Ask the Experts

BFRS has brought together a number of experts to offer Service leavers advice on a range of business subjects and topics that are important during the transition process. Many of them have not only experienced the transition process first-hand, but have gone on to develop successful second careers and, in most cases, their own businesses. If your question is outside their area(s) of expertise, be sure they will attempt to find someone who can give you an answer/solution.

If BFRS doesn't know, we probably know someone who does

Harry Dean, CEO of BFRS
Harry Dean Ex LE Officer (RA) left the Army in 1998 and after a few years gaining valuable commercial experience, he started his own business. He has since been involved in a number of other successful start-up business ventures and partnerships. Harry is currently Chief Executive of BFRS and Managing Director of Gemini Forces Ltd. He offers a range of help, support and advice, which includes:

Military to Civilian transition.
Start-up business help & advice
Business mentoring (start-ups and existing businesses).

To email your question, click here or call 0845 308 2406.

James Short, CB OBE FCMI

James specialises in strategic planning, team building and change management. Currently he helps companies to develop their organisational structures to improve output by providing a distinctive methodology for growth. His main focus is on innovation, inspiration and motivation to create profitability. He brings a unique outlook on the planning for, and delivery of, decisive objectives. His aim is to deliver business improvement through mentoring at Board-level.

James is a former Major General in the British Army and has served in staff and operational appointments across the world. For more details visit www.augmentor-uk.com

Lisa Hesler
Lisa is our creative expert, specialising in Design and Branding. She is a marketing professional with 10 years of marketing experience in a variety of sectors and has many skills, including effective communication, customer retention, and creative idea generation.
Call Lisa on 07540 596 208.

Daryl Hine

Strategic Development, Leadership and Operational Management are the skills and 'aha moments' which Daryl Hine brings to the table, which deliver robust business ideas and action plans to drive your business forward. Daryl's contact number is 07920 842 185.

Paula Hine
Networking skills, Event management, Sales and Accountability are the key skills of Paula Hine. Having run a number of her own small businesses over the years, Paula is keen to share her experiences with other business start-ups. Paula's mobile number is 07710 164 085.

David Gibson
David is a professional Marketing and Business Change consultant and has developed a specialism in Strategic Marketing Planning. He is highly skilled at conducting marketing planning, market research and distribution channel management in a wide array of industry sectors. David's mobile number is 07943 873601

Sandy Caple

After serving as an officer in both the Royal Navy and the British Army, Sandy established himself as the Army’s principal resettlement adviser for Military discharges. He now privately trains Service leavers in CV writing, interview techniques, application forms and all aspects of resettlement. Sandy has an NVQ level 4 in Guidance and can help you in the following areas:

Interview Guidance
Researching the right opportunities
Presenting yourself in the best light
CV writing and guidance

Sandy attends BFRS's events to provide one-to-one support and also delivers BFRS's Interview Support and CV Health Check services.

Clive Ormerod, Managing Director OMS Ltd

Clive is a qualified and experienced General Manager who has held high profile roles within several large national companies. These roles have included Operations Director, General Manager and Health, Safety, Quality, Environment and Training Manager. He has gained extensive experience in a vast range of business sectors.

He has Chartered status in Health and Safety and also in Quality, he is qualified in management, quality, health and safety and non-destructive testing, and has vast amounts of practical industry experience. He is able to provide guidance and leadership within OMS that allows our advisers to identify simple sustainable solutions that fit in with our clients’ business needs.

Clive is well respected in the Industry and provides advice for well know names such as BT, London Underground, Molson Coors, Morrison Utilities, Lanes Group, Openreach and Chartis Insurance to name a few. He was also closely involved with IOSH developing the new Managing Safely course and was a presenter at its launch at the Lords cricket ground.

