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Independent resettlement & recruitment guide for serving Armed Forces & Veterans

Funding

Free social media training programme for military partners, veterans and their partners
Sponsorship
Free social media training programme for military partners, veterans and their partners

BFBS Academy announces the launch of Social Media Specialists, a free course open to the broader military community, including the partners of UK military personnel, veterans, and their partners, offering them the opportunity to upskill in social media marketing techniques.

New project to understand the transition experiences
Sponsorship
New project to understand the transition experiences

Forces in Mind Trust has awarded £407,000 to QinetiQ and RAND Europe for a 24-month project to examine the contemporary transition challenges of personnel and families.

BFBS Academy opens applications for fully funded production managers course
ELC Sponsorship
BFBS Academy opens applications for fully funded production managers course

BFBS Academy announces that the application process is now open for its highly sought after production managers course.

The Royal Navy offers £500 to personnel who refer a candidate to the service
Sponsorship
The Royal Navy offers £500 to personnel who refer a candidate to the service

The one-off payment is applicable to all servicemen and women in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

Charity empowers veterans with new careers in truck driving, tackling homelessness and joblessness
Sponsorship
Charity empowers veterans with new careers in truck driving, tackling homelessness and joblessness

A non-profit organization is aiding former military personnel in entering the truck driving sector, aiming to lessen homelessness and joblessness among veterans.

Henley business school secures Army higher education pathway (AHEP) contract
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Henley business school secures Army higher education pathway (AHEP) contract

AHEP provides an excellent opportunity for Army Officers, non-graduates and graduates, to complete a fully funded degree pathway in conjunction with a top global institute.

New major funding programme to support veterans’ housing needs
Loans
New major funding programme to support veterans’ housing needs

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust will award grants of £75K to £500K, across four rounds of funding, to projects that contribute to the aims of the Government’s ambition to reduce Veteran homelessness and end rough sleeping.

Armed Forces covenant fund trust launches a £700,000 fund to help veterans and their families develop their skills and careers
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Armed Forces covenant fund trust launches a £700,000 fund to help veterans and their families develop their skills and careers

The Trust will award grants of up to £70,000 on behalf of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, to projects that will enable Veterans and their families to enter stable long-term employment, by delivering qualifications and training.

Bloomberg: veteran insight session 28 Nov 2023
Sponsorship
Bloomberg: veteran insight session 28 Nov 2023

Bloomberg is excited to host an in-person insight session on 28 November 2023 between 2.30PM - 6.30PM.

More ex-forces finding career success on civvy street
Sponsorship
More ex-forces finding career success on civvy street

The Forces Employment Charity is delighted to announce that it is helping record breaking numbers of veterans, service leavers and reservists to find civilian career success.

Google launches support scheme for military community
Sponsorship
Google launches support scheme for military community

Google UK re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant, and announced a new scheme of four weeks paid reservist leave to support UK Googlers with their military duties.

£4,000 Training bursary for Army veterans
Sponsorship
£4,000 Training bursary for Army veterans

This training bursary is targeted at British Army veterans. It is funded by ABF The Soldier’s Charity and is one of a suite of awards and bursaries offered by Heritage Crafts to support and celebrate craftspeople.

Armed Forces compensation scheme and veterans welfare reviews published today
Loans
Armed Forces compensation scheme and veterans welfare reviews published today

The reviews have offered recommendations to improve the experience of those requiring veterans’ welfare or compensation services.

Veterans’ gateway to be taken into the office for veterans’ affairs
Loans
Veterans’ gateway to be taken into the office for veterans’ affairs

The Government has launched a refresh of the Veterans’ Gateway, which will improve access to welfare services for ex-forces personnel.

Higher level, wider choice
ELC
Higher level, wider choice

Higher education at a college or university is about more than bachelor’s degrees. It refers to qualifications and courses you can take after the age of 18. That includes diplomas, foundation years and more – in fact, a range of options, many of which have a vocational slant. So, if you’re ready to aim higher, HE could be the option for you …

Expand your education options
ELC
Expand your education options

If your future plans call for a higher-level qualification, or you want to try something new and change direction when you make the transition from Service life, an Access Diploma could be just what you need to open wide your window of opportunity …

Veterans transitioning into a policing career supported with a one-off resettlement payment
Sponsorship
Veterans transitioning into a policing career supported with a one-off resettlement payment

Military Veterans transitioning into a policing career with Thames Valley Police will be supported with a one-off resettlement payment of £2,500.

