Quest Magazine

Independent resettlement & recruitment guide for Armed Forces & Veterans

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Veterans UK produces a suite of diagrams to help customers with the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS).
Veterans UK produces a suite of diagrams to help customers with the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS).
NEWS

As part of Veterans UK’s continued commitment to enhancing their services, they have produced a suite of diagrams to help customers with the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS).

Johnny Mercer MP  has been appointed Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
Johnny Mercer MP has been appointed Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
NEWS

Johnny Mercer has been appointed minister for veterans’ affairs in the Cabinet Office.

Office for Veterans’ Affairs launches new group to step up veteran employment
Office for Veterans’ Affairs launches new group to step up veteran employment
NEWS

Businesses and other employers across the UK have joined a new group to support the government on helping veterans get into employment.

MOD launches a new Defence Accommodation Strategy
MOD launches a new Defence Accommodation Strategy
NEWS

MOD has launched a new Defence Accommodation Strategy, starting from 31 October 2023. Those in established long-term relationships will be entitled to SFA, and SFA will be allocated to the needs of Serving personnel and their families, not rank.

Funding announced to support Afghanistan Veterans
Funding announced to support Afghanistan Veterans
NEWS

Funding announced to support Afghanistan Veterans

MOD warns British ex-military pilots over Chinese army training schemes
MOD warns British ex-military pilots over Chinese army training schemes
NEWS

The Ministry of Defence has warned of recruitment schemes headhunting former British military pilots to train members of the Chinese army.

New veteran family support service launched in central Scotland
New veteran family support service launched in central Scotland
NEWS

New veteran family support service launched in central Scotland

Grants to enhance pre-school learning for Service children
Grants to enhance pre-school learning for Service children
NEWS

Applications are now open for the Early Years programme which will fund projects that enhance learning for Service children aged 0-5 years, from serving Armed Forces families and create and enhance great places to learn and develop.

Mission Motorsport launches the National Transition Event 2023
Mission Motorsport launches the National Transition Event 2023
NEWS

Mission Motorsport, The Forces’ Motorsport Charity has announced that the National Transition Event (the NTE) will take place on the 27th February 2023 at ‘The Wing’, Silverstone Circuit’s state of the art conference centre.

Royal British Legion offers £200 a month energy bill top-up grants for veterans
Royal British Legion offers £200 a month energy bill top-up grants for veterans
NEWS

The Royal British Legion (RBL) has announced new top-up support for veterans to help them pay their energy bills. Veterans can find out if they are eligible for the grant and apply online.

Armed Forces and NHS are teaming up for veteran healthcare
Armed Forces and NHS are teaming up for veteran healthcare
NEWS

A network of healthcare professionals from within the military and National Health Service are aiming to improve services for veterans.

Ready to press reset?
Ready to press reset?
ARTICLES

When the time comes for you to make the transition to civvy street, it’s vital to seek out the right support to help your journey go as smoothly as possible – even more so if you’re leaving as a result of injury or illness …

Launch of Forces Employment Charity
Launch of Forces Employment Charity
NEWS

Since May, the RFEA and Officers' Association have been working to combine their employment services to create a single organisation able to provide exceptional, through life career support.

Introducing The Revised Benefit Information Statement
Introducing The Revised Benefit Information Statement
NEWS

Pensions go some way to providing family financial security and it is a good idea to keep an eye on pension savings as they grow. One of the ways in which the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) helps you with this is by issuing you with a Benefits Information Statement (BIS). This short article explains how the BIS works.

Key changes affecting service personnel announced in mini budget
Key changes affecting service personnel announced in mini budget
NEWS

UK Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng came out with a mini-budget which includes what he calls 'the biggest tax cuts in a generation'.
What does it mean for your wallet?

Future Accommodation Model (FAM) - pilot update
Future Accommodation Model (FAM) - pilot update
NEWS

Future Accommodation Model (FAM) - pilot update

New toolkit to eliminate veterans’ homelessness
New toolkit to eliminate veterans’ homelessness
NEWS

New toolkit launched to help local authorities and housing providers eliminate veterans’ homelessness

AFPS15 Remedy (McCloud) Sitrep
AFPS15 Remedy (McCloud) Sitrep
NEWS

Armed Forces personnel who were in service both on or before 31 March 2012 and on or after 1 April 2015 with any break in service of less than 5 years will have the option to elect whether they wish to receive legacy benefits or equivalent AFPS 15 benefits for the remedy period (1 April 2015 – 31 March 2022).

