Latest
PM awards outstanding young fundraiser for aviation art
NEWS
26 Feb, 2021
Aviation enthusiast Jack Berry, 14, who has illustrated a book on military planes in aid of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has received British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s daily Points of Light award …
Thumbs up for fundraiser and aviation artist Jack’s new book
NEWS
26 Feb, 2021
Aviation fanatic Jack Berry, 14, from Sunderland has collected his plane drawings in a truly inspirational and informative book, which aims to raise funds for military charities …
TechVets podcast aims to boost diversity
NEWS
16 Feb, 2021
TechVets, a unique not-for-profit initiative and RFEA programme dedicated to building a bridge for veterans into cyber security and the technology sector, has launched a new podcast series to help raise awareness of key issues such as diversity in industry …
Military Wives Choirs sing out for new members
NEWS
16 Feb, 2021
Women from across the Armed Forces community are eligible to join the Military Wives Choirs. Perhaps you or your partner would like to join them …
Who protects the protectors?
NEWS
19 Jan, 2021
West Sussex fire chief Sabrina Cohen-Hatton discusses mental health and sexism with injured veteran Josh Boggi in latest episode of the Resilience Sessions podcast …
Welcome to Boarding for Military Families at Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall
NEWS
07 Jan, 2021
A film to demonstrate the wonderful pupils of St Mary’s Hall, an insight into boarding life and a behind the scenes look into Stonyhurst facilities. The film features Headmaster Ian Murphy, Head of Boarding Kirk Stokes, Head of History Paul Garlington and Mrs Charlotte Dilworth - SENCO.
New SIA website: update your bookmarks!
NEWS
08 Dec, 2020
On 10 December the Security Industry Authority (SIA) is moving its website to a new address – part of gov.uk – and closing its current site …
Support the Forces community with 12 Days of Kindness this Christmas
NEWS
08 Dec, 2020
SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is calling on the public to take part in its 12 Days of Kindness initiative to give back to local communities while raising much needed funds to support the men, women and families of the Armed Forces …
Spark a brighter future with free Electronics Skills Programme
NEWS
08 Dec, 2020
Tech Lancaster has launched the free training scheme to fast-track Greater Manchester and Lancashire residents into new careers in electronics and technology …
Study for a PT qualification throughout the COVID-19 outbreak
NEWS
08 Dec, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has seen the country face one of the most difficult periods in its history. Many of us now find ourselves having to stay at home, leaving behind our usual daily routines. This is particularly frustrating for fitness enthusiasts, who are used to being active all the time ...
Worried about your career prospects in a corona world?
NEWS
07 Dec, 2020
Best-selling careers author John Lees’ latest edition of his book, How to Get a Job You Love, is here to offer advice and reassurance …
Helping Service leavers become cyber specialists
NEWS
04 Dec, 2020
RFEA – The Forces Employment Charity is launching a new partnership with TechVets, an organisation dedicated to building a bridge for veterans – like Gareth Paterson (picture above) – into cyber security and the technology sector …
Project Future: finding opportunity amid uncertainty
NEWS
03 Dec, 2020
You want to be your own boss, but how do you take the right decision and make it happen? The world of work is probably unrecognisable from when you started your career, but even though it’s full of uncertainty, it’s also full of opportunity. Never has it been easier to start a business and make an impact in the world …
Free access to MUTV for UK Armed Forces
NEWS
20 Nov, 2020
Manchester United has become the first Premier League football club to stream its dedicated club channel, MUTV, free of charge on BFBS TV Player …
Empowering you!
NEWS
16 Nov, 2020
RFEA is offering new services to give more employment support to military women, spouses and partners …
CNet’s resettlement programmes: Andrew Stevens
CASE STUDY
12 Nov, 2020
CNet Training CEO Andrew Stevens talks to Quest about his company’s resettlement programmes and how CNet has managed to continue educating the industry throughout the pandemic …
Transitioning into safety consultancy: Stuart Gilkinson’s story
CASE STUDY
12 Nov, 2020
Stuart Gilkinson CMIOSH is a chartered health and safety professional and managing director of Dorset Health and Safety Ltd (DHS). Here he describes the responsibilities of safety consultants in the health and safety industry, and his own route into the role …
Transitioning into facilities management: Q&A with Richard Hay
CASE STUDY
10 Nov, 2020
with Kuehne + Nagel Overland site operations & process manager, Richard Hay
Remembering the 100th anniversary of the Unknown Warrior
NEWS
09 Nov, 2020
SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is asking the public to remember this often-forgotten element of Armistice Day
Transitioning into outdoor education: Chris Kerr’s story
CASE STUDY
02 Nov, 2020
A former Sub Unit Commander, Joint Operational Support Staff Officer, Senior Logistics Operational Officer and Officer Commanding Soldier Development has been appointed head of outdoor education at leading independent Welsh school, Christ College Brecon (CCB).