Forces Employment Charity launches new initiative to celebrate month of the military child
Sponsorship
Forces Employment Charity launches new initiative to celebrate month of the military child

The Forces Employment Charity will be marking the Month of the Military Child this April, with a brand new set of resources to help young people of those who Serve and have Served with their next career step.

BFBS offer a fully-funded film production managers course
ELC
BFBS offer a fully-funded film production managers course

BFBS provide a fully-funded course to help get you into one of the industry’s most in-demand roles!

Royal British Legion launches cost of living grants
Loans
Royal British Legion launches cost of living grants

This programme is designed to allow The Royal British Legion to assist people who need help in a quick and easy way with everyday essentials such as kitchen appliances, clothes, and energy costs.

New funding to end armed forces veterans’ homelessness
Loans
New funding to end armed forces veterans’ homelessness

More than £8.5 million of funding has been announced in order to ensure no veteran should sleep rough this Christmas, and veteran homelessness is ended in 2023.

TechVets receives £75K workforce development grant from Splunk
Sponsorship
TechVets receives £75K workforce development grant from Splunk

TechVets Receives £75K Workforce Development Grant from Splunk

ELC 101: getting started
ELC Sponsorship
ELC 101: getting started

There are several stages to the ELC process. Full details are set out in Joint Service Publication 822 (JSP 822).

Applications are now open for the supporting partners innovation grants programme
Loans Sponsorship
Applications are now open for the supporting partners innovation grants programme

New programme launched to fund innovative new support for partners of those who are Serving.

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

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.

Launch of Forces Employment Charity
Sponsorship
Launch of Forces Employment Charity

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.

Capita invests in WithYouWithMe
Sponsorship
Capita invests in WithYouWithMe

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

Digital skills in demand!
Sponsorship
Digital skills in demand!

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 …

Armed Forces resettlement guide
ELC Loans IRTC SLC
Armed Forces resettlement guide
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 …
Study for an MBA
ELC
Study for an MBA

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 …

Your Gold Learning Partner for health and safety training!
ELC
Your Gold Learning Partner for health and safety training!
Dorset Health and Safety Limited is delighted to announce that it has been awarded Gold Learning Partner Status from NEBOSH – the world’s leading accreditation body for the health and safety industry …
Swap the Services for scaffolding and enjoy free training
ELC
Swap the Services for scaffolding and enjoy free training
Military personnel now have another incentive to swap the Services for the scaffolding industry – free and full scaffolder training …
Locksmiths in demand across the UK
ELC
Locksmiths in demand across the UK
Join the UK’s largest locksmith community – a profession that gives you the luxury of being able to design your own career, choose your own hours and, most importantly, be in control of your own career pathway.
CNet Training: your Gold-level training provider
ELC
CNet Training: your Gold-level training provider
Over the past 25 years, CNet Training (CNet) has educated thousands of Service leavers, providing them with the necessary skills, hands-on experience and much sought-after qualifications needed to enter the network infrastructure and data centre sectors (the digital infrastructure industry) …
Help grow a sustainable future
ELC
Help grow a sustainable future
Environmental management is key to a successful and sustainable future. The new NEBOSH Environmental Management Certificate will help organisations reduce their environmental impact and have a positive influence on society …
Tax exemption measures for those who are no longer serving
ELC
Tax exemption measures for those who are no longer serving

Under the ELC scheme, most courses of study undertaken by individuals still serving are exempt from taxation, either as income or as a benefit in kind, if they can be justified as ‘work related’ …

Already left?
ELC
Already left?

How to claim your ELC if you are no longer serving …

Make your claim with care
ELC
Make your claim with care

Don’t let queries or rejection slow down your claim – get it right first time!

