The challenges facing HM Forces personnel seeking post-Service redeployment

It is an unfortunate fact that a large proportion of civilian employers fail to recognise that many of the skills and attributes possessed by ex-HM Forces personnel are extremely valuable and transferable. This has always been a challenge facing ex-Services personnel, but in the face of the worst recession in living memory it has become even more acute.

So how should you go about maximising your chances of securing civilian employment?

It is clear that, in the present jobs climate, the competition is intense and, in general, there are more applicants than there are jobs – especially in the traditional redeployment career paths in general management, personnel management, security, HM Constabulary, etc. However, this is not the case in all sectors – there are still areas where there are severe skills shortages, as listed in the table below.

Software development

Testing

Help desk support

Managed services

Telecoms

Mobile phones

Offshore and onshore oil and gas

Civil and structural construction

Infrastructure projects

Offshore and onshore oil and gas

Petrochemicals

Electrical and electronics

Telecoms manufacturing

Hardware manufacturing

Mechanical

Vehicle maintenance

Production plant maintenance

Offshore and onshore oil and gas construction and

commissioning

Security

Marine security

Specialist security companies

Individual personal protection

Bomb disposal Unexploded ordnance clearance

Sports and leisure

Personal trainers

Fitness instructors

Whichever industries or sectors you decide to target, the key issue is to ensure that potential employers understand that your training and skills sets are transferable assets. It is also important to realise that civilian employers will be unfamiliar with HM Forces jargon and its use must be avoided. There are many aspects of your training and experience in the Forces that you take for granted but are important to highlight to prospective employers. For example:

levels of personal fitness attained
hardships endured
staying cool under fire
man management
self-discipline
leadership abilities
multi-tasking ability
teamwork.

It is also vital to understand the importance of a good CV and the necessity of a strategic approach to marketing yourself. You have to stand out from the crowd in order to get interviewed and secure a job.

This is where PrimeCandidate can help you. It offers a highly professional, bespoke online CV writing and posting service. Your CV is the most powerful sales and marketing tool at your disposal when searching for a new job, and should therefore be taken very seriously. PrimeCandidate will give your CV the edge it needs to get noticed. It comprises ex-recruitment and industry professionals with hiring manager status, and is in the best possible position to produce professional CVs and recommend CV posting locations. Social networking sites are fast becoming the resourcing tool of choice for many employers around the world. We can set you up on professional/social networking sites by creating a ‘fit for purpose’ profile page, attach your CV, generate connections and make suggestions for suitable groups to join. In short, we prime today’s job hunters into Prime Candidates for interview and selection!

You can order most of our services online at www.primecandidateuk.com or to speak to us in person about your requirements please call on +44 01423 563750.

See the advertisement on page 74.

Brickies boosted by construction build-up

A report issued last month offers further evidence that the UK construction industry is finally beginning to pick up. The latest edition of the Purchasing Managers’ Index for construction revealed that, in May, building activity had recovered strongly compared with a disappointing first quarter. And it appears that companies in the construction sector are more optimistic than they have been for many months, and are taking on more workers for the first time in almost a year.

If you want to find out more about working in the construction industry, take a look at the feature in this issue.

Plumbing, gas and electrical careers: why a ‘traditional’ trade can prove a great career choice

With so many workers today feeling like a ‘cog in a wheel’ – stuck in dull, dead-end office jobs they don’t enjoy – it’s not hard to see why plumbing, gas and electrical careers continue to prove so attractive to Service leavers. If you like the idea of a profession that offers a better lifestyle, a profitable, stable future, and the opportunity to be your own boss, becoming a plumber and gas engineer or electrician could be the perfect career choice for you.

A career that offers flexibility, financial rewards – and the chance to be your own boss

OLCI Construction Training is the UK’s only nationwide construction training provider, with years of experience training ex-Service people for successful civilian careers. Their Director of Training Max Faulkner gave us his insight into why plumbing, gas and electrical careers are so popular with ex-Forces personnel:

“They offer security and financial freedom – qualified tradespeople provide an essential service and will always be in demand. And with the UK moving into a ‘green’ economy, new opportunities are opening up. There’s also the fact the work is so varied, interesting and hands-on; if you’ve had a military career it’s unlikely you’ll enjoy paper shuffling or being stuck in front of a PC all day. Finally, while there’s the option of working for a company, many ex-Service people dream of setting up their own business. With the right skills and qualifications, as a plumber and gas engineer or electrician, it’s a dream you can actually make happen.”