Risk management needs you!
NEWS
15 Oct, 2020
Is a career in risk in your sights? ELCAS funding for the Institute of Operational Risk (IOR) Certificate in Operational Risk Management is now available for Service personnel …
Life-changing injuries don’t have to mean giving up on the activities you love
ARTICLES
28 Sep, 2020
Some Service men and women suffer life-changing injuries while serving in the Armed Forces. With so much change to come to terms with in every aspect of daily and family life, it isn’t surprising that many disabled veterans believe that they will never be able to participate in their favourite activities again. The impact that belief has on individuals who may have otherwise lived and breathed sport and fitness throughout their military careers cannot be underestimated.
Building a career beneath the waves
ARTICLES
22 Sep, 2020
Austin Phillips and Richard Purdy – engineers from SMD, independent designer and manufacturer of work class and specialist subsea ROVs – tell us about the paths that led them to a career in subsea engineering …
How you can claim under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
ARTICLES
14 Sep, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has affected almost every aspect of life. In April 2020, Veterans UK announced that the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS), designed to compensate Armed Forces Personnel injured during service, had been shut down as a result of COVID-19. Fortunately, the closure was only temporary and the scheme has since reopened, and although they may experience a backlog in the short term, it is positive news that a scheme that helps so many is once again operational.
Enterprise Learning: gateway to opportunity
ARTICLES
09 Sep, 2020
In the second part of our new series on Enterprise Learning, Lt Colonel Ren Kapur MBE, CEO and Founder of X-Forces Enterprise and Chair of the Soldiering on Awards, tells us why enterprise skills are at the centre of everything she does. And, despite the current uncertainty we are experiencing, she tells us why Enterprise Learning should by no means be considered a luxury …
University recognised for commitment to Armed Forces community
NEWS
26 Aug, 2020
York St John has been awarded Gold status from the MoD Employer Recognition Scheme …
What is Enterprise Learning?
ARTICLES
30 Jul, 2020
Lt Colonel Ren Kapur MBE (pictured) is CEO and founder of X-Forces Enterprise (XFE) and Chair of the Soldiering On Awards. In this first part of our new series, she explains why enterprise skills are at the centre of everything she does – and, while we are experiencing the fallout from COVID-19, what exactly Enterprise Learning is and why it remains as important as ever …
A day in the life … Abi Thompson, project manager at SMD
ARTICLES
29 Jul, 2020
This new series takes a look at what it’s really like to work in some popular fields …
Resettlement is close to our heart …
ARTICLES
27 Jul, 2020
So says Neil Marshall, Chief Executive of the Forces Pension Society, who offers some personal reflections on his own journey through the resettlement financial planning process
New College Durham shortlisted for two AAT Awards
NEWS
24 Jun, 2020
New College Durham are proud to have been shortlisted for Tutor of the Year and Student of the Year at the AAT Training Provider Awards 2020. The College is the only provider in the north of England to have made the shortlist.
BuildForce Veterans pre-employment modules
NEWS
07 Jun, 2020
A series of online mini-modules has been developed by University College of Estate Management (UCEM) for Buildforce as part of the CITB’s Pathways into construction programme focusing on Veterans.
RAF veteran climbs UK and Ireland’s highest peaks at home for Armed Forces charity
NEWS
18 May, 2020
An RAF veteran has taken on the challenge of climbing the equivalent of the UK and Ireland’s highest peaks to raise money for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.