Streamline your application with our list of dos and don’ts
ELC
Streamline your application with our list of dos and don’ts
Useful pointers to help you get your claim right-first-time …
Help yourself – and benefit your Service too
ELC
Help yourself – and benefit your Service too

If you use your ELC wisely while still in uniform it will also be of benefit to your Service …

Spending options
ELC
Spending options

Once your ELC claim has been approved, you’ll find plenty of study and training course choices open to you …

Serious about becoming a health and safety professional?
ELC
Serious about becoming a health and safety professional?
The NEBOSH Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety is a great place to start …
Open the door to a new career as a locksmith
ELC
Open the door to a new career as a locksmith
Learning a trade like locksmithing has long been a popular option for those leaving the Armed Forces, however choosing the right provider can be a difficult decision …
Time to sign up for NEBOSH course packages at Catterick and Rosyth
ELC
Time to sign up for NEBOSH course packages at Catterick and Rosyth
Woodward SHE Ltd is excited to announce that, following the lifting of the national lockdown, it will be restarting delivery of its NEBOSH training course packages for Service leavers in May at both IPS Innovate (near RRC Catterick) and the Rosyth Business Centre (near MOD Caledonia) …
All you need to know about the IOSH Managing Safely course
ELC
All you need to know about the IOSH Managing Safely course
One of the UK’s leading providers of health and safety training, Dorset Health and Safety Limited offers a comprehensive range of courses from the major providers – this includes the Managing Safely course developed and certificated by IOSH …
Laying the foundations for healthier, safer construction sites
ELC
Laying the foundations for healthier, safer construction sites
A new two-week qualification from NEBOSH, one of the world’s leading H&S awarding bodies, aims to boost health and safety in the construction sector …
New fire safety qualification promises practical skills – fast!
ELC
New fire safety qualification promises practical skills – fast!
NEBOSH, one of the world’s leading health and safety awarding bodies, has launched a new globally relevant fire safety qualification, which can be completed in just a week …
Study for a PT qualification throughout the COVID-19 outbreak
ELC SLC
Study for a PT qualification throughout the COVID-19 outbreak
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 ...
Enterprise Learning: gateway to opportunity
Sponsorship
Enterprise Learning: gateway to opportunity
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 …
What is Enterprise Learning?
Sponsorship
What is Enterprise Learning?
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 …
Super Yacht industry news from YPI Crew
ELC SLC
Super Yacht industry news from YPI Crew
​The super yacht industry appears to be sailing calmly through the choppy waters of coronavirus …
Useful contacts
ELC
Useful contacts

