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Need to know? QUEST News is a round-up of reports, case studies and practical guidance to help you stay informed.

From Royal Navy engineer to super yacht engineer …

Regular Quest contributor and ex-Army Training Regiment instructor, Ralph Straw, reports from the resettlement frontline on the importance of knowing when to put yourself first

Providing medical cover for serving personnel comes under the responsibility of the MoD, but what happens when you leave? Peter Allen, former Royal Marines Officer and healthcare consultant, has the lowdown on how responsibility for care continues after active service

The majority of Service leavers make a successful transition to civilian life, but not all of them. Leading provider of supported housing for Veterans, Stoll, helps those who are the most vulnerable, providing them with an affordable home to rent and the support they need to lead independent lives. This month we hear from Stoll’s outreach worker Sophie Brassington (pictured above) and Georgina, a Veteran who was housed by Stoll after leaving the Forces. him …


… with an Access to Higher Education Diploma. Even if you think you don’t have the necessary qualifications for HE, the Diploma can help you get on to the courses you need to pursue a graduate profession. Take a look at our beginner’s guide to what’s involved …




Most people who leave the Armed Forces transition effectively back into civilian life, but not all. Stoll – the leading provider of supported housing for Veterans – helps the most vulnerable by providing them with an affordable home to rent and the support they need to lead independent lives. Here, former Lance Corporal Kofi Brempong tells us exactly what Stoll did for him …

Regular Quest contributor Ralph Straw reports once more from the resettlement frontline, this time with some sound advice – learned the hard way, through personal experience – about why you really should consider joining a trades union when you make your own transition to a civilian career. Not doing so could cost you more than your job’s worth …

Planning on hanging up your rank and uniform on Friday and sliding effortlessly into your new civilian career Monday? Think again! There is serious competition out there, says Sarah Davies, director of I Am Strong Coaching, and you need to be flexible, focused and fully ready to adapt to the demands of your new role

Most people who leave the Armed Forces transition effectively back into civilian life, but not all. Stoll – the leading provider of supported housing for Veterans – is there for the most vulnerable. Looking for work in civvy street after serving in the RAF, Nicola Stokes found herself in need of their help. Here’s her story …



Quest ‘civvy’ contributor Ryan Mansfield reports from the resettlement frontline on an issue likely to be of concern to our readers: the unforeseen difficulties you may encounter with colleagues in the civilian workplace. While his focus here is on teaching, much of Ryan’s guidance has wider applications …


The MoD has optimised funding for Service leavers so they can use learning credits during resettlement with their individual resettlement training costs (IRTC) grant to pay towards the cost of eligible learning activities.

Professional and Career Development Loans are designed to help people change direction or increase their skills by providing a deferred repayment loan

You may be able to access sponsorship through schemes set up to benefit Service leavers, such as that run by X-Forces