The benefits of learning with a specialist resettlement training provider

The best way into the industry is to gain recognised qualifications – but combining training with your military and other commitments can be challenging. A good solution is to look for a specialist resettlement training provider that understands the needs of Service leavers, and provides the support, advice and flexibility to make the transition to Civvy Street as easy as possible. For example, OLCI, one of the UK’s leading specialist resettlement training providers, offers:

Flexible plumbing, gas and electrical courses
Theory training you can learn where and when you want eg you can start your theory while abroad
13 state-of-the-art centres around the UK – so you can do your practical training locally instead of travelling long distances. Choose from a range of dates & times to suit you
Small groups and professional, supportive, friendly tutors, with both teaching & industry experience
Training that prepares you for industry recognised qualifications, inc. City & Guilds, EAL, Gas Safe Register, Logic and BPEC
No waiting lists /term times – you can start as soon as you enrol
Accommodation whilst you train can be arranged for you
Post-training support to help you set up your own business or gain employment
ELC funding available for Level 3 courses and above
Preferred training provider to the Career Transition Partnership (CTP)

Your next step

OLCI are happy to advise Service leavers who are interested in a plumbing/gas or electrical career. They offer a free guide ‘Choosing the right training provider for you’ and have expert Career Advisors who can give free career guidance, explain the qualifications you need and answer your questions. To speak to a Career Advisor or for your free copy of the guide, call OLCI on Freephone 0800 093 2590 or

020 7430 8405.

See the advertisement on page 5

Enhance your future employment prospects in the energy sector

Providence Training’s unique offering to learners comes in the form of small informal classes, vocationally experienced instructors, a friendly, relaxed atmosphere and competitive prices. This manifests itself in high levels of learner success and appreciation.

Providence Training is closely linked to the engineering construction industry, which is responsible for the building and maintenance of many key industrial plants such as refineries and power stations – the ‘energy sector’. Predictions are that there will be a shortfall in the number of skilled workers available within the country to meet the planned construction projects that are designed to reduce national CO2 emissions and replace ageing power stations. It is evident that significant employment opportunities will imminently emerge from these projects. Consequently the courses offered by Providence Training are structured to enhance future employment prospects for participants within this sector.

Under the ELC scheme, we offer both the distance learning version and the classroom-based version of the nationally recognised NEBOSH General Certificate in Safety & Health. In addition, we offer NVQs up to level 5 in Occupational Safety & Health under City & Guilds and Welder Training & Coding to trade standards.

Providence Training also provides a wide range of other training courses, including various passport schemes, all of which can be booked outside of the ELC scheme. For more information on all of our courses, please visit www.providencetrainingltd.com or call 01646 600062.

See the advertisement on page 30 www.questonline.co.uk/may11

Build a future in construction with MET

When the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government came to power in May, CITB-Construction Skills’ Chief Executive, Mark Farrar, questioned the effect this would have on the construction industry, saying: ‘Construction is crucial to the success of our economic revival. That’s why it’s important that the new government continues to support construction, so that we can make sure that the industry increases its productivity and contributes to the economic recovery.’

Skills and training are at the heart of the election manifesto of the coalition government, so it remains to be seen what level of support will be given to our employers. We know that many workers left the industry during the recession, never to return, and we need to address these skills gaps and make sure that we’ve got a fully skilled and sustainable UK construction workforce in place. It is imperative the government act on this, and there is every reason to believe that the new government will continue to support training in this sector.

Unquestionably it is for forward thinkers to use this situation constructively. Ex-Service personnel are in an ideal position to retrain for a career in construction, and to be at the forefront of employable, skilled construction workers when the need is greatest.

That’s where MET comes in: as a training service provider with facilities second to none MET has retrained many ex-Service personnel and offers free taster days for Armed Forces personnel.

Cathy, our highly experienced Course Advisor, can offer you career guidance and one-to-one support and advice. Call MET now on 0800 542 7201 and retrain for your future.

See the advertisement on page 68.

Published September 2010

Resettlement training: support from the specialists

Making the transition from the Services to Civvy Street can be a big step, especially when it comes to looking to set up and run your own business or work for a company. So it’s good to know that one leading specialist resettlement training provider takes time to understand what you want, and can then help you achieve it.

OLCI Construction Training is one of the UK’s leading construction training providers. It has helped many ex-Service people build a successful career as a plumber and gas engineer or fully qualified electrician. Service leavers can learn skills and gain vital industry-recognised qualifications to help them progress along the road to a successful career.

People always need plumbers and gas engineers or electricians, so the opportunities are there to build a successful career after you’ve qualified. And OLCI can help to provide support and advise you on how you can achieve this. Even if you have no previous experience, you can learn a trade that could see you setting up and running your own business or working in a team for a company.

As a specialist resettlement training provider, OLCI provides you with:

flexible plumbing and gas, and electrical courses
theory training that enables you to learn when and where you want
practical training at one of 13 state-of-the-art centres around the UK, chosen from a range of dates and times to suit you
professional, supportive and friendly tutors
training to gain industry-recognised qualifications
no waiting lists – you can start when you enrol
support to help you gain employment or set up your own business
bespoke courses to meet your needs.

In addition, accommodation can be arranged for you, ELC funding is available for level 3 courses, and OLCI is a preferred training provider to the Career Transition Partnership (CTP).

If you would like to receive OLCI’s specialist resettlement training and talk about a career as a plumber and gas engineer or electrician, contact OLCI on Freephone 0800 058 2848.

See the advertisement on page 5

Published August 2010

Building up to a recovery?

Britain’s construction industry enjoyed its best month for two years in March, it has been reported, as the housing market began to recover. David Noble, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Managers (CIPS) confirms that ‘The construction sector has turned the corner.’ The news followed a string of optimistic trading statements from house builders, with firms such as Bovis and Persimmon planning to hire new staff and looking to buy land.

Published May 2010

Construction - Despatches