Need to know more? Here’s who can help …

Are you eligible?
ELC
Are you eligible?
Take a look at the ELC eligibility rules below to find out …
Claims checklist
ELC
Claims checklist
Keep your claim on track with our step-by-step guide …
Flexible distance learning at Leeds Beckett
ELC
Flexible distance learning at Leeds Beckett
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.
‘Wish I’d done it years ago’
ELC
‘Wish I’d done it years ago’
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!
Biomechanics Coach Diploma
ELC
Biomechanics Coach Diploma
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.
Get on course to a smoother transition
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Get on course to a smoother transition
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?
ELC
Career Coach: your first step on the path to a new job?
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
From Armed Forces to civilian life – change your career with NEBOSH!
ELC
From Armed Forces to civilian life – change your career with NEBOSH!
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 …
Winners of Women in Defence UK Awards 2019 announced
ELC Sponsorship
Winners of Women in Defence UK Awards 2019 announced
The winners of the Women in Defence UK Awards were recently announced at a ceremony attended by guests from across the defence enterprise. Air Marshal Sue Gray presented the awards at a ceremony at the Guildhall, London, to the winners of each of the 10 categories and an overall award for Woman of the Year. This year – the awards’ fourth – more than 470 nominations were received from across the defence community, including the Armed Forces, MoD civil service, GCHQ, MI5, defence industry and the defence third sector.
Power up your HE options
ELC
Power up your HE options
Throughout your Service career you will have been continually focusing on reskilling and upskilling, but you might need higher-level qualifications or want to try something new and change direction when you make the transition from Service life. The Access to HE Diploma could be just what you need …
Prepared to succeed
ELC SLC
Prepared to succeed
Now working as technical developer with CNet, Clint Sherratt’s time in the Forces saw him work hard to accumulate skills and qualifications that he knew would stand him in good stead on leaving …
The future is soft
ELC
The future is soft
Employment patterns are changing, nowadays a job for life is rare and it is expected that in future it will be normal to change career many times during your working life. Do you have the skills to succeed in this new world of work?
Premier Global NASM appointed exclusive UK fitness training provider by Pure Gym
ELC IRTC SLC
Premier Global NASM appointed exclusive UK fitness training provider by Pure Gym
In a bid to create a clear route to market for personal trainer graduates, and to provide seamless access to quality continual professional development (CPD), Premier Global NASM has partnered with Pure Gym, the UK’s largest gym chain and recruiter of fitness professionals …
Making university affordable for you
ELC
Making university affordable for you
Members of the Armed Forces are just as welcome at university as anyone else, and if you are looking to study at university next year, there are a number of useful military bursaries available …
Furthering her career
ELC
Furthering her career
In its first year, the Further Forces programme has helped people from all roles within the Armed Forces to find new careers as teachers of post-16 students. Hannah Payne, currently undertaking a work placement as a lecturer at Hartpury College, is just one of them …
Learning for life Making learning work for you
ELC
Learning for life Making learning work for you
Speaking at the World Education Conference in January 2019, the English Education Minister, Damian Hinds MP, [1] said: ‘It’s not only that a good education helps you find skilled, rewarding work. It’s that everyone should have a chance to discover the joy that comes through learning.’ Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma students know from personal experience the joy of learning and the important role it plays in their personal development.
New year, new possibilities
ELC
New year, new possibilities
A new year often brings the chance to think about our potential. With that in mind, find out how the Access to Higher Education Diploma opens up study opportunities for those with a Services background …
The Access to Higher Education Diploma
ELC
The Access to Higher Education Diploma
Opportunities and challenges for students with a Services background
Think you’re not qualified for a healthcare career? Think again!
ELC
Think you’re not qualified for a healthcare career? Think again!
There are almost 410 Access to HE courses in health-related subjects and more than 200 specifically designed for progression to a degree in nursing. Each year, around 50% of Access to HE students study Diplomas in health, public services and care. Could you join them?
Life-changing opportunities through lifelong learning
ELC
Life-changing opportunities through lifelong learning
York St John University has been a leading education, training and research institution for 177 years. Equality, ambition and social justice are at the heart of the University’s ethos and this is reflected in its reputation for academic excellence, graduate employability and strong sense of community.
It’s never too late!
ELC
It’s never too late!
The Princess Royal, Patron of the Institute of Learning and Work, recently said that adult education is good for people’s health, self-esteem and employability. A report by the funding body for higher education in England says graduates are more likely to feel satisfied with their life, be happier and feel more worthwhile than non-graduates. Good reasons to think about going back to education. Find out how an Access to HE qualification could help …
Find a new place to belong
ELC
Find a new place to belong
Higher education is not for everyone, but it could be your route through transition. Access to HE qualifications have already been the stepping stone to new careers for many members of the Forces family. Find out how the Access to Higher Education Diploma changed the lives of Mark, Tommy and Susan …
Disabled? Open up to free study
ELC
Disabled? Open up to free study
The Open University (OU) recently launched the Disabled Veterans’ Scholarships Fund, offering 50 disabled Veterans, injured in, or due to, military service, access to free OU education. In addition to free study, applicants will be offered further specialist careers and disability support. If this is something that could benefit you, read on …
Get ahead … get AHED
ELC
Get ahead … get AHED
The Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma is designed for adults and is taken by people of all ages and backgrounds – it’s a nationally recognised qualification for people who left school with few qualifications and now want to go to higher education, with many looking to transition to a new career
Learn for life and make learning work for you
ELC
Learn for life and make learning work for you
When you ask young children what they want to be when they grow up they are often very clear: ‘I’m going to be an astronaut … a princess … a doctor.’ Not all of us can realise our childhood dreams, but for some they do come true. Find out how QAA-recognised Access to HE qualifications have helped others follow their dreams and change their lives – many of whom thought higher education wasn’t really for them
HE’s apprenticeship revolution
ELC
HE’s apprenticeship revolution
Apprenticeships are at the forefront of a huge change in the world of higher education – it is now possible to be an apprentice at all levels of learning, right up to master’s
Hands-on higher education success
ELC
Hands-on higher education success
Barney Polden graduated from the College of Osteopaths in 2017 with a first-class degree and was nominated by the College for the Institute of Osteopathy’s (iO) Rising Star award. Here’s Barney’s back story …