Armed Forces pay tribute to Her Majesty
Armed Forces pay tribute to Her Majesty
NEWS

The Queen 'understood the burdens and the glory of a life in uniform' The heads of the Armed Forces pay tribute to Her Majesty following her death aged 96.

Churchill’s Louisa Clarke appointed to Veterans Advisory Board
Churchill’s Louisa Clarke appointed to Veterans Advisory Board
NEWS

Churchill is delighted to announce that Louisa Clarke, managing director for the North and Scotland in Churchill’s cleaning business, has been appointed to the Veterans Advisory Board.

Executive Employment Forum - Defence, Security & Intelligence
Executive Employment Forum - Defence, Security & Intelligence
NEWS

The civilian jobs market is changing rapidly, with employers expecting new hires to be more agile, entrepreneurial and results-orientated than ever before. Your military skills provide the perfect antidote to hiring shortfalls in the Defence, Security and Intelligence sectors, but how do you navigate these buoyant and developing industries to find your next career opportunity?

Progress on health, housing and employability support for veterans
Progress on health, housing and employability support for veterans
NEWS

Progress in healthcare, housing and employment outlined six months on from the government’s Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan

International Security Expo: 2022 conference programme unveiled
International Security Expo: 2022 conference programme unveiled
NEWS

International Security Expo: 2022 conference programme unveiled
Protect Duty, the Night-Time Economy and Resilience Planning under the spotlight at this year’s CPD-certified programme.

The New Armed Forces Covenant Duty
The New Armed Forces Covenant Duty
NEWS

The New Armed Forces Covenant Duty: What organisations in scope will need to know...

Capita invests in WithYouWithMe
Capita invests in WithYouWithMe
NEWS

Capita joins forces with social impact firm WithYouWithMe to help military veterans fill UK’s chronic digital skills gap

Military Families To Benefit From Childcare Support
Military Families To Benefit From Childcare Support
NEWS

Serving personnel across the UK will be entitled to free wraparound childcare from September as part of new measures announced today by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.

Pall-Ex goes Gold with coveted Ministry of Defence recognition
Pall-Ex goes Gold with coveted Ministry of Defence recognition
NEWS

Pall-Ex has achieved the rare honour of an Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award from the Ministry of Defence for its support of the Armed Forces community.

Royal Marine Commando turns intrusion analyst
Royal Marine Commando turns intrusion analyst
ARTICLES

Former Royal Navy Mechanical Engineer turned Royal Marines Commando, Rich Barratt, was one of 30 ex-military personnel who took part in SaluteMyJob’s eight-week course to train him as a cyber ‘penetration tester’ …

My digital transition
My digital transition
ARTICLES

With 14 years in the Royal Air Force and another 9 in the Army under her belt, Lisa Berry, 49, left the Forces in 2015 after just short of 24 years’ service. With her transferable skills augmented by industry-specific qualifications courtesy of CNet Training, she is now working as a network design engineer. In this special Q&A, she tells QUEST why she is keen to encourage other Service leavers to follow suit – particularly other women …

Men unlocks his cyber dream
Men unlocks his cyber dream
ARTICLES

British Army veteran Menbahadur (Men) Gurung has secured his cyber security dream role with the help of SaluteMyJob’s training courses for military veterans …

Female veteran? A career in cyber security could be calling you …
Female veteran? A career in cyber security could be calling you …
ARTICLES

In this special feature from innovative cyber security educator CAPSLOCK, we find out what’s behind its aim to encourage female Service leavers (and of course Service leavers in general) to identify cyber security as a viable option when they are considering a new career pathway …

Digital skills in demand!
Digital skills in demand!
NEWS

A pioneering new pilot project has been launched that aims to tackle the UK’s digital skills shortage by drawing on the talents of Service leavers to fill skills gaps in areas such as cyber security operations, project management and engineering …

NHS staff can help more ex-Forces patients change their lives through employment support
NHS staff can help more ex-Forces patients change their lives through employment support
NEWS

NHS staff can help more ex-Forces patients change their lives through employment support

Business bosses hiring veterans in their droves!
Business bosses hiring veterans in their droves!
NEWS

Charity Reports 47% Increase In Job Opportunities For Veterans And Launches Historic Film This Armed Forces Day To Celebrate

Ex-service personnel helping to transform Companies House
Ex-service personnel helping to transform Companies House
NEWS

With its head office located just a few short yards from The Royal Welsh’s Regimental Headquarters at Maindy Barracks in Cardiff, Companies House has always been supportive of the armed forces.

