

Craft careers Craftsmen and women are the people who actually make things.

Some major jobs for which they are trained include:

●

demolition – demolition operative – scaffolder – steel erector – steeplejack interiors – ceiling fixer – dry liner – floor layer – glazier – painter and decorator – partitioner – plasterer – plumber – renderer – wall and floor tiler plant – plant hire controller – plant mechanic – plant operator (see the accompanying box on the CPCS) – plant sales person roofing

– built‐up felt roofer – lead sheeter – liquid waterproofing systems operative – mastic asphalter – roof sheeter and cladder – roof slater and tiler – single ply roofer ● trowel – bricklayer – construction operative – stonemason ● wood – bench joiner – carpenter and joiner – formworker – shop fitter – wood machinist.

Many of these trades are learned on the job, but the construction industry has training schemes that combine working and education to produce qualifications. For example, a plasterer might start by learning the basics of plastering walls, but go on to become an expert in ornate ceiling and wall decoration in expensive houses. Other people might build a portfolio in a number of skills to qualify them for supervisory and then general management. Another example of current certification is the Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) – a card scheme introduced to prove the skills of plant operators (see box).

Building services covers the essential services that allow buildings to operate, while the heritage sector has a long history of building traditional‐style structures and needs a wide range of craft skills that have to be kept alive for the future.

Training options Many of the trades discussed above are learned on the job, but the construction industry also has training schemes that ‘Construction employees combine enjoyed a 6% rise in earnings working and last year, compared to average education to wage increases of just 2%.’

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

25 February 2016 / www.questonline.co.uk

Construction

“Technicians make things happen by combining theory with practice” produce qualifications that the individual can build up over time to develop expertise in a particular area. While one person might start by learning the basics of a trade, and go on to become an expert in a particular part of it, another might build a portfolio in a number of skills to qualify them for supervisory and then general management.

CITB’s National Construction College is a network of colleges training and assessing construction skills throughout the UK. It is

THE CONSTRUCTION SKILLS CERTIFICATION SCHEME The CSCS was set up to help the construction industry improve quality and reduce accidents. CSCS cards are increasingly demanded as proof of occupational competence by contractors, public and private clients and others. They cover hundreds of construction-related occupations so there is a card suitable for all roles (for example, ‘Craft and Operative’ cards include those for bricklayers, carpenters and joiners, formworkers and plasterers).

To find out more, visit: www.cscs.uk.com

26 www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

increasingly becoming necessary to hold registration or certification of competence and/or training in particular aspects of building skills to obtain employment in the industry.

The industry has its own vocational qualifications, apprenticeships and advanced apprenticeships, and a construction apprentice scheme for the younger entrant. Ambitious people can start by gaining vocational qualifications in any of these trades while working as a craftsman or woman, develop their skills through technical training, perhaps gaining certificates or diplomas, eventually becoming fully professionally qualified, with a degree.

KEY CONTACTS CITB, Tel: 0344 994 4400 Web: www.citb.co.uk Twitter: @CITB_UK City & Guilds, Tel: 0844 543 0033 email: learnersupport@cityandguilds.com Web: www.cityandguilds.com Twitter: @city_and_guilds CSCS Ltd, Tel: 0844 576 8777 (to apply for a CSCS card) email: customerservice@cscs.gb.com Web: www.cscs.uk.com Twitter: @CSCScard Joint Industry Board, Tel: 03333 218230 email: administration@jib.org.uk Web: www.jib.org.uk Twitter: @JIBelectrical

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

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28 www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

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

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February 2016 / www.questonline.co.uk

29

Oil and gas

Working in oil What’s involved?

Working onshore

xtracting oil and gas offshore is a complicated process carried out in a harsh environment. The UK’s offshore installations range from large structures standing on the seabed, where up to 200 people may work, to smaller floating production facilities that may employ as few as 30. The UK oil and gas extraction industry (referred to as ‘upstream’) covers the exploration, extraction and initial processing of oil and gas (hydrocarbons) from around the UK, both on‐ and offshore.

The UK still has substantial, potentially recoverable, reserves of oil and gas, but these come with many technical challenges.

This makes the UK a high‐cost province so it is fortunate that, in its most recent Activity Survey, Oil & Gas UK (the trade association for the oil and gas industry), reported record levels of investment in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) and forecast an upturn in production – positive news not only for Britain’s energy security but also for employment prospects (see below).

Work onshore encompasses a wide range of activities. Scientists and technicians work to produce improved fuels and more efficient energy, while engineers and construction workers build and maintain the plant and pipelines.

Energy supply is governed by complex and sophisticated ICT systems, so technicians, programmers, designers and trouble‐shooters are involved. Transporting bulk fuels by road demands specialist transport, licences and safety qualifications.

E

Working offshore Working offshore involves two or three weeks on a rig or installation, followed by equal time at home. Everyone works shifts, normally of 12 hours’ duration. They work close to others in places where there is little space to spend time on their own. Working conditions are noisy and dirty; work is outdoors, and involves lifting and carrying heavy weights, and working with powerful machinery. Some of the jobs available are listed in the accompanying box.

Oil and gas industry skills gained in the Services Although there is no direct relationship between the oil and gas industry and the Armed Forces, as noted in the following section many of the skills required and valued by employers are taught and practised by a number of people in the Services. Generalist skills, such as supervisory management, project management and

30 www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

administration, are sought after, as are all manner of specialists like engineers, divers and cooks. There are also fuel specialists in units, and a few people highly trained in fuel technology.

Employment prospects for Service leavers According to Oil & Gas UK, there is no doubt that the sector represents one of the major providers of challenging, highly skilled and well‐rewarded jobs throughout Britain. Dr Alix Thom, Oil & Gas UK’s Employment and Skills Issues Manager, confirms that, ‘In the next few years alone, there are at least four major projects that will need 4,000 people – and 7,000 people a year will be required to support offshore activities. This is an exciting industry, which not only provides highly skilled and well‐ rewarded employment, both onshore and offshore, but also the opportunity to push the boundaries in innovation and technology. As technology advances, so too does the capability to extract more oil and gas resources, which means the industry has the potential for a long‐term and productive future.

‘To meet these future commitments, the industry is growing the existing pool of talent. This means taking a collaborative approach to attracting people from other sectors. Our sector is working together with the MoD and the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) to match industry job profiles with military roles, in order to identify directly transferable positions, and highlight where training and conversion courses may be required.

Oil and gas

and gas ‘Oil and gas firms are increasingly recognising the benefits of recruiting men and women from the Armed Forces, who tend to be results‐orientated individuals with a can‐do attitude, and a broad range of skills and international experience. The industry is aware that there are many highly qualified and skilled individuals in the Services with the capability to take on a challenging second career in the oil and gas industry.

‘Qualities such as team leadership, organisational skills and technical knowledge are all highly prized by the sector, and career opportunities exist in the fields of engineering, project management, health and safety, and the skilled trades.

The scale of the industry is such that individuals can progress up the managerial ladder or build a career as a subject matter expert, not to mention the vast diversity of jobs in the wider aspects of the sector encompassing HR, logistics and management.’

CSWIP: CERTIFICATION SCHEME FOR PERSONNEL UNDERWATER WELDING, INSPECTION & NDT •

CSWIP is considered to be the global industry standard for underwater inspection personnel.

• A CSWIP certificate is often a mandatory requirement for offshore inspection.

• CSWIP also certifies ROV inspectors and underwater inspection controllers.

To find out more, please visit www.cswip.com Tel: +44 (0)1223 899000 or email: twicertification@twi.co.uk

Divers The industry is also one of the largest employers of divers. Diving also requires life support technicians managing and controlling all aspects of a diver’s well‐being in a decompression chamber between or after dives. ROV technicians man two types of ROV (remotely operated vehicle): work and inspection.

Get qualified!

Cogent (the Sector Skills Council for the chemical, pharmaceuticals, nuclear, life sciences, petroleum and polymer industries, which also has a key role in meeting the skills needs of emerging technologies) is working with industry to develop standards, qualifications and training. Energy & Utility Skills (the Sector Skills Council for the gas, power, waste management and water industries) is also developing occupational standards and qualifications for those involved in mains laying and service laying.

