Management and Leadership - Case Studies

Major RE John Graham, 50, served in the Royal Engineers for 33 years, specialising in Quartermaster Logistics, H&S, estate and facilities management, counter-terrorist search (military and UK police), and as a plumber and pipefitter (heating engineer). Civilian qualifications obtained during his Service career included: master’s degree in Construction, NEBOSH and Site Safety Management, Project Management (PRINCE2), Finance for Managers, British Institute of Facilities Management, Environmental Management, NVQ level 5 Operational Management, plumber, pipefitter and heating engineer. His CTW, he says, gave him a ‘thorough briefing, discussion, and the exchange of varying levels of experience and qualifications.

 

It presented a whole new and different outlook on employment attainment and networking (which is probably the most essential). It may not initially lead to employment but it provides paths to follow that eventually help as they open other channels of investigation.’

 

The courses taken by John during resettlement – PRINCE2 and Finance for Managers, providing two modules towards the level 7 Higher National Management Certificate – were taken with CTP-authorised provider the Bristol Management Centre and were, he says, ‘excellent and professional’. On leaving the Services, he says that he found his first job ‘through, networking, perseverance, determination and hard work. My full-time job was trying to obtain a job! I identified many websites on which to upload a profile and CV; one picked up on this and the recruitment agency Omega Resources and RPC, who were both very proficient, ran me for a series of employments that led to telephone and Skype interviews. I was eventually awarded a job as relief site manager. I must also state that I took this at less pay than I wanted, just to get into the company and see how it went from there. As it turned out, I was promoted with a substantial pay rise.’

 

Now working as a site manager – a job he has been in for five months – he says that it involves, ‘management of staff, covering many technical trades in support of contractual SLA for equipment, buildings and vehicle maintenance to enable life support and other contract business unit works to continue, in a hostile environment. Additionally an HR responsibility must be undertaken as part of the hiring of new employees and the discipline procedures for the existing team members.

 

‘I really do enjoy the freedom of employment without working under strict military discipline, which although still a major part of my civil employment is conducted in a much more relaxed manner. That said, you do not encounter the threat of being fired from employment in the Forces and that is an area constantly under review with civil employers due to discipline, contract awards, costs, downsizing or restructuring. I also like working with the many different people from all over the world, the different cultures and the humour. I can’t say I ever got used to being away from home and that is the down side of my employment – being away for three months at a time.

 

‘I am now managing a site in the same camp in Afghanistan where I completed my last operational tour as the Camp Quartermaster, and therefore find many aspects of my employment similar: managing people and assets. The area where it differs vastly is that I now manage major contracts, construction and special projects; this is a whole new area of expertise that I am adding to my personal experience and, of course, my CV.’