Transition trauma? Turn here for help
Transition trauma? Turn here for help
ARTICLES

According to Veteran’s Gateway, transition can feel like the biggest burst of ‘life admin’ you’ll ever experience, but starting to plan as soon as possible will smooth the way. Thankfully, the Veterans’ Gateway team is on hand to help you – and your family – with advice and support …

The Speaker of the House of Commons has called for more military veterans to work at the Palace of Westminster
The Speaker of the House of Commons has called for more military veterans to work at the Palace of Westminster
NEWS

In an exclusive interview with Forces News, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who is an Honorary Colonel, said there is a range of jobs available in the Palace of Westminster and he wants the number of ex-forces personnel working in Parliament to return to the levels seen many years ago.

Why you should consider the data centre industry
Why you should consider the data centre industry
ARTICLES

If you are looking to plan your resettlement soon, here’s why considering a career in the data centre industry should be firmly on your agenda …

The new collaboration delivering career opportunities to the ex-Forces community
The new collaboration delivering career opportunities to the ex-Forces community
NEWS

As part of its enduring commitment to support the Services community into employment, RFEA – The Forces Employment Charity has signed a three-year agreement with Amazon Global Military Affairs to boost the multinational tech giant’s military recruitment strategy in the UK

A pandemic success!
A pandemic success!
ARTICLES

John Burfield’s new business has taken him from Armed Forces to award-winning businessman in the space of just two (very extraordinary) years …

White lies? Don’t do it!
White lies? Don’t do it!
ARTICLES
You can’t get away with the odd porky on your CV any more, says author and careers advice expert, Edd Williams. Here he shares his extensive experience of working on more than 100,000 CVs, in light of findings that revealed three in five employers have rejected candidates for lying on their CVs …
Unlock your housing options
Unlock your housing options
ARTICLES

When it comes to buying or renting a property, whether or not you’re a first-timer it’s never too early to start planning where you’re going to live on leaving – and, more to the point, how you’re going to pay for it! Luckily there’s a lot of help available – financial and otherwise – to aid your preparations …

Teaming up to tackle transition
Teaming up to tackle transition
ARTICLES
With the final of the Six Nations Rugby Championship taking place this month, we’re on the sidelines to check out Rugby for Heroes’ Transition through Rugby course. Aiming to foster a sense of belonging you might otherwise miss on civvy street, it could be your pitch-perfect pathway to a less rocky resettlement. Why not give it a try?
Armed Forces resettlement guide
Armed Forces resettlement guide
ARTICLES
Advice from the CTP, official provider of career guidance, skills training and job-finding assistance to Service leavers. Information on transition services and entitlements, Standard and Enhanced Learning Credits, Graduated Resettlement Time (GRT) and duty allowances …
I love my work!
I love my work!
ARTICLES
Craig Bones, 54, left the Forces back in 1995 following just over 10 years’ service, which saw him specialise as a ground-to-air missile defence instructor in the RAF Regiment. Now self-employed and running his own specialist bespoke travel adventure business with his wife Heather, he tells Quest how his working life really took off post-RAF …
Study for an MBA
Study for an MBA
ARTICLES

If your CV includes an MBA, it’s likely to focus employers’ attention. It’s a highly respected qualification, sought after in a wide range of career sectors, and the routes to achieving it are eminently flexible. Make it your business to find out more …

Amey adopts innovative scheduling solution to transform repair services for MoD homes
Amey adopts innovative scheduling solution to transform repair services for MoD homes
NEWS
Amey, a strategic supplier to UK defence, has introduced a new digital solution to enhance the maintenance of military homes across the UK, significantly reducing carbon emissions …
Our next big battle: global warming
Our next big battle: global warming
NEWS
Lieutenant General Richard Nugee, who devised the UK military’s strategy on climate change and sustainability, has visited Antarctica to see for himself the growing effects of global warming …
University of Bristol announces 400 new PhD scholarships
University of Bristol announces 400 new PhD scholarships
NEWS