All offshore workers must achieve the minimum industry safety training standards: ● introduction to the hazardous offshore environment ● working safely (including safety observation systems) ● risk assessment ● platform integrity

JOB ROLES OFFSHORE Searching • Geologists locate possible sites and calculate how much oil is there • Geophysicists map the substructure Exploration • Mud loggers (geologists) analyse mud, fluid and debris from an exploratory drilling • Reservoir engineers assess oil reserves and drilling sites Drilling • Roustabouts are offshore unskilled manual labourers • Roughnecks/floormen carry out the drilling operation under supervision • Derrickmen work above the rig, handling the drill pipe sections • Pumpmen assist derrickmen • Assistant drillers coordinate the activities on the drill floor • Drillers control the drilling team • Toolpushers oversee the whole operation • Rig superintendents are responsible for the operation • Drilling engineers order the drilling programme Well services • Operations supervisors oversee the well crew’s activities • Wireline operators maintain the well and the tools • Coiled tubing operators use a tube to pump fluids into the well Production • Production engineers monitor wells and check efficiency • Production operators manage the flow of oil • Control room operators (barge engineers) manage the equipment that reports on production General operations • Offshore installation managers are responsible for offshore operations • Radio operators control movement and communications • Crane operators and their assistants load and unload cargo, and supervise teams • Caterers feed and water the crews • Stewards maintain and clean accommodation • Divers inspect and maintain subsea structures, often using remote equipment • Medics deal with minor complaints and major injuries • Storemen order and hold equipment and supplies • Mechanics and technicians perform a variety of specialist roles Business support • This includes accounting, legal, IT and administrative roles

February 2016 / www.questonline.co.uk

31

Oil and gas

permit to work (also called control of work) ● mechanical lifting ● manual handling ● control of substances hazardous to health ● working at height.

Completion of this programme is included on the individual’s Vantage Card accreditation and, for this to be maintained, a refresher programme will need to be taken every four years. In exceptional circumstances, an individual who has not undertaken this training may be allowed to work offshore as a ‘green hand’ under the supervision of a mentor.

The current Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET) course modules are: ● Travel safely by helicopter to an offshore installation ●

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INDUSTRY • • • • •

Minimum age of 18, but the preferred range is 21–30 Minimum height of 1.63 m (5 ft 5 in) Physical fitness Not colour blind (for some jobs) Relevant employment experience (if possible) and good Services work record

Live and work safely on an offshore installation ● Respond to offshore installation emergencies.

Follow‐up training may include: ● Helicopter safety and escape ● Fire‐fighting and self‐rescue ● Emergency first aid.

Those with degrees in geology, chemistry, engineering and logistics, and experience in project management, are highly prized. AS‐ levels or equivalent are required to enter as a technician, while GCSEs or equivalent will give people a start at craft level. According to Cogent, there is a 17% under‐supply of people qualified at S/NVQ levels 2 and 3. As occupations that employ people qualified at this level account for 57% of the oil and gas industry, this is a significant shortfall – and one that the industry is aiming to address.

There are a large number of S/NVQs to be gained, in subjects including: ● Bulk liquid warehousing ● Chemical, pharmaceutical and petro‐ chemical operations ● Forecourt operations ● Measurement processes (maintenance) ● Measurement processes (proving, prover) ● Nuclear decommissioning ● Offshore deck operations ● Offshore drilling operations ● Process engineering maintenance ●

● ● ●

Processing operations: hydrocarbons Refinery control room operations Refinery field operations.

Finding employment Competition for jobs – offshore in particular – is fierce; relevant skills and experience are valued, with ex‐Forces people often highly employable. Pay is good and experienced operators can expect to earn £30,000‐plus a year. Offshore installations vary in size, but a typical one houses a core crew of 50 to 100 men and women. Living quarters are compact but comfortable. Food is good and plentiful, with a range of activities provided for off‐duty periods.

KEY CONTACTS Cogent SSC Ltd, Tel: 01925 515200 Web: www.cogent-ssc.com Twitter: @cogentssc Energy & Utility Skills, Tel: 0845 077 9922 Web: www.euskills.co.uk Twitter: @EUSkills Oil & Gas UK, Tel: 020 7802 2400 email: info@oilandgasuk.co.uk Web: www.oilandgasuk.co.uk Twitter: @oilandgasuk OPITO (Oil & Gas Academy) (training information), Tel: 01224 787800 email: reception@opito.com Web: www.opito.com Twitter: @OpitoPOL

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32 www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

Resettlement matters

Take cover!

Providing medical cover for serving personnel comes under the responsibility of the MoD, but what happens when you leave? Peter Allen, former Royal Marines Officer and Consultant to The Health Insurance Group, has the lowdown on how responsibility for care continues after active service uring active service, everyone in the Armed Forces has medical cover provided by the Defence Medical Services (DMS), the organisation within the MoD that ensures Service personnel are healthy, ready and medically ‘fit for task’. However, this excellent level of care does not normally continue when you leave the Services and injuries sustained during active service, whether as a regular or reservist, can often become a problem in later life.

Younger people tend to think nothing will go wrong with them and rightly know their medical needs will be met by the Service. Additionally, private medical and health insurance policies exclude cover for war and terrorism, so why would there be a need to take out private insurance?

There are actually many instances where private medical insurance for serving personnel can be beneficial.

If someone sustained an injury that hadn’t been due to enemy action (i.e. they had been injured in training, playing sport or while travelling) and this became a problem later in life after having left the Services, then seeking private medical insurance cover at this late juncture is very likely to be refused by the underwriters on the grounds of a previous medical condition. Most injuries sustained in the Forces (enemy action excluded) are either hip, knee or ankle‐related, conditions usually associated with long NHS waiting

D

lists. Taking out a low‐cost policy before injuries are sustained, and maintaining it, will ensure cover for conditions at a later stage in life.

Families of serving personnel may not know this, but they are not entitled to medical or dental services from the MoD unless they are serving overseas on an accompanied basis. Dental and healthcare cash plan policies offer a very attractive private alternative to the scarce resource of NHS dentists and delays in state primary care provision.

Like the rest of us, serving personnel and their families need travel insurance for holidays, and this can sometimes be harder to obtain as a travel policy that disregards any medical health history is required. If you happen to carry a host of health and injury problems then a policy that compensates is particularly advantageous.

The majority of people looking for insurance are retired or older Service personnel and their dependants, who understand the value of what private medical insurance provides, but younger Service people are increasingly recognising that they, too, need to ensure that their medical needs and those of their families are properly catered for. They hear and know that the biggest challenge comes when you eventually leave the Forces, for then you are traversing the rapids like the rest of us. This is where a specialist insurer can help.

The Health Insurance Group has formed a mutual partnership with the Forces Pension Society (FPS), a not‐for‐ profit organisation that campaigns and lobbies for the pension rights of Service men and women – a relationship established for more than eight years. The Health Insurance Group provides FPS members with bespoke and discounted private medical, everyday health, dental and

travel insurance policies provided by a range of insurers, including AXA PPP healthcare, Bupa and Medicash. Currently The Health Insurance Group insures more than 5,000 lives across its Armed Forces policies, and that number is growing.

Key to the relationship from the start was the fact that the FPS was keen to ensure that its policies, where possible, should not discriminate on the basis of age and that previous medical conditions should be covered. This has been achieved for the travel, dental and healthcare cash plan policies, and the UK and international medical insurance policies, while underwritten, have no age limit.

The closer ties also mean that FPS members benefit from a more intimate relationship with an established partner that truly understands the health needs of military personnel. Discussing health matters is personal and, at times, difficult, so anything that helps put someone at ease is welcome. The Health Insurance Group always makes sure these kinds of conversations take place with a trained adviser, not at all like the faceless internet transaction you might get elsewhere. We see it as a priority that FPS members know that they are being looked after.

Find out more …

If you are interested in finding out about the policies, please contact The Health Insurance Group on 01344 627602 or visit www.healthinsurancegroup.co.uk/forces

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Peter Allen, a former Royal Marine who served in Europe, the Far East, South Africa and the Middle East, is now a consultant to The Health Insurance Group, which offers policies to serving and retired personnel of the Armed Forces and their families.

February 2016 / www.questonline.co.uk

33

Factfile

Tel: 0800 1958 066 www.gastectraining.co.uk

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FACTFILE

This summary of personal development and resettlement information should be used as guidance and direction to the appropriate Service or civilian authority.

Personal Development and Education Opportunities What is Personal Development (PD)?

PD is about self-improvement and satisfaction. It is open to everyone and can be done for one or many of the following reasons: l l l

l l l

to improve knowledge for personal interest to be introduced to new ideas or skills to broaden horizons

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

PD won’t just happen. You must take steps to find out what’s available and decide what you want to do. Use the flow chart below as a guide

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

Individual decides:

Other sources of information include:

l l l

l l l l

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

unit education or training officer in-Service publications in-Service education centre local library or civilian college

l l l l

the internet Quest magazine friends and family Quest website: www.questonline.co.uk

Local colleges or training providers

Distance/open learning

PD can mean anything from career courses to sports and adventurous training courses.

See for other options for Service personnel

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

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

Ó

In-Service

eLearning – the Defence Learning Environment (DLE)

Ó

Distance Learning

Ó

Grants and funding are available for most forms of PD. See ‘Sources of advice and finance’ for details.

Course complete? Look for your next learning!

Also open to MoD civilian personnel

To find out more, check out the article about distance learning on the Quest website: www.questonline.co.uk

There is now a huge amount of high-quality learning material freely available online to Armed Forces and Civil Service personnel, accessible either over the World Wide Web or via the Defence Intranet.