Combat Stress and RFEA in partnership with Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund
NEWS
12 May, 2020
Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund will be collaborating with veteran’s mental health charity Combat Stress and RFEA - The Forces Employment Charity in a three-year partnership to improve the transition to civilian life for veterans and their families.
Landmarc and UK Connect help troops stay connected
NEWS
12 May, 2020
Landmarc Support Services (Landmarc) and UK Connect have worked in partnership to enable vital broadband provision at the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s (DIO) Halton Training Camp, a key asset in the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Covid-19 strategic response.
Super Yacht industry news from YPI Crew
NEWS
04 May, 2020
The super yacht industry appears to be sailing calmly through the choppy waters of coronavirus …
Life in lockdown at Lockforce
NEWS
04 May, 2020
As emergency locksmiths we are fortunate to be in an industry that is still in demand. Door and window locks don’t care about the lockdown so we are still receiving calls and the guys are helping to “Keep You Safe”.
SSAFA to support UK military community abroad post-Brexit
ARTICLES
30 Apr, 2020
SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity has been awarded a grant of £295,000 from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to assist British nationals in countries across Europe after Brexit …
The Resettlement Grant
ARTICLES
30 Apr, 2020
Many of you will be leaving the Armed Forces with a Resettlement Grant (RG). The RG is a tax-free lump sum intended to help Regular Service personnel settle into civilian life. There is no stipulation as how you use it – you can spend it on beer if you like, but you need to remember that, if you take up another military post too quickly, you might have to repay some or all of it. In this short article Mary Petley of the Forces Pension Society explores the rules relating to RGs …
Useful contacts
ARTICLES
27 Apr, 2020
Need to know more? Here’s who can help …
Are you eligible?
ARTICLES
27 Apr, 2020
Take a look at the ELC eligibility rules below to find out …
Claims checklist
ARTICLES
27 Apr, 2020
Keep your claim on track with our step-by-step guide …
First RAF CIPD student graduates at CAVC: Carly Smith’s story
CASE STUDY
22 Apr, 2020
Corporal Carly Smith has become the first of the cohort of Armed Forces personnel to graduate in her Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) studies at Cardiff and Vale College (CAVC).
Transitioning into the fitness sector: Jonny Holloway’s story
CASE STUDY
22 Apr, 2020
‘Leaving the military as an able-bodied person is hard enough, let alone being disabled,’ says Jonathan ‘Jonny’ Holloway, who tells QUEST how, since leaving the Army following life-changing injuries, he has forged an all-action career in the fitness sector …
Online lifelines
ARTICLES
22 Apr, 2020
We are living through exceptional times, thanks (actually, no thanks) to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We know that many of you are currently confined to your homes, so we’ve put together some information we hope will help you access e-learning and entertainment opportunities allowing you to continue your studies, have fun – and perhaps learn a new skill.
Expect the unexpected
ARTICLES
21 Apr, 2020
With the spectre of COVID-19 looming over both people and businesses, regular Quest contributor, Steve Bulleyment, director of specialist auto locksmith company Car Key Man, revisits the unanticipated events that almost killed off his business, how he overcame them and his tips for keeping a business going over the next few months …
Flexible distance learning at Leeds Beckett
NEWS
01 Apr, 2020
Studying a distance learning course at Leeds Beckett University offers the convenience and flexibility to make education work for you. Whether you are looking to pursue the career you have built in the Armed Forces, or if you’re currently preparing to leave and looking for a change, we have an option available. Our entry requirements are flexible too, which offers people with different experiences and qualifications the opportunity to pursue their desired path.
Where to work in 2020
ARTICLES
25 Mar, 2020
Check out this guide to the current best-performing business sectors in the UK …
Transitioning into the transport sector: Ian M. Crome’s story
CASE STUDY
23 Mar, 2020
As you may have read elsewhere on the Quest website, Veterans’ Gateway recently introduced its first ever branded truck, kindly sponsored by international haulage business, Marine & Cargo, which recently signed the Armed Forces Covenant. One of the first veterans the company has employed since signing is 329 Dvr Ian M. Crome, formerly of the Royal Corps of Transport. Here’s what Ian has to say about his journey …
CITB backs project helping Forces veterans enter construction industry
NEWS
15 Mar, 2020
Former members of HM Armed Forces recently showcased their unique talents at a networking event hosted by Barclays Bank in Manchester. Project RECCE works with veterans and those getting ready to leave the Armed Forces, supporting them to pursue careers in construction.
