Despatches - April 08

Wata training provider

‘People are the most important and valuable asset of any organisation and as such their training and development is vital,’ say Wata. ‘Training is essential to give people the necessary skills and competence as well as improving motivation, and can also lead to a new career.’

Based in Hartford, Cambridgeshire, West Anglia Training Association Ltd (Wata)(See advertisement on page 19) offer an extensive portfolio of training and services which include health, safety, environmental management, electrical and mechanical skills training, leadership and management. They also train and assess young people involved in apprenticeships.

Wata is an approved learning provider under the Armed Forces Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) Scheme, providing financial assistance to Service personnel who wish to undertake a training course at Level 3 or above on the National Qualifications Framework or Level 6 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework. Many of the courses, which they provide are ELC accredited.

Training can be delivered at their training centre, which provides a relaxed learning environment in a rural setting. Alternatively the training can be provided at the customer’s premises. Wata’s business is training and as such they claim the ‘expertise and commitment to make a difference to the learning experience of their customers’. In the current climate it is increasingly important for organisations and individuals to select the best training provider. Wata has over 30 years’ experience of providing quality training. They can be contacted on 01480 435544 or at www.wata.co.uk.

Call to Arms at Scotland’s NationalWarMuseum

From 23rd May 2008 to 1st February 2009 the National War Museum in Scotland at Edinburgh Castle will be hosting an exhibition about the men on the fighting front of Scotland’s battlefields, from a 15th century mercenary to an infantry soldier in today’s Army.

Examining 800 years of clothing, protection, weapons and tactics, Call to Arms highlights four archetypal Scottish fighting men. Scotland’s fearsome battlefield reputation is portrayed in different times through soldiers essentially doing the same job, but showing changes in hand to hand combat:

• Active from around 1300 to around 1600, the ‘Galloglaigh’ were a formidable Gaelic warrior elite who exchanged money, land or livestock for their services on battlefields both at home and abroad.
• From around 1500 to 1750 ‘clans’ – groups of families loyal to a chief – would be duty-bound to fight together, taking on other clans, or those from beyond the highlands, for land, honour or to protect their families.
• By the 19th century, joining the British Army meant a steady and secure job and many young Scots took up musket and bayonet to fight for the state in an expanding Empire.
• Today’s soldiers are involved in battles all over the world but are also called upon to prevent war, or help its victims.

Items on display include an example of the famous broadsword (c1720) known as the Claymore which was used to devastating effect in the highland charges. Also on show will be an example of grapeshot – a cluster of small, iron balls which were deadly when fired from a cannon. View the piece of shot that wounded Private David Wishart in 1813 and read the letter to his brother describing the pain of being hit and the military surgeon’s attempts to remove it.

The exhibition is free with admission to EdinburghCastle. Castle admission prices are currently adult £11.00, child £5.50, concessions £9.00. The Museum is open Monday to Sunday 9.30am to 6.00pm (1st April to 30th September); 9.30am to 5.00pm (1st October to 31th March)

Premier fitness training

Health and fitness is a rapidly growing industry that offers a wide range of opportunities for Service people who are looking to pursue an enjoyable and lucrative second career. Premier Training International (See advertisement on page 59) is a provider of vocational training in the sector which claims strong links with the Armed Forces.

Founded in 1992 by former Army physiotherapist Norman Basson, Premier has created an educational package that uses a Service leaver’s resettlement time to enable them to gain the fully accredited Diploma in Personal Training and Sports Massage Therapy. Over the past 15 years they have found that the combination of skills that military students attain whilst serving and a quality physical educational programme on leaving are the ideal foundation for success in this industry.

Some of Premier’s most successful graduates include Simon Waterson and Stuart Amory who have established successful careers training celebrities. Others, like Carl Todd, have worked at the highest level of professional sport. Additionally, many have gone on to open health clubs, work for British Military Fitness and have even enjoyed successful careers as lecturers and managers for Premier.

For many graduates the Diploma itself is sufficient to achieve career goals; for those who require additional assistance, Premier People is a web-based service that can assist with everything from writing a CV to setting up a small business. It also includes regular job alerts, and is designed to support students during the course and as qualified health and fitness professionals with education, business information and career guidance.