The Defence Learning Environment (DLE) is the MOD's central distance learning resource, providing ‘one stop’ access to a wide range of eLearning, courses, wikis, forums and other materials across a large number of key topics including: IT skills including ECDL, core competencies, health and safety, languages and business skills. Readily available via your Defence Gateway account. Visit http://www.da.mod.uk/Courses/Online-E-Learning/DLE or www.defencegateway.mod.uk

34

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

Contact your education/training officer for details.

www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

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

Key:

Ó

College Courses

Ó

Personal Development Record (PDR)

Ó

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

Service personnel

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Factfile

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Enhanced Learning Credits

Ó

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

The ELC scheme provides financial support in the form of a single up-front payment of up to £2,000 per annum (depending on length of Service) in each of a maximum of three separate financial years.

The scheme is based on the principle that individuals will make a personal contribution towards the cost of their learning. The ELC contribution may be up to 80% of the gross course value. ELC funding is available only for courses that result in a nationally recognised qualification at level 3 or above on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) or Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) (England and Wales), at level 6 or above on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) or, if pursued overseas, an approved international equivalent qualification. For full details visit www.enhancedlearningcredits.com

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service UCAS deals with applications for first degree and similar standard courses at over 250 universities and colleges in the UK. Remember that you no longer need A-levels to go to university – vocational A-levels/NVQs and access courses now qualify students as well.

If you are interested in entering higher education, call the UCAS hotline on Tel: 0371 468 0468 or visit www.ucas.com

University Short Courses

Ó

Standard Learning Credits

Ó

Sources of Advice and Finance

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

The Ministry of Defence and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills offer eligible Service Leavers free FE/HE support for a first level 3 or Foundation Degree qualification. To be eligible, Service Leavers must have registered for the ELC scheme while in Service, complete a minimum of four years’ productive service, complete a minimum of four years’ ELC scheme membership, thus qualifying for the initial lower-tier support, or eight years’ membership, qualifying for the higher-level support, and take up the offer of free support within ten years of leaving Service.

Local Education Authority (LEA) grants and low-interest student loans are available for anyone entering full-time education. They are means tested in that what you receive depends on your income and that of your family. If you are entering full-time education you should apply for one, even if you do not think you are eligible, otherwise you may not qualify for other benefits. Contact your LEA for details.

Professional and Career Development Loans These are designed to help people change direction or increase their skills by providing a deferred repayment loan of between £300 and £10,000 to cover up to 80% of tuition fees for a vocational course of up to two years, plus a further year's work experience if appropriate. Courses can be full-time or part-time, or involve open or distance learning, and people who have been out of work for three months can apply to have all their course fees covered.

Resettlement Grant (RG)

Ó

The low-interest loan is arranged through one of four high-street banks, and certain conditions and criteria apply. Find out which banks offer the loan and order an application pack by calling the National Careers Service on Tel: 0800 100 900.

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

Ó

The RG is paid only if there are no other terminal benefits due (so, if someone is medically discharged after the RG trigger point, RG is not paid as other benefits become due). The amount payable depends on length of Service and on which pension type the SL is on. The current rate for eligible Service Leavers who are on the most recent pension scheme is £9,825. It can be as much as £17,824 on previous pension schemes.

The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) provides compensation for any injury, illness or death that is predominantly caused by service on or after 6 April 2005. The War Pension Scheme (WPS) compensates for any injury, illness or death that occurred up to this date. All current and former members of the UK Armed Forces, including Reservists, may submit a claim for compensation.

36

For advice and guidance, call Veterans UK’s free helpline on 0808 1914218. Alternatively, you can visit: www.veterans-uk.info

www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

learndirect learndirect is a free government service via which qualified advisers provide information on all aspects of learning, from UK-wide learning opportunities, to career guidance and sources of finance, and other national and local organisations that can help.

Advisers can answer questions on any aspect of learning. The website address is www.learndirect.com The freephone number is Tel: 0800 101901.

Professional and Career Development Loans Finding a job Jobcentre Plus has one of Britain’s largest databases of job vacancies, which is updated constantly. The database also lets you search for training, career information, voluntary work and childcare providers across the UK. You can search the database via Universal Jobmatch (www.gov.uk – search for ‘jobs’) or by using the Job Point in your local Jobcentre.

When you find a job you are interested in, either using the Jobcentre Plus job search or at the Job Point in your local Jobcentre, Jobcentre advisers will tell you how to apply, send you an application form and may even contact the employer (so have your address, National Insurance number, date of birth and the job reference number to hand).

Benefits If you’re unsure which benefits you can get, you can check online using the Gov.uk ‘Benefits calculators’ pages ( www.gov.uk – search for ‘benefits calculators’).

To find out more about Jobseeker’s Allowance, who can get it and how to claim online, go to the Gov.uk ‘Jobseeker’s Allowance’ pages ( www.gov.uk – search for ‘Jobseeker’s Allowance’).

You can also claim by phone by calling Jobcentre Plus on 0800 055 6688. There’s a Welshlanguage line on 0800 012 1888, and a textphone on 0800 023 4888 if you find it hard to speak or hear clearly. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am–6pm.

Armed Forces Champions

Ó

Further/Higher Education (FE/HE) Access

Ó

The IRTC grant exists to help towards the cost of resettlement training through the CTP or external training providers. The IRTC grant may not be used for Civilian Work Attachments but may be used in concert with a Learning Credit – Standard (SLC) or Enhanced (ELC) – for any course that is completed prior to the Service Leaver leaving the Service and subject to the relevant criteria of either scheme. (See JSP 898 Part 4.)

Armed Forces Champions have been established in Jobcentre Plus districts throughout the country to ensure that the concerns of Service personnel and their families are addressed.

Working with local bases and Families Federations, the role of the Champions is to raise awareness of the support available through Jobcentre Plus, such as information on the local labour market and how to claim benefits. (Any problems accessing Jobcentre Plus services can be fed through to local Champions via Unit Admin Offices.)

Key:

Ó

Individual Resettlement Training Cost (IRTC)

Ó

Further details are available from education/learning centres or search in DINs.

Service personnel

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Resettlement: Preparation for leaving the Forces Official provider of career guidance, skills training and job finding assistance to leavers of the Armed Forces The Career Transition Partnership (CTP) is a partnering agreement between the MoD and Right Management to provide 3rd Line tri-service resettlement support. This consists of career transition services, training and job finding support for leavers of the Armed Forces. RFEA – The Forces Employment Charity – is an integral part of the CTP and leads on the provision of job opportunities and employment support.

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

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

Resettlement Services

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

Employment Support Programme

Service Leaver completed at least 4 years’ Service: registers with Career Transition Partnership (CTP)

No

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

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

2nd LINE The principal task of 2nd Line is to provide advice and guidance on the resettlement package that will best suit the individual Service Leaver. For those entitled to CTP this will normally be a referral to a CTP consultant and/or enrolment on a CTW, both of which will require the Service Leaver to be registered for CTP services. 2nd Line are:

Served more than 6 years – or medical discharge?

• Yes

• Attends Career Transition Workshop (CTW) or equivalent Career Consultant led Prepare Personal Resettlement Plan (PRP) with Career Consultant

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

• Prepares PRP with Consultant • Receives regional employment advice

Receives advice on or notification of matched job opportunities

Develops, reviews and actions PRP: • further advice on: • career options • self-employment • job finding • training • attachments • research activities • civilian work attachments Consultant supports and monitors progress

Makes job applications

Secures employment

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

38

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

•

RN – Naval Resettlement Information Officers (NRIO), located at Base Learning Centres; for medical discharges the RN has a single 2nd Line point of contact referred to as NRIO (Medical) based in the Institute of Naval Medicine, Gosport Army – Individual Education and Resettlement Officers (IERO) and AGC(ETS) Officers are located at Army Education Centres (AEC) and Theatre Education Centres (TEC); AGC(ETS) Officers may deliver 2nd Line resettlement advice when deployed on operations and occasionally when IERO are unavailable RAF – Each Regional Resettlement Adviser (RRA) is allocated a group of RAF stations to visit on a regular programmed basis.

3rd LINE Resettlement support at 3rd Line is provided by the CTP as outlined at the top of this page and in more detail on its website at www.ctp.org.uk

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

Resettlement Centre Aldergrove Regional Resettlement Centre Aldershot Regional Resettlement Centre Catterick Regional Resettlement Centre Cottesmore Resettlement Centre Germany Resettlement Centre Northolt Resettlement Centre Plymouth Resettlement Centre Portsmouth Regional Resettlement Centre Rosyth Regional Resettlement Centre Tidworth

Tel: 02894 421639 Tel: 01252 348336/339 Tel: 01748 872930 Tel: 01572 812241 (ext 7716) Tel: 0049 5254 982 x 5448 Tel: 020 8842 6063/6064 Tel: 01752 555834 Tel: 02392 724130 Tel: 01383 858230 Tel: 01980 650689

For the most up-to-date information, please visit www.ctp.org.uk www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

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Graduated Resettlement Time (GRT) GRT is the length of time that a Service Leaver is eligible to spend on resettlement activities, including workshops, training courses, civilian work attachments or individual resettlement provision.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Entitlement All Service Leavers, other than those discharged as Early Service Leavers, are entitled to receive the resettlement support detailed in the table below.