Driving forward veteran recruitment!
NEWS
25 Feb, 2020
The inaugural Mission Motorsport National Transition Event held earlier this month offered the chance for veterans to engage with Forces-friendly employers – top brands from across the UK, who all recognise the valuable skills veterans bring to their workforce …
‘Wish I’d done it years ago’
NEWS
16 Feb, 2020
University of Cumbria nursing graduate Derrick Tyson says he has no regrets about leaving the Forces to take a new direction – indeed he wishes he’d changed career years ago!
We’ve got employee support in our sights!
ARTICLES
13 Feb, 2020
… so says Jacobs, which aims to be very much more than a global professional services company with a huge international presence. In the UK it’s carrying out major projects including HS2 and Crossrail, but at the individual level it’s also doing a great deal to support its ex-Forces employees …
‘I just feel overwhelmingly lucky’
ARTICLES
13 Feb, 2020
… so says Terry Cyrille, who approached Stoll in 2019 in need of help. He now lives at the Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions in Fulham.
Specialist support for job seekers
ARTICLES
12 Feb, 2020
A new initiative that sees RFEA confirmed as lead partner for The Royal British Legion’s employment support programme is set to help thousands of ex-Forces personnel and their families in civilian life
SSAFA survey seeks better understanding of needs
NEWS
11 Feb, 2020
A new survey report aims to improve understanding and support for Forces families with additional needs or disabilities
Running your own business: Get some help
ARTICLES
23 Jan, 2020
Imagine arriving at your new posting and there’s no one to hand over to you. Your phone is already ringing and people are asking you questions you can’t answer. You have reports to write, deadlines to meet and not a clue how to do most of it. That’s exactly how starting a business can feel, says regular Quest contributor, Steve Bulleyment, director of specialist auto locksmith company Car Key Man, and he has a few ideas as to what you can do about it …
‘Sorry, no stereotypes!’
ARTICLES
23 Jan, 2020
Transitioning to the civilian workplace on leaving the Services is now about much more than stereotypical roles such as security guarding or taking a conventional ‘trade’ with you (useful as these still are), says Claire Withey of Bolt Burdon Kemp. And, when it comes to 21st-century resettlement, she’s keen to emphasise the current breadth of skills the ex-military have to offer potential employers
Biomechanics Coach Diploma
NEWS
22 Jan, 2020
When I retired from the Armed Forces in December 2012, I decided to go into the fitness industry, an area to which I had devoted much of my time in the military and something I have always had a real passion for. I used my first ELCAS grant to become a personal trainer and opened a small gym with my daughter in February 2013.
Applications now open for Forces Live Events (CSE) Beneficiary Fund
NEWS
22 Jan, 2020
Whether you’re planning a families’ day event, homecoming or a show out on ops, the Forces Live Events (CSE) Beneficiary Fund is now open for applications from the military community in the UK or overseas …
Get on course to a smoother transition
ARTICLES
03 Jan, 2020
Your time in the Forces is likely to have been an all-consuming career experience. Despite that, you may yet have many years ahead of you in the workplace, which means it’s important to make the most of the resettlement options open to you. This five-step guide will help you to plan …
Career Coach: your first step on the path to a new job?
ARTICLES
02 Jan, 2020
Most adults returning to study choose programmes based on their career goals. Now, for the first time, Career Coach helps users search for Access to Higher Education Diplomas linked to their chosen careers, highlighting the skills and knowledge needed to enter particular job roles and industries
Networking for knowledge
ARTICLES
19 Dec, 2019
The word ‘networking’ provokes a Marmite-like response: people either relish every opportunity or shy away from it entirely. Whether you are still serving, already in employment or embarking on starting your own business, you will undoubtedly acknowledge that connections are the vital ingredient to success.
From Armed Forces to civilian life – change your career with NEBOSH!
ARTICLES
18 Dec, 2019
Stepping into civilian life and finding a whole new career path can be challenging. However, for four Service leavers, this was made much easier with a NEBOSH qualification to their name. Here they tell us about the impact NEBOSH qualifications have had on their new careers …
