Despatches

Helping to find your ideal home
Whether you are experienced in the property market or a first time buyer, finding the right property can be time-consuming, stressful and sometimes even frustrating; just one more thing to worry about as part of resettlement. However, Premier Home Finders 'can make the whole process - from initial search through to completion - easier, quicker, and can even save you money.'
Premier Home Finders is an independent agency that provides a personal property search service. Firstly its representative consults you to understand your requirements, including the essential specifications as well as the things you want to avoid. Its 'in-depth market knowledge' and independence means that it has 'access to the widest range of available properties in the marketplace, sometimes even before they are being marketed on the high street, providing access to more properties.'
It carries out initial viewings and provides a report, highlighting key features and points for consideration; thus saving time, preventing wasted journeys, and reducing stress. Next, it will arrange and accompany you on viewings to properties of interest, and will negotiate for your chosen property, agreeing the best price.
It oversees the whole process, liaising with estate agents and solicitors, to make swift progress and avoid problems. Keeping you fully informed at all times, it will also remind you of all the other things that need to be done in the lead-up to moving day.
For further details contact Jan Philp on 01225 774149 or visit www.premierhomefinders.co.uk

Jobs for plumbers, builders and engineers
Over 75 per cent of plumbing businesses are having difficulties with recruitment, and official figures predict a shortage of 30,000 plumbers over the next five years. At the same time the UK will be short of 400,000 builders and 17,000 engineers. The ageing workforce in these areas will make this problem even worse.
As a result, £60m has been earmarked to persuade people to consider a career in the manual trades - with women being targeted as much as men. Accountants, scientists and other graduates are switching to plumbing, attracted by potential earnings of £70,000 a year. The predicted massive shortfall is being reduced by this surge in older applicants.
There is no age barrier to those intending to obtain these qualifications, and the trade is losing its grubby cowboy image. The number of people taking City & Guilds vocational qualifications in plumbing rose last year, and figures for bricklaying and plastering courses also increased. These students included significant numbers of older career-switchers.
Service leavers can now condense their first year of plumbing lectures and training into just six weeks. Step To Training has engineered a fast track, six-week residential City & Guilds Plumbing Foundation Certificate. Other courses include bricklaying/plastering, carpentry and decorating.
For more information contact Jo at Step To Training on Tel: 01285 657 850, e-mail her at: info@steptotraining.co.uk or visit the website at www.steptotraining.co.uk

UK launches Forces Gulf Fund
The UK Forces Gulf Fund has been set up to provide welfare support to UK Service people taking part in Operation Telic in the Gulf and their families. Beneficiaries will be members of the Armed Forces involved in military or other operations relating, civilians accompanying and attached to them and dependants. People receiving help might include those who have lost a loved one and require short-term financial help before receiving pension benefits and those who suffer a disability and would benefit from special equipment.
Anyone wishing to give money to the fund can use a debit or credit card at the website: www.UKForcesGulfFund.org, or they can phone the Fund on 0800 107 0200. They can also send a postal donation, enclosing a completed donation form from the website if possible, to UK Forces Gulf Fund, FREEPOST TN2257, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4TA
The Fund cannot accept cash or material gifts. People who have already found themselves in financial need or suffered sickness or any other disability as a result of Operation Telic will be eligible for relief from it. Similar funds were set up during the last Gulf and Falklands
campaigns. They raised £3m and £17m respectively.

Guardsman joins NFT Distribution
Corporal Peter Griffiths served with the Coldstream Guards for 10 years. In 1998 he was attached to the 1st Battalion Irish Guards in Germany and then served in Kosovo in 1999 before leaving the Army in May 2000.
He wanted to work as a driver and started with a number of general haulage companies. But this type of work was inconsistent and could mean him leaving home on a Monday and returning on a Friday.
After registering with a driving agency, Griffiths was placed with NFT Distribution in May 2001. 'When I joined NFT a whole range of benefits opened up before me. It was like the level of security offered by the Army. A good pension scheme, life insurance, sick pay, uniforms, etc. It was great to find an employer that offered the same type of security that I was used to in the Army. In addition, the people really helped me to settle into the company.
'I like it at NFT. It's regular work on relatively fixed routes in clean vehicles. I know what I will be doing in advance rather than turning up and finding that I am going all around the country for 15 hours one day and 10 the next. In addition, there is good information about how to get to the different destinations rather than the expectation I'll just find them.'
For further information or an application form please contact Sharon Belfitt on 01773 523528 or at sharon.belfitt@nft.co.uk

Premier Global careers open day
On Saturday 14 June fitness training provider Premier Global is hosting an open day between 10 am and 4 pm at Wiltshire's Willowside Park at Trowbridge. Military people and their families can find out about Premier's range of fitness courses and the careers that the company currently offers.
Those qualifying for resettlement assistance can get advice about course entitlements, funding options and accommodation. In addition to its 20 UK centres, members of the Services can also find out about Premier's first international training venue, opening at the Aphrodite Hills complex in Cyprus this September. Visitors can also take part in events and workshops giving an insight into working as a fitness professional.
A qualified sports massage team will be available to provide visitors with a free massage, while trainers will be offering free fitness assessments. Informal advice clinics will enable individuals to plan their health and fitness career. The retail stand will sell discounted fit balls, heart rate monitors, massage couches and a range of fitness equipment. All visitors will be provided with refreshments and a goody bag.
Premier's qualifications are accredited and acknowledged throughout the industry and prepare people who want to pursue careers as personal trainers, sports massage therapists, nutritional advisers, or as a gym-based fitness professional. Its 140 staff have trained over 10,000 students just over 10 years.
An in-house recruitment agency provides students with access to vacancies throughout the industry, while its network of personal trainers gives freelance workers promotion in the media and on the company's website.
For more information, contact Paul Clarke on 01225 353535 or visit the website on www.premierglobal.co.uk