Principle Longer service is rewarded with entitlement to increased resettlement time. All Medically Discharged Service Leavers automatically qualify for the maximum entitlement. Entitlement includes grants, allowances, travel warrants, resettlement leave, consultancy, transition workshops and subsidised training.

Years’ Service

Normal Discharge

<1 1+ 4+ 6+ 8+ 12+ 16+

CTP No No ESP FRP FRP FRP FRP

Medical Discharge(2)

GRT(1) 0 0 0 20 25 30 35

IRTC No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes

CTP FRP FRP FRP FRP FRP FRP FRP

GRT(1) 10 30 30 30 30 30 35

IRTC Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Notes 1. Amount of GRT is in working days.

2. This includes Reservists who are Medically Discharged due to injuries sustained during operational commitments.

ESP: Employment Support Programme FRP: Full Resettlement Programme

Transition services and entitlements Outflow

<4 Years’ service or administratively discharged

• • • •

Employment Support Programme >4<6 Years’ Service

• • • • •

Vulnerability Assessment Resettlement Brief Resettlement Interview Gateway to 3rd Sector: – Housing – Finance – Social Benefits – Employment – Pensions – Health

•

• •

• • • •

Job-Finding Service ‘RightJob’ Access Consultant Interview Housing Brief Financial Aspects of Resettlement Brief Access (on a standby basis) to 50 Various Resettlement Training Centre Courses Post Discharge Consultant Support (up to 2 years) Employment Fairs and Events

Standard Learning Credits Enhanced Learning Credit Access to first FE/HE Qualification Resettlement Grant - Officers with 9 years service up to £14,686 - Other Ranks with 12 years service who are AFPS 75 up to £10,302 - Officers (9 years) and Other Ranks (12 years) who are AFPS 05 up to £10,302

Full Resettlement Programme >6 Years’ Service

• • • •

• • • • • • • •

IRTC Grant (£534) Resettlement Leave (up to 35 days) Career Transition Workshop (3 days) Other Workshops – Self-Employment Awareness – Small Business Start-Up – CV Writing – Interview Skills – Networking Career Consultancy Travel Warrants (up to 7) ‘RightJob’ Access Financial Aspects of Resettlement Brief Housing Brief Access to 50 Various Resettlement Training Centre Courses Post Discharge Consultant Support (up to 2 years) Employment Fairs and Events

Duty Allowances for Resettlement Activities

40

Individual entitlements to allowances are found in JSP 752 and other single-Service regulations. If in doubt, Service Leavers should ask their resettlement advisers or Unit HR for advice. As with other duty entitlements, payments made in the pursuance of resettlement are made only for ‘actuals’ and administered through Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) self-service menus. At all times, receipts must be retained and produced in the event that a Service Leaver is selected for audit. Service Leavers’ entitlement will depend upon the nature of their discharge

www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

and the length of their Service. When selecting a training provider to deliver resettlement services, Service Leavers should be aware that the MOD operates a ‘Local Training First’ policy.

Wherever possible, resettlement training should be undertaken local to (i.e. within 50 miles by road or 90 minutes by public transport) Service or home accommodation. Notwithstanding this, external training, including training undertaken overseas, that will incur

subsistence costs may be arranged through any training provider in the event that there is no available CTP inhouse training or training providers that can deliver an equivalent training outcome locally. All overseas training (see overleaf) must survive HQ scrutiny; and all accommodation, UK or otherwise, other than that offered under exceptional residential arrangements, must be booked through the Defence Hotel Reservation Service (DHRS). All residential accommodation offered by training providers must be pre-authorised by the Unit.

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

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Resettlement Training Training provided by the CTP

Overseas Resettlement Training

Skills training takes place at the Resettlement Training Centre (RTC) in Aldershot and at a selection of Resettlement Centres. The RTC has bespoke workshops within its Building and Engineering Departments, and also offers Management and IT courses. Many of those on offer result in civilianrecognised qualifications.

To find out more about the wide range of courses available, and to search for dates and locations, visit our website at www.ctp.org.uk For all other enquiries, to check availability, or to make a booking or payment, contact our Course Booking & Information Centre (CBIC): Civilian: Tel: 02894 456 200 Military: Tel: 9491 56 200 Email: coursebookings@ctp.org.uk

Resettlement training should, wherever possible, be undertaken either in-house (given the value for money and quality assurance available on those courses) or locally in recognition of the local training first policy. Authorisation for overseas resettlement training can only be made by HQ SDE staff on a case-by-case basis and through the intelligent application of the following conditions.

•

The training outcome is not available under the local training first policy, either within the UK for those serving in UK or within their normal theatre of operations for those serving overseas.

•

The total costs of the training overseas to the MOD, including eligible subsistence allowances and travel costs, which will be claimed under current regulations, are less than those that would be incurred if undertaking the training in the UK, i.e. the value for money consideration.

Training provided by Preferred Suppliers

•

The Preferred Suppliers List (PSL) identifies a range of local training providers offering some of the most common vocational training that Service Leavers undertake. In order to qualify for the PSL, the training organisation is obliged to demonstrate financial reliability, appropriate insurance cover, past performance, future plans, training facilities, accreditation levels and quality standards. The PSL is published at www.ctp.org.uk and is also held in each of the Resettlement Centres. Preferred Supplier status is subject to continuous evaluation, on each course by the Service Leaver, by the CTP and by annual review.

SDE staff have reasonable assurance of the quality of the training and its recognition by UK employers.

Any request for overseas training must arrive with SDE HQ staff at least eight weeks in advance of the intended departure date, to enable the necessary political clearances for successful applications to be made.

CTP Employment Events Our events can be of great benefit and provide an excellent opportunity to network with potential employers and discuss the job market in general, as well as within specific industry sectors. The main types that we hold are: • Employment Fairs – attended by a wide range of national and local employers, seeking the skills, quality and experience that Service Leavers have • Live Online Chat Events – enable Service Leavers to chat one-to-one with employers during dedicated time slots, about their company, current vacancies and any training needs • Company Presentations – these focus on one particular company, which is normally actively recruiting for a number of vacancies.

• Search for upcoming CTP events on our website at www.ctp.org.uk

CTP RightJob CTP RightJob is the CTP’s online job-finding service, listing thousands of live vacancies for Service Leavers from local, national and international employers. The CTP works with hundreds of organisations that recognise the benefits of recruiting from the ex-military talent pool, and value the experience and strong working ethos Service Leavers bring with them. The site is accessed via the CTP website and the login required is issued during CTWs. Call the Central Employment Team for more information, on 0121 236 0058.

Useful CTP Contacts TO BOOK A CTP WORKSHOP OR BRIEFING…

RFEA – The Forces Employment Charity Job-finding assistance and access to RightJob is available through the RFEA Employment Compass Programme (ECP), a national employment support programme designed to address the employment needs of Veteran personnel who no longer qualify for MoD Resettlement support and are returning to the employment market after two years post discharge from service.

The RFEA’s aim is to assist Veterans to secure quality, sustainable employment for the rest of their working lives. RFEA has an unparalleled understanding of the skills and ambitions that exForces/Veterans bring to the employment market. We also have a proven track record of helping all ranks, trades, backgrounds and services to find, and remain in, work. Indeed, in 2014 RFEA provided employment support to just over 4,000 Veterans UK-wide.

Tel: 0845 873 7166 Email: AdminRFEA@ctp.org.uk Website: www.rfea.org.uk

Service Leaver Support Teams (SLSTs) Can be found at Army UK divisional and district HQs and at some regional brigades. They provide Service Leavers with information and help on a wide variety of subjects, including employment, housing, schooling, finance and other resettlement issues. They work in close cooperation with other agencies, including the RFEA, single-Service specialists and the CTP.

42 www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

Call our central line ( 0203 162 4410 For booking your Career Transition Workshop (CTW) or any other workshop or briefing. (This is a not a premium rate number and you should only be charged at the normal national rate, dependent on the phone provider) Alternatively, if you are calling from a military line, contact the Resettlement Centre running the workshop which is normally the Resettlement Centre that you are registered with for your resettlement. Contact details can be found in the list of Resettlement Centres provided earlier in Factfile.

CALL OUR COURSE BOOKING & INFORMATION CENTRE (CBIC) Civilian: Tel: 02894 456 200 Military: Tel: 9491 56 200 or Email: coursebookings@ctp.org.uk

FOR RIGHTJOB ASSISTANCE… CALL OUR CENTRAL EMPLOYMENT TEAM (CET) Tel: 0121 236 0058 If you have forgotten your RightJob password, have been locked out of your account or require support using RightJob.

CTP Future Horizons CTP Future Horizons understands that leaving the Armed Forces is a key point in the lives of all Service Leavers, and believes that everyone who has served, even for a short period of time, is entitled to support in transitioning from the military into civilian life. The programme will provide support and assistance to enable you to find suitable employment upon leaving the Armed Forces.

Through its network of partners, it will link you in to the most appropriate level of support you need to help with the transition.