For more information phone on 01225 717221 or e-mail military@premierglobal.co.uk

Paintless dent removal

John Haisman, Managing Director of Dentrix Ltd (See advertisement on page 78), located in Alton Hampshire, has 22 years experience in the paintless dent removal (PDR) field as well as running mobile companies for the last 17 years. He has now expanded his company to include a PDR training facility.

Having trained employees and some paying students throughout this time and finding that they are now either running their own businesses or working in PDR within the motor trade, he decided to offer his experience to anyone else who might have the desire to learn this skill. ‘In my opinion, the future of PDR is huge,’ he says. ‘It has always been the motor trade’s best kept secret, but with the new paint regulations being enforced and the expense involved, many body shops, mobile smart repairers and large dealer groups are wanting to incorporate it into their business. This enables them to implement PDR into their everyday repairs, thus saving themselves time and money.’

Haisman has ‘major concerns and am frustrated that anyone considering training in PDR is being taken advantage of. Many people are being badly advised on unnecessary PDR tools, sometimes costing thousands of pounds. I recently spoke to a trainee who attended a course with us just over two years ago. He told me he turned over £80,000 last year, working a five-day week and said, his tool kit consists of just six bars – but they are obviously the right six bars. He attended one week with me and followed my advice to the letter.’

Just like any other skill, individuals will build their own tool kit as they progress and will become an expert dent technician after many hours of practice, self-motivation and experience. No-one should imagine that this is something that can be completely mastered in only two or three weeks training – no matter whom they select as the provider.

A future in golf

After 33 years in the Royal Navy, Warrant Officer Mick Slater was looking for a change in career. Retirement wasn’t an option, and he explains that: ‘I has always been a keen golfer and had a lifelong ambition to work on a golf course. I found out about the golf course management courses through the resettlement service. It had been a long time since I had been near a classroom, but a visit to BridgwaterCollege’s (See advertisement on page 49) Cannington Centre really focused me.

‘I decided on the certificate of higher education in golf and sports turf management and found it to be a challenging and enlightening experience. I am hopeful of a new career in golf course management or golf course construction, either at home or abroad.’

Cannington Centre offers numerous courses in land-based subjects, ranging from agricultural management to landscape and garden design, and from applied animal management to food technology or countryside management. It is also the south-west centre for green keeping training, offering courses for school leavers right through to a foundation degree in golf and sports turf management.

Their courses offer students the opportunity to gain the necessary management skills, and also the underpinning practical skills; they offer a hands-on experience, which appeals to people who enjoy physical activity outdoors. Football, rugby and cricket pitches, along with an 18-tee, nine-hole golf course are used to support and reinforce the learning process.

For more information, visit www.bridgwater.ac.uk or call course enquiries on 01278 441234.

Armed Forces in line for top marks

As well as the Royal Navy’s nomination as employer of the year in this year’s Learners First Awards, two soldiers are competing in the finals of the personal achievement award category. The awards are run by the National Employer Service to honour the UK’s best apprentices and learners for their achievements.

Colin Hamilton, 32, has been nominated for his work with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, in which he is responsible for ensuring that the unit’s equipment is maintained in a serviceable state, repaired or replaced when necessary. He received serious injuries while trying to save a colleague during a tour in Kosovo. These injuries included major burns, a leg amputation and a 50% loss of vision in both eyes.

He says: ‘Before my injuries I was committed to development, now I make an additional effort to show my bosses that I can still undertake the duties of a soldier and junior manager.’ Or in his commander’s words: ‘He treats his disability as a challenge rather than an obstacle and uses his situation to persuade others to become involved in personal development. Recently he enrolled in a Storage and Warehouse Level 2 NVQ and immediately prompted his colleagues to do the same.’

Rob Carter, 19, has also been nominated. Having been in care from an early age, following the death of his mother, he joined the Army to bring some structure to his life. He had often skipped school and his learning suffered. He now drives a variety of large goods and specialist vehicles while preparing them for active use and servicing. He is often required to drive the vehicles in difficult conditions and was recently involved in flood relief operations in North Yorkshire and the South of England.

‘Seeing people who were worse off than me in the floods, but who were coping with their lives made me all the more determined to succeed. I wish that I had made more of my time at school but the apprenticeship I took gave me another chance at qualifications and a career. Now I would like to do an advanced apprenticeship to really use that second chance.’