The University of Bristol has announced it will create 400 new postgraduate scholarships. The new £4.2m annual investment – totalling £16.8m over the next four years – opens up Bristol’s world-leading research to a global audience and will help to shape the next generation of postgraduate researchers …

Royal Signals veteran publishes fundraising poetry collection
Royal Signals veteran publishes fundraising poetry collection
NEWS
Gina Allsop, a Royal Signals veteran from Brighton, was supported by SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity last year after she was knocked off her bike in a hit-and-run incident. Now she is repaying the charity by publishing a poetry book to raise money and say thank you for the support she received …
BFBS launches new radio station: BFBS Best of British
BFBS launches new radio station: BFBS Best of British
NEWS
BFBS recently launched its new radio station, BFBS Best of British, available worldwide online, via the BFBS iPhone and Android apps, and on your smart speaker …
Here’s to more support for military partners!
Here’s to more support for military partners!
NEWS
RFEA – The Forces Employment Charity is now able to offer even more employment support to military spouses and partners (including separated, divorced, widowed and overseas) looking to take the next step in their career, thanks to a new expansion of its services …
SMSpouses On Tour: one-to-one social media training on your doorstep
SMSpouses On Tour: one-to-one social media training on your doorstep
NEWS
The team behind BFBS’s highly successful SMSpouses training programme is going on tour to six locations across the UK, plus RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, enabling military spouses to book a free face-to-face social media and coaching session with one of the SMSpouses coaches …
Believe in yourself … and your skills
Believe in yourself … and your skills
ARTICLES
Recent research has revealed that some veterans lack confidence in the skills their military experience can bring to the civilian workplace. It’s a view that, fortunately, is not widely shared by employers …
Tackling the data centre skills shortage
Tackling the data centre skills shortage
ARTICLES
It takes a lot for competing companies to work together for the betterment of an entire industry, but that’s exactly what is happening now to help tackle the data centre skills shortage …
Unwrapping the true value of veterans
Unwrapping the true value of veterans
ARTICLES
Transferable skills are for life, not just for Service. That’s why civilian employers should welcome veterans to their workforce, says Ahmed Al-Nahhas, head of the military team at London-based law firm Bolt Burdon Kemp. Here he explains why …
Will you send a card to Stan?
Will you send a card to Stan?
NEWS
A volunteer at SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is asking people to help a 100-year-old veteran, former Second World War Gunner Stan Vickers, celebrate Christmas this year by sending him cards and well wishes …
Pall-Ex delivers £25,000 donation to Combat Stress
Pall-Ex delivers £25,000 donation to Combat Stress
NEWS
Pall-Ex (UK) Ltd has underlined its commitment to veterans’ mental health charity Combat Stress with a £25,000 donation …
How Eric engineered a future in gas
How Eric engineered a future in gas
NEWS
After 38 years’ service, WO1 Eric Bristow, 57, is leaving the Forces this December to work as a gas engineer, having specialised as an Artificer in the Royal Marines. While serving, he achieved an engineering degree, as well as civilian plumbing and heating qualifications.
Silver status for SAS
Silver status for SAS
NEWS
SAS, the global leader in analytics, has achieved Armed Forces Covenant Silver status for its support of serving and ex-military personnel …
Enhancing the lives of Catterick Forces families
Enhancing the lives of Catterick Forces families
NEWS
Amey and its supply chain partner, Tivoli, have committed to working with social enterprise e50k to enhance the lived experience of Forces families at Catterick Garrison …
Free advice for veterans seeking a role in the Fire Service
Free advice for veterans seeking a role in the Fire Service
NEWS
RFEA – The Forces Employment Charity is teaming up with representatives from the Fire Service to offer free careers advice to any job-seeking veterans interested in a role …
The team tackling veteran pain head on
The team tackling veteran pain head on
ARTICLES
A special profile of the extremely valuable work being done by London’s King Edward VII’s Hospital to offer practical advice and support to veterans suffering chronic pain, via its specialist online and veteran-specific Pain Management Programme …