CTP Future Horizons has been developed in response to the recognition and commitment from the MoD to improve resettlement provision to Early Service Leavers (ESLs). It is open to ESLs across all Services, regardless of how long you have served or the reasons you have for leaving. The programme has been designed and is delivered by the RFEA – The Forces Employment Charity.

To discuss any aspect of CTP Future Horizons, please call Darren Bickerstaffe, Programme Manager, on ( 07428 705 770 or meet with a CTP Future Horizons assessor at the following locations: • ITC Catterick, Hook Company: ( 01748 831274 • ATC Pirbright, Sword Company: ( 01483 475526 • Resettlement Centre Plymouth: ( 01752 557635 Follow Future Horizons on Facebook, and receive the latest news and updates from the programme.

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

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Making the Transition Even if you have a job to go to on leaving the Armed Forces, you are still strongly advised to attend the CTP Career Transition Workshop (CTW), along with any other that you will find of benefit, such as CV Writing or Interview Techniques. The purpose of these workshops is to help you to recognise and assess your options and learn skills in order to approach the civilian workplace and market yourself to a future employer. These are skills that are important to develop for life, and not just for your next job. If you don’t go – you won’t know.

The Self-Marketing Approach is based on the application of well-established marketing concepts to the task of getting a new job. Marketing is about delivering products and services to meet customers needs. In this case, you are the product, the customer is your next employer. Your task is to persuade the customer that the range of benefits, which you bring, match his or her needs.

Throughout our lives we are faced with choices or options and as you prepare to leave the Services, you are potentially about to face some of your biggest ones yet. You can never start this preparation early enough, so plan your resettlement carefully and thoroughly. In order to commence a successful self-marketing campaign one of the first things you should do is to decide what it is you wish to achieve.

Define the product • • • • • • • • •

Identify as wide a range of your skills and experience as you can From these, you can choose which ones match what the employer wants Demonstrate your value to the employer List your successes Focus on skills and attitudes rather than tasks identify transferable skills Learn to think in terms of product (you) and customer (your next employer) Remember, customers buy benefits Define yourself in terms of unique selling propositions (USPs)

Prepare self-marketing literature Your CV should include: • a personal profile – your USP • major achievements – the benefits you brought to current and previous jobs • a focus on your transferable skills Your CV should avoid mentioning: • details of salary • references • any negative aspects of your career to date • clichés, jargon, abbreviations and untruths

Research the market • • • • • •

Decide on sectors, geographical areas etc.

Use directories, databases, internet etc.

Ask for information Use your personal network Use industry associations, chambers of commerce etc.

Attend jobfairs and conferences

Implement a marketing campaign Use a variety of approaches, including: • responding to advertisements • direct approaches by phone and letter • networking • employment agencies • develop a system and keep records of all activities • follow up approaches systematically • learn from your mistakes

Understand the world of work • • • • • •

What has changed since you joined the Services?

How do those changes affect you?

How do you effectively manage your own career?

What are the different patterns of work?

What do you want from a company?

How do you negotiate a salary package?

• • • • •

What are your interests?

What transferable skills do you have?

What training or qualifications have you done?

Can you identify what you have achieved so far?

Does all this help you decide what to do next?

• • • •

How do you establish a useful network?

How do you use networks to help you research?

How can networks help you into a job?

How can networks help with career development?

• • • • • •

Start early Create mutually supportive relationships Use these at all stages of career development, not just at time of job change Networks are useful information sources Successful people develop networks Use them to market yourself and your organisation

Identify your interests and skills

Proactive networking

Networking advice

The CTP can help you find the answers to these questions through attending workshops and one-to-one sessions with your Career Consultant. If you are not yet registered with the CTP, speak to your local Resettlement Officer or Service Resettlement Advisor for further advice.

Sell yourself on a face-to-face basis

44

• • • • • • • • • • •

Research the employer Prepare interview responses Dress appropriately Arrive early; impress everybody you meet Smile Avoid crossing arms and legs when sitting Maintain eye contact Answer questions honestly, but focus on the positive Manage the interview to match your benefits to the employer’s needs Prepare questions that you can ask the interviewer Seek feedback and learn from mistakes

www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

‘Like’ the Career Transition Partnership page Follow @CTPinfo https://www.linkedin.com/company/ career-transition-partnership

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

45 February 2016 / www.questonline.co.uk

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

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Transport Training Academy (TTA) is a well-established and respected training organisation who has been providing Logistic and Plant training to military personnel on their resettlement programme for nearly ten years. Team TTA is fully committed to supporting you throughout every step of your learning journey and beyond. TTA’s instructors include ex-military personnel who fully understand the emotions you will be experiencing at this important WUDQVLWLRQDO VWDJH ZLWKLQ \RXUbFDUHHU

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Case study

Steve Burbidge

WINDOW CLEANING TRAINING SPECIALISTS BE YOUR OWN BOSS RUN YOUR OWN BUSINESS START EARNING FROM DAY ONE

Steve Burbidge is the managing director of his own company, Optimum Reflection Limited. After serving in the Army for 15 years, Steve decided to build a business, and today Optimum Reflection is a traditional window-cleaning company, based in Eastbourne, with both domestic and commercial contracts throughout East Sussex. Steve and his staff

5-DAY RESIDENTIAL WINDOW CLEANING COURSE ON THE SOUTH COAST – INCLUDES MARKETING, ADVERTISING, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH AND SAFETY CERTIFICATE AND PRACTICAL TUITION

treat every customer as though they were the only one.

ACCREDITED COURSE PROVIDER FOR MoD RESETTLEMENT COURSES ALL COURSES LED BY EX-SERVICE PERSONNEL

of start-up capital, requires only a modest outlay for equipment and has

Having a Services background, Steve also became aware that his business was one that, with the right development, could offer a solid foundation to other personnel leaving the Services at the end of their engagement. Furthermore, the business does not need large amounts no need for expensive business premises.

We are proud to support

TRAINING: 0800 222 9024 FRANCHISE: 0800 222 9025

the day you leave the Services, with the opportunity to earn £100+ per day, either through self-employment or as an employee of Optimum Reflection Limited.

We are accredited MoD course providers

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

info@optimumreflection.com

www.optimumreflection.com www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

Training runs in conjunction with the Resettlement Board, and is one of the only resettlement courses that guarantees employment from

CALL US TODAY

46

Managing Director, Optimum Reflection

The five-day residential course covers all aspects of the business: pricing, accounting, insurance, health and safety, pensions/employment advice, business development and practical instruction.

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

martyn@downlandcycles.co.uk

48 www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

facebook.com/downland twitter.com/downlandcycles

The Army’s National Charity Last year, we spent some £7.7million on delivering grants, to over 5,000 soldiers, veterans and their immediate families, and provided funding to 72 charities which deliver specialist support on our collective behalf.

Working with every Regiment & Corps of the British Army to support our soldiers, veterans and their immediate families – for life.

To donate or to find out more ways you can support our Charity, visit www.soldierscharity.org ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is a registered charity in England and Wales (1146420) and Scotland (039189). Registered as a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales (07974609). Registered Office: Mountbarrow House, 6-20 Elizabeth Street London SW1W 9RB Tel: 020 7901 8900, Email: fundraising@soldierscharity.org

facebook.com/soldierscharity

twitter.com/soldierscharity

Courses and events

Courses and events This guide includes the courses currently scheduled to run from March to May 2016 Additional courses may be scheduled by each Resettlement Centre according to demand. A list of all courses scheduled for 2016 is available from your nearest Resettlement Centre. All the dates given should be confirmed with the relevant Resettlement Centres. Dates are correct at time of going to press.

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

RC Aldergrove rcaldergrove@ctp.org.uk START DATE

END DATE

CTW Mixed Class 07 March 2016 11 April 2016 16 May 2016

09 March 2016 13 April 2016 16 May 2016

Employment Support Programme Wksp 15 March 2016 31 March 2016 19 April 2016 05 May 2016 26 May 2016

15 March 2016 31 March 2016 19 April 2016 05 May 2016 26 May 2016

04 May 2016

RRC Aldershot rrcaldershot@ctp.org.uk START DATE

END DATE

CTW Junior Ranks 02 March 2016 14 March 2016 16 March 2016 22 March 2016 19 April 2016 16 May 2016

04 March 2016 16 March 2016 18 March 2016 24 March 2016 21 April 2016 18 May 2016

CTW Mixed Class 21 March 2016 23 March 2016 (Course location Brize Norton) 23 May 2016 25 May 2016 (Course location Brize Norton)

03 March 2016 05 May 2016

09 March 2016 07 April 2016 12 May 2016

Employment Support Programme Wksp 15 March 2016 14 April 2016 19 May 2016

15 March 2016 14 April 2016 19 May 2016

FAR All Ranks 13 April 2016 13 April 2016 (Course location The Bell, St Omer Barracks)

Interview Techniques 30 March 2016 28 April 2016 19 May 2016

01 March 2016 03 March 2016 (Course location Sennelager) 12 April 2016 14 April 2016 (Course location Sennelager) 10 May 2016 12 May 2016 (Course location Sennelager)

