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How ex-soldier Jel Bearder made the leap to a new career in fitness – with the help of Veterans’ Gateway

Using his ELC, Stuart Keillor, a Warfare Officer in the Royal Navy currently working as a programme manager at the MoD London, has combined his military career with continuous learning opportunities, culminating in an MBA from Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University

For many people the traditional notion of spending three years on campus studying a subject at university is simply not possible, but there is another option available …

… with Army dog handler turned electrician, Adrian Thompson

After leaving the Army in 2009 I found myself working as an air conditioning engineer for a couple of years before going on to the close protection scene in Iraq.

Wesley starts out by saying that he acquired a number of transferable skills during his time in the Army that he believes are of value to civilian companies. He explains: ‘It might not feel like it at the time, but you really are taught a lot of independent skills in the Army. When you leave, you might find yourself wondering if a lot of the industries you’re interested in getting involved with are out of your skill-set or you don’t have what’s required, but just try stuff out. You’ll start to adapt and learn very quickly, and you’ll find you’re actually a lot more capable than you think. You really find yourself utilising the skills you learned over your career. That can-do mental attitude, the ability to work alone, that ability to always find a solution to a problem – if you don’t know something, making sure you find out.’

Pete Durbin always wanted to join the Army and enlisted in the Intelligence Corps when he was 19. He left in 2016 as a Sergeant after 11 years’ exemplary military service. Pete is now working as an intelligence analyst at a leading UK insurer and credits completing SaluteMyJob, IBM and the Corsham Institute’s i2 analyst training as a reason for gaining such a highly sought-after role.

Christian Woodfield from inspired2be.

with RAF Aircraft Engineer, Richard Kear

‘While on work placement during my resettlement and termination leave, I was advised to undertake a fire risk assessment course by my employer, and Vulcan Fire Training was the company recommended by them.

How one training company changed the future of the enforcement industry

Having served in the Royal Engineers for five years, specialising as an Engineering Surveyor, LCpl Neil Duddy, left the Army in 2008 with a host of qualifications under his belt, including: HNC in Engineering Surveying, SVQ level 2 in Construction and Civil Engineering Services, and NVQ level 2 Security, Safety and Loss Prevention

Ray West, owner and director of RW Safety Solutions, originally attended the Vulcan Fire Manager course in 2001 before ELCs existed.

Having enlisted in 1985, former Royal Navy WO1 James Pope, 48, left the Armed Forces in October 2016 because of ‘life aspirations’. He says that, ‘After 32 years and several high-profile jobs the challenges had started to dry up somewhat.

Following 22 years in the RAF, ex-Acting Wing Commander, Richard Saunders left in October 2015 to pursue a civilian career and gain a more stable work–life balance.

‘Leaving the Army and starting a new job or business is a difficult task. Gaining the correct up-to-date qualifications for your new job or business venture is just sensible thinking.

James Scott-Barrett trained at Sandhurst and served in the Scots Guards for six years, three of which he spent as a platoon commander in Afghanistan. Now, he’s halfway through an MBA at London Business School (LBS). So what made him step out of uniform and into student life?

On completion of my foundation degree I was able to gain entry at the University of Plymouth, where the qualifications I had gained at college allowed me to join the final year of an accounting and finance degree.

‘Throughout my eight-month journey from application to the CRB to passing my Part 3 test, I received excellent support and guidance from all concerned.

Having served in the RAF for 17 years, former Wing Commander Jim Ixer hung up his flying gloves and entered the rapidly expanding commercial drone industry.

I believe that the experience and qualifications, together with Oak Tree’s CV and interview techniques coaching, enabled me to secure my current role.

Working for yourself as a self-employed tradesperson after completing an intensive training course may seem impossible but, as the following case study shows, with the right training and support you can do it …

‘I joined Lockforce because I wanted to be my own boss. I’m doing a job I love, but have a network of colleagues who are there to help.

I realised that the skills and knowledge I’d gained throughout my adult life were much greater than I’d given myself credit for

Having left the Marines in 2012, I followed the crowd onto the ‘circuit’ for about three years – however, having spent too much time away from my family, I decided to put my ELC to good use.

After choosing to leave the Army after 20 years’ service I knew that I required some commercial business education, exposure and some valid qualifications to underpin the management skills learned in the Army.

The training I received from Oak Tree set the foundations for a successful second career: using the qualifications I gained, I have achieved professional recognition for my qualifications and experiences gained in Service and since leaving.

Jamie Fanneran, 31, served in the Royal Signals, specialising as a Communications Systems Operator, before leaving the Services in January 2016 ‘to settle my family in a fixed location, to give my children stability and schooling.’

I had often thought of working within the rail sector, but had no idea what to do or how to get started.

After some research I found the railway was taking on trainee linesmen so I investigated this thoroughly.

Natalie Chapman served as a LBdr in the Artillery, specialising in logistics, before leaving the Army in November 2015 after almost eight years of service, to seek a new career after a ‘change in her priorities’. She now works for EDF Energy as an engineer, a role she’s now been in for almost a year, which sees her ‘fit meters and deal with the electrical side of any problem with a meter or related to electricity that I can solve’.