Qualifications & Professional Membership
• MSc, Total Quality Management
• PgC, Management Sciences
• Fellow, Chartered Management Institute
• Fellow, Institute of Leadership and Management
• Member, Institute of Directors
• Chartered Member, Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
• Member, International Institute of Safety Risk Managers
• Member, Association of Project Safety
• Member, European Corporate Governance Institute
• Chartered Member, Chartered Quality Institute
• Member, Institute of Non-Destructive Testing
• Fellow, International Association of Quality Practitioners

Jason Woods, Managing Director

Jason is the founder member of SNE Group. He served 10 years in the Parachute Regiment and has worked for the past 12 years within the private security industry. He is a proven example of someone who has selected his career path intelligently and has worked his way up from grass roots level into senior security management roles, working all over the world including places such as Pakistan, Israel, Afghanistan, Sudan, Nigeria, USA, Kurdistan and Europe. He is a former in-country manager of a security company in Iraq. At present, Jason is heavily involved in setting SNE Special Projects out in Libya.

Formed back in 2009 Security Networking Events www.securitynetworkingevents.co.uk has become the foremost events company within the private security industry for Service leavers and those seeking to enhance their networks within the Security sector.
SNE Special Projects www.snespecialprojects.co.uk was formed in January 2010 and Jason has been the driving force behind the development of the company brand and recruitment of several of the senior personnel now involved. His core values are based upon a proactive mind set striving to produce quality of service and value for money for SNE clients within today's modern private security industry.

Email: Jason.woods@snegroup.co.uk

Tel: 0208 1447452

Will Brown MCGI

Will set up his own company, Forces Homes, in 2004. With his own resettlement looming and a passion for property, he developed a business model to assist Military personnel to own their own homes. Very much aware of the standard myths about Military personnel in terms of homelessness and difficulties faced when trying to obtain mortgages etc., he has built up a company which has achieved successful outcomes for some incredibly difficult cases. As a WO1 he has seen many people leave the decision to purchase property far too late and wanted to change their mindsets, encouraging personnel to make the leap into property ownership as early as possible.

Will can provide advice on many aspects of home ownership and property purchase, including:

• Mortgages
• Finding the right property, old & new
• What you should be asking the estate agent
• Understanding the survey
• The purchase process
• Letting

For more details visit www.forceshomes.co.uk

June Spindloe, Relocation Nova Scotia Inc

June and Mark Spindloe emigrated to Nova Scotia, Canada from Southampton in 1996. She very quickly realised that there was very little one-on-one support and information available for newcomers, who rely solely on government websites etc.

As a result of this, she started her own business, Relocation Nova Scotia Inc. She set up a service that anyone can access and is tailored to their specific needs. Relocation Nova Scotia has a selection of cost-effective services and partners aimed at saving ex-Service personnel interested in relocating time and money. They can even organise assistance for Recce trips, accommodations, banking and networking.

June is also a certified Life Coach and has coached newcomers right from the early planning stages of their move. Recently, she has been working with MoD Service leavers who are interested in emigrating to Canada instead of returning to Civvy Street in the UK. Service leavers are ideally suited to becoming new immigrants and, given the right circumstances, can start planning their move early if they have the correct information and support to make it happen.

June produced her own immigration planner/workbook last year to be used as a tool with the coaching sessions.

Emigrating is an unfamiliar process for most families and it is hard to know who to trust and where to begin. Working with June will give you that support and information that you need. Initial consultations are free.

If you are wondering how to start planning a new life in Canada, contact June on Tel 902-431-8689 or Email: June@relocationnovascotia.com

To email your question, click here

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Dave Grundy, Tuit Achievements

Are you looking forward to moving into Civilian life? How’s the career/ business planning going? What about the family? Support network? What about you? What about finance? Home and school/university?

Some benefits of talking with me include:
• Tailored confidential support on your journey before, during and after you have left
• Goal clarity, focus and action planning improved
• Improved quality decision-making
• Advance your career/business
• Effective use of your time and resources
• Network development
• Balanced work/life
• Getting past those personal hurdles
Contact me for your free 30 minute review session. Details below.

About David Grundy
• 23 years in the Royal Army Pay Corps
• 30+ years management and team leadership skills
• Business Manager, Auditor, Accountant, Coach
• Successful career/roles in Civilian life
• Still enjoying life
• Genuinely passionate about supporting Service personnel

To email your question, click here.

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