01 March 2016 24 May 2016

RRC Catterick rrccatterick@ctp.org.uk START DATE

END DATE

CTW Junior Ranks 08 March 2016 14 March 2016 11 April 2016 25 April 2016 03 May 2016 24 May 2016

11 March 2016 16 March 2016 13 April 2016 27 April 2016 05 May 2016 26 May 2016

10 May 2016 12 May 2016 (Course location Preston)

CTW Officer/SNCO 07 March 2016 21 March 2016 18 April 2016 16 May 2016

09 March 2016 23 March 2016 20 April 2016 18 May 2016

Employment Support Programme Wksp 21 March 2016 23 May 2016

21 March 2016 23 May 2016

FAR All Ranks 31 March 2016

31 March 2016

Housing 01 March 2016 01 March 2016 02 March 2016 02 March 2016 (Course location York)

Self Employment Awareness 14 March 2016

RRC Colchester rrcnortholt@ctp.org.uk

CTW SNCO 07 March 2016 05 April 2016 10 May 2016

CTW Officer/SNCO

07 April 2016

14 March 2016

CTW Officer 01 March 2016 03 May 2016

Interview Techniques

01 March 2016 24 May 2016

CTW Mixed Class

Housing 04 May 2016

Self Employment Awareness

30 March 2016 28 April 2016 19 May 2016

START DATE

END DATE

07 April 2016

RRC Cottesmore rrccottesmore@ctp.org.uk START DATE

END DATE

CTW Mixed Class 01 March 2016 07 March 2016 08 March 2016 14 March 2016 15 March 2016 21 March 2016 05 April 2016 11 April 2016 12 April 2016 18 April 2016 19 April 2016 25 April 2016 26 April 2016 04 May 2016 10 May 2016 16 May 2016 23 May 2016 31 May 2016

03 March 2016 09 March 2016 10 March 2016 16 March 2016 17 March 2016 23 March 2016 07 April 2016 13 April 2016 14 April 2016 20 April 2016 21 April 2016 27 April 2016 28 April 2016 06 May 2016 12 May 2016 18 May 2016 25 May 2016 02 June 2016

CTW Officer 04 April 2016 09 May 2016

06 April 2016 11 May 2016

Employment Support Programme Wksp 10 March 2016 07 April 2016 05 May 2016

10 March 2016 07 April 2016 05 May 2016

Employment Support Programme Wksp 21 March 2016 21 March 2016 (Course location Sennelager) 25 April 2016 25 April 2016 (Course location Sennelager) 23 May 2016 23 May 2016 (Course location Sennelager)

German CV Writing 07 March 2016 07 March 2016 (Course location Sennelager)

Housing 09 March 2016 09 March 2016 (Course location AWS Conference Room) 10 March 2016 10 March 2016 (Course location Mansergh Hall)

Networking 14 March 2016 14 March 2016 (Course location Sennelager)

Self Employment Awareness 08 March 2016 08 March 2016 (Course location Sennelager)

Central London resettlementinfo@ctp.org.uk

FAR All Ranks

START DATE

10 March 2016 10 March 2016 (Course location External Venue)

CTW Senior Officer

Interview techniques 25 April 2016

25 April 2016

Self Employment Awareness 24 March 2016 27 April 2016 25 May 2016

24 March 2016 27 April 2016 25 May 2016

15 March 2016 05 April 2016 17 May 2016

END DATE 17 March 2016 07 April 2016 19 May 2016

Interview Techniques (Snr Officer) 11 March 2016 08 April 2016 06 May 2016

11 March 2016 08 April 2016 06 May 2016

CTW Mixed Class 01 March 2016 07 March 2016 04 April 2016 25 April 2016 09 May 2016 23 May 2016

03 March 2016 09 March 2016 06 April 2016 27 April 2016 11 May 2016 25 May 2016

Employment Support Programme Wksp 07 March 2016 14 April 2016 19 May 2016

08 March 2016 15 April 2016 20 May 2016

Housing 18 May 2016

50 www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

18 May 2016

RC Germany

RC Northolt

rcgermany@ctp.org.uk

rcnortholt@ctp.org.uk

START DATE

END DATE

START DATE

END DATE

CTW Junior Ranks

CTW Mixed Class

15 March 2016 17 March 2016 (Course location Sennelager) 26 April 2016 28 April 2016 (Course location Sennelager) 17 May 2016 19 May 2016 (Course location Sennelager)

01 March 2016 15 March 2016 12 April 2016 26 April 2016 16 May 2016 24 May 2016

03 March 2016 17 March 2016 14 April 2016 28 April 2016 18 May 2016 26 May 2016

Courses and events CTW Officer 08 March 2016 05 April 2016 19 April 2016 03 May 2016 31 May 2016

Interview Techniques 10 March 2016 07 April 2016 21 April 2016 05 May 2016 02 June 2016

Employment Support Programme Wksp 11 May 2016

11 May 2016

15 March 2016

Housing 11 May 2016

11 May 2016

Insight to Management Consultancy 25 April 2016

25 April 2016

Interview Techniques 07 March 2016

04 April 2016

11 April 2016 10 May 2016

RC Plymouth rcplymouth@ctp.org.uk START DATE

END DATE

CTW Junior Ranks 07 March 2016 04 April 2016 16 May 2016

09 March 2016 06 April 2016 18 May 2016

CTW Mixed Class 08 March 2016 10 March 2016 (Course location Culdrose) 21 March 2016 23 March 2016 29 March 2016 31 March 2016 05 April 2016 07 April 2016 (Course location Culdrose) 18 April 2016 20 April 2016 03 May 2016 05 May 2016 23 May 2016 25 May 2016 24 May 2016 26 May 2016 (Course location Culdrose) 31 May 2016 02 June 2016

CTW Officer 25 April 2016

27 April 2016

CTW Officer/SNCO 14 March 2016 11 April 2016 09 May 2016

16 March 2016 11 April 2016 11 May 2016

Employment Support Programme Wksp 14 April 2016

14 April 2016

FAR All Ranks 21 April 2016

21 April 2016

Housing 05 April 2016

FAR Other Ranks

02 March 2016 02 March 2016 (Course location Lossiemouth) 03 March 2016 03 March 2016

05 April 2016 05 April 2016 (Course location 1 RHA Lecture Theatre)

RC Portsmouth START DATE

05 April 2016

END DATE

CTW Junior Ranks 07 March 2016 04 April 2016 09 May 2016

09 March 2016 06 April 2016 11 May 2016

CTW Mixed Class 01 March 2016

12 May 2016

Self Employment Awareness 11 April 2016 10 May 2016

FAR All Ranks

17 March 2016 19 May 2016

03 March 2016

16 March 2016 20 April 2016 18 May 2016

21 March 2016 25 April 2016 23 May 2016

23 March 2016 27 April 2016 25 May 2016

Employment Support Programme Wksp 10 March 2016 21 April 2016 26 May 2016

10 March 2016 21 April 2016 26 May 2016

FAR All Ranks 16 March 2016 07 April 2016 12 May 2016

16 March 2016 07 April 2016 12 May 2016

Interview Techniques 03 March 2016 03 May 2016

03 March 2016 03 May 2016

Self Employment Awareness 28 April 2016

Housing First Steps 21 April 2016

06 April 2016

06 April 2016

21 April 2016

Housing

Insight to Management Consultancy

15 March 2016 15 March 2016 (Course location Lossiemouth) 17 March 2016 17 March 2016

17 March 2016 14 April 2016 19 May 2016

Self Employment Awareness

Interview Techniques

07 April 2016

21 March 2016 18 April 2016 23 May 2016

07 April 2016

RRC Tidworth rrctidworth@ctp.org.uk START DATE

CTW SNCO

09 March 2016 14 April 2016 17 May 2016

09 March 2016 09 March 2016 (Course location External Venue) 04 May 2016 04 May 2016 (Course location External Venue)

17 March 2016 19 May 2016

14 March 2016 18 April 2016 16 May 2016

04 April 2016

FAR Officers

Self Employment Awareness

CTW Officer

New Horizons in Retirement

Employment Support Programme Wksp 08 March 2016 13 April 2016 16 May 2016

07 March 2016

Networking 12 May 2016

03 March 2016 12 May 2016

rcportsmouth@ctp.org.uk

FAR All Ranks 15 March 2016

03 March 2016 12 May 2016

CTW Junior Ranks 07 March 2016 14 March 2016 21 March 2016 04 April 2016 11 April 2016 18 April 2016 25 April 2016 09 May 2016 16 May 2016 23 May 2016

09 March 2016 16 March 2016 23 March 2016 06 April 2016 13 April 2016 20 April 2016 27 April 2016 11 May 2016 18 May 2016 25 May 2016