Quest congratulates everyone involved in these significant achievements.

The New Zealand Navy wants … YOU

The Royal New Zealand Navy (See advertisement on page 81) is responsible for the maritime defence of New Zealand and operates throughout the Pacific and South Asia. They are expanding, with six brand new ships arriving over the next 12 months, which means they are recruiting personnel with current or previous military experience from the UK right now.

Chief Petty Officer Tim Clubb joined the RNZN last year and is now serving as a marine engineer. He says:

‘We visited New Zealand in 1991 and found the country was beautiful and the people were so friendly. After 22 years in the Royal Navy I needed a new challenge and when I saw the RNZN recruiting advertisement I decided to apply. I passed the selection criteria and moved across in June 2007. The RNZN is small in comparison to the RN, but this makes for a relaxed atmosphere. It’s a flexible and friendly place to work.

‘My first posting was to HMNZS Canterbury, a brand new multi-role vessel, and I have since moved to HMNZS MANAWANUI, which is a purpose built diving support ship. I am endorsing my qualifications and working towards my NZ Charge Chief Certificate. I love every minute of it and have absolutely no regrets about the move. If you want opportunities, brand new ships, short deployments to interesting places, a relaxed family friendly atmosphere and to be based in one home port, this is for you.’

Visit the website at www.navy.mil.nz/join-us/uk for more information. The RNZN Recruitment Team will be in Faslane on 21st April, Portsmouth on 23rd April and Plymouth on 24th April.

Partnership for Paul Wallace-Tarry

Royal Engineer Lieutenant Colonel Paul Wallace-Tarry, 53, left the Army five years ago to become a partner in the Belvior Lettings (See advertisement on page 8) office in the centre of Shrewsbury. A 29-year career had seen service in the UK including Northern Ireland, Germany including Berlin, and Cyprus rewarded with an MBE, and a diploma in human resource management from the University of Wolverhampton. Leaving for family stability and the opportunity for a second career, he now values his training and experience in ‘basic planning, organisation and time appreciation, getting the best out of people, strategic and financial planning; the ability to work under pressure and being prepared to do anything required to make things happen.’

A Career Transition Workshop was useful ‘with regards to running your own business’, and he also attended an ‘excellent’ course in working for a charity, which ‘covered all aspects of running a business – marketing, PR, advertising, employment law, financing and accounting, which were applicable for both the profit and not for profit sector.’

He was approached by the then owner of the Belvoir franchise and began ‘managing an office and team, obtaining new business, advertising, marketing, business and financial planning, recruiting and training staff, writing and applying various business and marketing strategies, running accounts, raising the profile of the business, and advising people how best to purchase properties for an investment.’ Now working ‘six or seven days a week including making the coffee and cleaning the loos,’ Wallace-Tarry enjoys ‘being my own boss without any unwanted interference, the buzz factor in making it work, variety and dealing with people; but dislikes dealing with some of these people.

‘In running a business you are totally responsible for the bottom line. You do a lot more with far fewer staff and probably they are not trained as well as military personnel. Your staff will be more questioning and your knowledge of employment law needs to be good. Everything you do has a knock on reward or consequence to you, your staff and your clients.’

The difference in salary was initially huge and the business required a substantial input of money; but now he earns a similar salary to the one he had in the Army.

VAST CHOICE OF ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION JOBS

AVAILABLE WITH LEADING EMPLOYERS

THE NATIONAL ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION RECRUITMENT EXHIBITIONS 2008

OLYMPIA, LONDON, 18 & 19 APRIL 2008

FRIDAY 11am – 5pm, SATURDAY 11am – 4pm

NEC, BIRMINGHAM, 25 & 26 APRIL 2008

FRIDAY 11am – 5pm, SATURDAY 11am – 4pm

*FREE ENTRY*

www.engineerjobs.co.uk

The National Engineering and Construction Recruitment Exhibition (NECR), at Olympia, London, on 18 and 19 April and at the NEC, Birmingham, on 25 and 26 April 2008, will offer a vast choice of exciting career opportunities with leading employers for the thousands of experienced professionals and graduates expected to attend.

NECR, the largest engineering and construction recruitment event in the UK, has roles available in every sector of the industry.

