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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’.