21 March 2016 18 April 2016 23 May 2016

Networking 15 March 2016 30 March 2016 26 April 2016 24 May 2016

END DATE

17 March 2016 14 April 2016 19 May 2016

15 March 2016 30 March 2016 26 April 2016 24 May 2016

Self Employment Awareness 16 March 2016 20 April 2016 18 May 2016

16 March 2016 20 April 2016 18 May 2016

CTW Officer 15 March 2016 22 March 2016 05 April 2016 19 April 2016 10 May 2016 17 May 2016 24 May 2016

17 March 2016 24 March 2016 07 April 2016 21 April 2016 12 May 2016 19 May 2016 26 May 2016

28 April 2016

CTW SNCO

RRC Rosyth rrcrosyth@ctp.org.uk START DATE

END DATE

CTW Junior Ranks 07 March 2016 29 March 2016 18 April 2016 09 May 2016

09 March 2016 31 March 2016 20 April 2016 11 May 2016

CTW Mixed Class 07 March 2016 09 March 2016 (Course location Lossiemouth) 21 March 2016 23 March 2016 04 April 2016 06 April 2016 16 May 2016 18 May 2016 23 May 2016 25 May 2016 (Course location Lossiemouth)

CTW SNCO 14 March 2016 11 April 2016 03 May 2016

01 March 2016 08 March 2016 29 March 2016 12 April 2016 20 April 2016 26 April 2016 03 May 2016 18 May 2016 31 May 2016

03 March 2016 10 March 2016 31 March 2016 14 April 2016 22 April 2016 28 April 2016 05 May 2016 20 May 2016 02 June 2016

Employment Support Programme Wksp 03 March 2016 10 March 2016 17 March 2016 24 March 2016 07 April 2016 14 April 2016 21 April 2016 05 May 2016 19 May 2016 26 May 2016

03 March 2016 10 March 2016 17 March 2016 24 March 2016 07 April 2016 14 April 2016 21 April 2016 05 May 2016 19 May 2016 26 May 2016

16 March 2016 13 April 2016 05 May 2016

Visit www.ctp.org.uk for further details February 2016 / www.questonline.co.uk

51

Running your own business

Running your own business split according to worth and contribution.

Limited liability partnership A limited liability partnership has to disclose annual accounts and returns. Members have limited liability in the event of a loss (although the partnership will be fully liable), but they will be taxed as if it were an ordinary partnership.

What’s involved?

British businesses are classified into three categories: large (250 or more employees), medium (50 to 249 employees), small (10 to 50 employees) and ‘micro’ – classified as having up to nine employees. Often grouped together, small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) account for an astonishing 99.9% of private‐sector businesses in the UK. Indeed, the latest figures reveal that an estimated 4.2 million people are now self‐ employed as their main job (that’s 14% of all people in employment) – the highest figure since records began. So, if you’re thinking of starting your own business, it seems that you will be joining one of the UK’s fastest‐growing ‘industries’!

Types of business Businesses often grow and change their legal status – however, in this article, we will concentrate on Little Local Business, which may fall into one of the following main categories.

This simply means that the members of the company (the shareholders) are liable only for the debts of the company up to the amount unpaid on any share(s) they have bought. There are a number of rules and regulations, and the disclosure of financial and

New start? www.gov.uk/startingup-a-business/startwith-an-idea Source: gov.uk

Sole trader

52

Limited company

Sole traders operate under their own name, or a business name, are entitled to all the profits and are responsible for all the losses.

They must keep proper business records and accounts, but do not need to submit them to scrutiny to anyone except

www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

the tax and legal authorities.

They are, however, personally liable for any debts the business may incur.

Partnership A partnership is customary for a number of professions, and is an arrangement whereby a number of people effectively agree to operate as a sole trader.

They may have a formal deed of partnership, or simply split the profits or losses equally.

Some income may be divided in proportion to individuals’ levels of investment and the rest is treated as salary,

IT’S NOT ALWAYS A BED OF ROSES …

A recent ONS (Office for National Statistics) report highlighted that: • the average working week for a self-employed person is 38 hours, two hours more than the average for employees • self-employed people are more likely than employees to work very long hours, with 35% working 45 hours or more per week compared with 22% of employees • 13% of self-employed people work 60 hours or more per week compared with just 3% of employees.

If all that doesn’t put you off the idea of going it alone, read on!

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

APPROVED BY MoD IN SUPPORT OF THE ELC SCHEME

E LC

PROVIDER NUMBER

2311

53 February 2016 / www.questonline.co.uk

Running your own business

54

out a personal analysis or audit to see if some business information to you possess the qualities needed to Companies House is required. The make your business a success. Following members cannot be held responsible for on from this mission comes a business the company’s debts unless a court plan that may be as short as six months decides there has been negligence or or may look ten years ahead. Most malpractice. people consider the period up Company directors and to about three to five years secretaries must Top tips out, but focus on the understand their www.moneymagpie. specifics of the next 12 responsibilities and the months or so. legal implications of com/article/top-10Initially, it is best to their appointment, tips-for-runningkeep things as simple as including the your-own-business possible. It is important company’s Source: to keep business and Memorandum and Moneymagpie private matters separate, Articles of Association. and to keep proper records Individuals thinking about and be able to produce them when using a limited company as their required. private trading vehicle should be aware that HM Revenue & Customs IR35 regulations distinguish between a Consider the basics before ‘contract of service’ and a ‘contract for you start … services’, and a single‐contract company ● Think about why you want to start a is liable to be treated as a sole trader. business. ● Operating in a field that is known to you, or at least familiar, is safer Franchise when starting up.

A franchise is a common way of starting a business these days, and is basically ● Setting up from scratch has the one person copying another’s proven advantage of a clean start, but gives business and receiving support from little feel for whether the idea is them in exchange for an up‐front going to work. payment (the franchise fee) and ● Buying an existing business can be ongoing fees (royalties). It is an option expensive (and that includes for those who have some money to franchising). invest and who want the independence ● Cash businesses avoid chasing small of self‐employment coupled with the sales invoices. support of the franchisor. Franchising is ● Look around at successful and more likely to succeed than other forms unsuccessful businesses, and try out of business start‐up. ideas on friends and family.

To find out more about franchising, please refer to the relevant article on Other things to think about our website: www.questonline.co.uk Once you have decided that starting your own business is the way ahead for you, you should spend some time Have you got what it takes? researching the following areas.

Although there is nothing unusual about starting up a business, you are ● Financial issues – including sales advised to think about gaining and purchases records, VAT (if experience by working for someone else registered), wages, Income Tax and in a similar field before branching out National Insurance, bank accounts, on your own. There is a great deal of cash flow, loans, benefits in kind, theory – and even more practice – dividends, insurances and involved in running a commercial Corporation Tax on any profit concern, and if you are a newcomer to made. More businesses fail because this area you will need help, advice and they get their cash flow wrong and a certain amount of luck to succeed. become insolvent than because they Unless you have such a brilliant idea have any other weakness. that any delay in launching means ● Health and safety – including someone else may get there first, it is registration with the Health and strongly recommended that you gain Safety Executive (for factories and business experience before going it workshops) and/or the local alone. authority (for offices and shops).

Bear in mind that almost half of all There will be additional new businesses fail in their first three requirements if the business years, with the major reason being poor involves food and drink or is liable preparation and planning. So, before to cause pollution. you get started, you will need to ● Environmental issues – including establish a ‘business mission’, and carry the disposal of business rubbish,

www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

COULD YOU BE BRILLIANT IN BUSINESS?

X-Forces is an innovative service that supports Forces personnel and their family members with entrepreneurial ambition to help fast-track them into business ownership. It is the only provider of complete business support to the Armed Forces community. A total of £200,000 a month is currently being issued to X-Forces’ candidates, who have undergone a stringent and critical process of business planning, which – along with tailored support – is at the core of the X-Forces’ service.

How does it work?

At the beating heart of X-Forces, a social enterprise, is the desire to help the men, women and families of the UK Armed Forces realise their entrepreneurial potential and go on to become successful business owners with fulfilling careers. Its unique process aims to take raw ideas and help turn them into a successful business reality through a combination of business advice and planning, access to start-up loans, and mentoring for up to five years post-launch.

With encouragement and support, business can be a more viable alternative to employment for both Service leavers and spouses, who possess a unique set of skills combined with a focused and determined work ethic rarely seen in civilians.

Who can access support?

Qualifying individuals include Service leavers, military spouses and partners, reservists, cadets and children of Armed Forces personnel. UK residents and those on overseas postings – provided they are assigned a BFPO address – can apply for X-Forces’ support.

X-Forces awarded CTP Enterprise Training Contract X-Forces was recently appointed Business Enterprise Trainer for the Career Transition Partnership (CTP).

Further information If you’re considering starting your own business and would like to register for X-Forces’ support, or simply to find out more…

Get in touch Tel: +44 (0) 20 7022 0600 email: info@x-forces.com Web: www.x-forces.com Twitter: @OfficialXforces Facebook: www.facebook.com/XForces

Running your own business

●

●

●

hazardous materials, or certain solvents and aerosols.

Employees – including their legal rights, recruitment, employment, discrimination, sickness, pregnancy, dismissal and discipline. Employer’s Liability Insurance is a legal requirement to afford protection for employees who might be injured at work.