Many leading employers will be actively recruiting at the two-day exhibitions, including: Alstom, Amey, Astrium, BAE Systems, Bechtel, British Nuclear Group, Cummins, EADS Defence & Security Systems, E.ON UK, FM Global, General Dynamics, GE Aviation, Jacobs Engineering Group, Jaguar & Land Rover, Marshall Aerospace, Messier-Dowty, Network Rail, Petrofac, SELEX Sensors & Airborne Systems, Switchgear & Instrumentation and Tube Lines

Visitors will also be able to benefit from the many valuable advisory services available free to help them develop their careers. They can, for instance, take advantage of the Careers Advice Lounge, the CV Clinic and the Interview Clinic, as well careers presentations.

The Women in Engineering Forum will provide visitors with the opportunity to hear successful female engineers talking about their careers and to network with inspirational women and potential employers over a buffet lunch. The forum, supported by the Women’s Engineering Forum and WISE, is completely free, and visitors can book a place by emailing laura.tully@vmgl.com or calling 020 8394 5276.

A full list of recruiters and full details is available at www.engineerjobs.co.uk

The National Engineering and Construction Recruitment Exhibition is run in association with the Daily and Sunday Telegraph, and is supported by the Institution of Engineering and Technology and the Institution of Chemical Engineers.

For further press information please contact Chris Lewis or John Sullivan, Tel: 020 7736 4022, email: ChrisLewis@clareville.co.uk

(See advertisement on page 80)

CENTRE OF SECURITY EXCELLENCE

Established in the late 1980’s CIA Excel Group (See advertisement on page 39) has grown to become the largest National and International Investigation, Security Consultancy and Training Provider in both Scotland and Northern Ireland. The company continues to move apace with the introduction of further specialist niche services, fully supported from our offices in Hamilton, Belfast and the City in London.

Through our “Centre of Security Excellence” we deliver training courses for individuals who wish to join the industry, those employed in the industry and for security and in-house companies. Training staff at CIA Excel all hold Level 3 Teaching Certificates and are Members of the Security Institute (Syl) Senior Training Consultants are qualified to Post Graduate level and are Members of the Chartered Management Institute.

The majority of our training programmes are SIA compliant and are Quality Assured through internal and external verification by Edexcel, Skills for Security, NOCN and the Security Institute; we are also an accredited Examinations Management Centre. CIA Excel are the only company delivering the Skills for Security ‘Security Supervisor Course’ in conjunction with the BTEC Level 3 Close Protection Operations Programme; successful candidates are awarded Post-Nominal’s ‘ASyI’ (Associate Membership of the Security Institute)

CIA Excel Group is fully operational, with many of our staff coming from Police and Military backgrounds; we continue to work in the UK/Ireland, Europe, West Africa and the Middle East.

Further information on services and training programmes can be obtained by visiting; www.ciaexcel.com

Email: training@ciaexcel.com

Tel: 028 90 530160

Fill a skills shortage in the property business

The College of Estate Management (CEM) (see advertisement on page 10) believes that the property and construction industry faces an ever-increasing shortage of supply of people with the right skills for today’s property business. Industry demands have changed from the traditional knowledge of housing and commercial property to a new agenda. This includes knowledge of sustainable development and the need for conservation of the historic environment. Project management and facilities management are also paths for career progression.

Military experience provides Service people with a good start towards retraining for a new career in the property or construction sectors while still in uniform. CEM offers a wide range of distance learning courses, which allow people to pursue careers in:

• l project management
• l facilities management
• l shopping centre management
• l property investment
• l construction, surveying and real estate.

The College is an approved MoD ELC provider, so learners can apply to off-set the cost of their course and gain a postgraduate-level qualification while continuing to work. They are then in a good position to find worthwhile employment when they retire from the Services.

Courses range from entry level – Diploma in Surveying Practice – to a range of BSc courses awarded by the University of Reading and recognised by appropriate professional bodies, as well as a breadth of postgraduate courses. Several of the postgraduate courses can be taken by people who already have a first degree in any subject. Students are supported by a learning and academic support team, attend introductory and revision teaching days two or three times a year and take their exams at designated centres in the UK and overseas. Face-to-face teaching days enable students to meet tutors and fellow students, and to set up discussion groups and online tutorials, thereby reducing the ‘distance’ in ‘distance learning’

For further information about the College of Estate Management and its courses visit www.cem.ac.uk