Premises may be necessary for manufacturing or retail businesses, while others can trade from the owner’s home, reducing overheads and leading to a better quality of life. For businesses that need premises, the most important thing to consider is location.

Intellectual property and licences involving any company name and logo, inventions, product design and copyright. Certain business activities will need to be licensed by a wide range of authorities.

Business start-up help and guidance There is an enormous amount of assistance available, from a wide variety of sources. These include: ● government (Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS)) ● regional authorities ● the Prince’s Trust ● banks (although now perhaps less helpful than they may have been in the past) ● professional advisers (solicitors, accountants, insurance and pensions advisers, marketing experts, specialist trainers, IT experts).

Those leaving the Services are particularly fortunate in also being able to draw on the expertise of the following organisations, which can offer assistance that is targeted to their specific situation: ● the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) (offers self‐ employment awareness and business start‐up courses, and has recently appointed X‐Forces as its specialist Business Enterprise Trainer – see box)

the Royal British Legion.

In addition, and as in many other areas of civilian life, the importance of networking cannot be overstated.

●

KEY CONTACTS Career Transition Partnership (CTP), Tel: 0121 236 0058 email: resettlementinfo@ctp.org.uk Web: www.ctp.org.uk Twitter: @CTPinfo Companies House, Tel: 0303 1234 500 email: enquiries@companies-house.gov.uk Web: www.companieshouse.gov.uk Twitter: @CompaniesHouse Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS), Tel: 020 7215 5000 email: enquiries@bis.gsi.gov.uk Web: www.bis.gov.uk Twitter: @bisgovuk Federation of Small Businesses, Tel: 0808 20 20 888 email: customerservices@fsb.org.uk Web: www.fsb.org.uk Twitter: @fsb_policy The Prince’s Trust, Tel: 0800 842842 email: info@princes-trust.org.uk Web: www.princes-trust.org.uk Twitter: @PrincesTrust Regular Forces Employment Association Ltd, Tel: 0845 873 7166 Web: www.rfea.org.uk Twitter: @RFEA_UK The Royal British Legion, Tel: 0808 802 8080 Web: www.britishlegion.org.uk Twitter: @PoppyLegion Scottish Enterprise, Tel: 0845 607 8787 Web: www.scottish-enterprise.com Twitter: @scotent Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Tel: 01463 234171 email: info@hient.co.uk Web: www.hie.co.uk Twitter: @HIEScotland Department for Employment & Learning (Northern Ireland), Tel: 028 9025 7777 Web: www.delni.gov.uk Twitter: @nidirect

55 February 2016 / www.questonline.co.uk

JOIN OUR TEAM!

CANARY WHARF COMMUNICATION OFFICER Canary Wharf Security are recruiting for Communications ofďŹ cer to work at our East London estate.

We offer you a permanent employment contract, including the following beneďŹ ts: Competivive Salary Overtime opportunities Excellent pension scheme Free private healthcare for you & your immediate family Free Life insurance Subsidised health club / gym membership Interest free travel season ticket loan after probation Four weeks paid holiday per year Canary Wharf Security is a large organisation with opportunities for promotion.

We provide all specialist training you will need to do the job, as well as many personal development opportunities.

To apply Email: securityrecruitment@canarywharf.com quoting M1

When responding to advertisements please mention Quest

Challenge Yourself to Lead and Mentor Young People

The Challenge Youth and Community Mentors and Leaders Salary: Up to ÂŁ1,760 per 3 week programme Location: London, Surrey, Berkshire, Yorkshire, the West Midlands or the North West We are looking for dedicated individuals, with an interest in working with young people to strengthen their communities, working both residentially and in the local community.

A single programme includes outdoor activities, skill development and community service. Paid positions are available for people at every level of experience.

Positions last from 2 to 14 weeks.

Applications Now Open To apply online simply visit www.ncsthechallenge.org/jobs

We wish to engage a retired engineer with alarm/computer literate skills to maintain our equipment based in our yard in East Sussex.

The applicant must have a clean driving licence as he/she will be required to service our engineers in the London area when required. Salary to be negotiated based on ÂŁ20,000 pro rata.

You will be joining an enthusiastic team of engineers who will rely on your skills and time keeping.

Please send your CV to Josh Parvin at the address below or by email to josh.parvin@permanex.net Permanex Site Security Ltd Unit 1A, Russet Farm Redlands Lane Robertsbridge East Sussex TN32 5NG Tel: 0207 428 6492 57 February 2016 / www.questonline.co.uk

When responding to advertisements please mention Quest

Look into having your own B2B consultancy, working closely with a 102 year-old business!

We are the online division of The Credit Protection Association plc with a proven record of providing highly-effective and much-needed credit management solutions to businesses who sell their goods or services on credit account.

Our online credit intelligence prevents clients losing money! We also improve their cash-flow by prompting slow-paying account customers to settle their bills. Over 80% of all accounts referred to CPA are resolved within days, whilst preserving goodwill.

To find out more about this exceptional opportunity…

• No stock required • Early revenue generation • Strong, established brand • Automatic repeat business • Business hours, weekdays only • Low start-up and running costs • Needed by most types of business • In-depth training and ongoing support • Nationwide, exclusive, substantial territories • Set your annual earnings target between £36K and £100K +

AND MUCH MORE….

Are you: • Ethical and of the utmost integrity?

• Able to make a modest investment?

• Dynamic, proactive and hardworking?

• Happy to deal with people at Senior Executive level?

• Persistent, well-organised and determined to succeed?

• From a sales, management or ex-Services background?

If so please contact us NOW!

Call Peter Uwins on 020 8846 0000 or email your interest to franchise@cpa.co.uk alternatively visit www.cpa.co.uk/franchise

Case study

NEW CAREER

Deborah Turner

125 YEARS SUCCESS Kuehne + Nagel recognise the benefits of employing Armed Forces personnel and signed the Corporate Covenant in May 2014. We are committed to supporting our Service Leavers and Reserve Forces employees and have employed a Military Recruiter to help the transition to civilian life.

We are recruiting now for Transport, Warehousing and Stock Control roles. If you feel you can contribute and grow with Kuehne + Nagel apply now.

To apply for Driver, Warehouse or Apprenticeship roles go to: www.knlogisticscareer.co.uk To access more information on Kuehne + Nagel visit: uk.kuehne-nagel.com/en_gb/ To contact the Military Project Manager Phil Doyle please email: philip.doyle@Kuehne-nagel.com

58

The opportunity: -

12 5 + Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y

www.questonline.co.uk / February 2016

Kuehne + Nagel Waitrose Contract Service Centre Operative and Ex Royal Navy Leading Hand Don’t leave the military on a whim. But if you do leave; join a company like Kuehne + Nagel with a strong culture that invests in its people.

I joined the Royal Navy in 2003 and was determined to complete basic training, as most of my friends and family doubted I could. After passing out from HMS Raleigh I was posted to HMS Exeter, a Type 42 Destroyer operating from Portsmouth. I joined as a Chef but quickly found my skills lay in security and was made part of the Rapid Response Team. I served in Norway and across the whole of the Middle East and my longest tour away was 9 months.

Although time away was difficult I loved my job and once formed part of the Queens Colour Party on HMS Ocean.

In 2008 like many service leavers I decided because of a relationship to leave the Navy. It was a huge change and due to a 6 year recall notice and lack of experience it was extremely difficult to get a job. However through a family friend I secured a job with Kuehne + Nagel in the Systems and Goods office.

Kuehne + Nagel gave me a chance and invested in my training to bring me up to speed on accounting systems.

Being in the military gives you great skills such as drive, determination, the ability to accept rapid change and the ability to work under pressure. These are highly valuable attributes in civilian life, and if you join a progressive organisation like Kuehne + Nagel they can harness these skills and offer you a chance of a rewarding career.

train to connect…

Specialists in providing providing engineering and training services services to the telecommunications industry industry Inc Includes ludes an introduction to 5G

Telecoms investment is still growing and the industry needs skilled trained engineers, project engineers and project managers for on going roll out programmes. ō Wireless & radio engineering

Scotlandd 9,166

North rth East 3,960

Northern Ireland 2,785

North West 10,178

Yorkshire & Y H The Humber 6,542

ō Advanced wireless technologies ō Design & implementation of 4th generation network ō 3 Week course ō 2G, 3G & 4G Networks ō Bespoke CV service

East Midlands l 7,9466 West e Midlands 10,071

East 13,914

W Wales 4,612 London 18,831 South East 27,669 South West 0,932 10,932

ō Excellent success connecting people to new careers ō Strong links with industry partners

Jobs created or safeguarded by 4G

For For further informa information tion on course schedules and prices call FREEPHONE 0800 612 9193 or contact Richard Lee on 07814 678406 Email: info@ubi-tech.co.uk www www.ubi-tech.co.uk .ubi-tech.co.uk In association with

APPROVED BY MoD IN SUPPORT OF THE ELC SCHEME

E LC

PROVIDER NUMBER NUMBER

6079