FAQs

What is BFRS?

The British Forces Resettlement Services, known as BFRS, offers employment, training and support opportunities to past or present members of the Armed Forces community, their families and veterans. Membership is free and BFRS has more than 14,000 members.

BFRS is a Community Interest Company, which means we are not-for-profit and act solely on behalf of the Armed Forces community.

Who are BFRS?

BFRS was founded by Harry Dean, ex-Army Officer (LE). BFRS is run by a small team, many of whom have experienced the transition process first hand and have gone on to forge successful careers on Civvy Street. 
 
What services does BFRS offer? 

BFRS provides opportunities to the Armed Forces Community through careers events, a virtual career fair and the BFRS website. BFRS connection its members to employment, training and support opportunities in the following ways:

• In person, at BFRS Career Events - BFRS runs Military to Civilian Careers Events. These are large career fairs which enable service leavers and their families to meet with employers, training organisations, self employment opportunities and other support organisations. At events, attendees can also receive help on writing the perfect CV and attend workshops on various employment topics, including starting a business and making the right impression with employers.
• Online, through the BFRS Virtual Event - The Virtual Event is an online version of a BFRS event which is open 24/7. Visitors can log in and visit employer booths, view and apply for jobs, watch employer videos and presentations and chat with company representatives about their organisation's vacancies. They can even conduct a one-to-one interviews direct from their computer.
• Online, through the BFRS social network - The BFRS website includes hundreds of regularly-updated job opportunities, training courses, self employment opportunities and a whole suite of free resources. These include the facility to Ask an Expert on a wide variety of resettlement and employment subjects. There is also a social network for members, enabling interaction with other members through private messaging and status updates.
• Online, through the BFRS Newsletter - BFRS members receive regular email and social media updates and newsletters from BFRS. These include information on new job and training vacancies, upcoming BFRS events and news on resettlement issues.

Is BFRS membership free?

Yes, membership to BFRS is 100% free. BFRS has more than 14,000 members, all of whom are current and former Armed Forces personnel making the transition from Military to Civilian life.

You can register to join here: www.bfrss.org.uk/register.aspx

How can companies reach BFRS Members?

We offer a range of corporate sponsorship packages to companies and organisations who would like to work alongside BFRS to reach our 14,000+ members. The range includes the following levels of participation: Supporter, Recruiter, Partner and Sponsor.

Through BFRS, employers can access a large pool of talented individuals who have the unique combination of self discipline and finely tuned skills and are actively seeking work.

We also work with training organisations to provide them with a direct route to Service leavers in need of sector-specific qualifications and retraining. 

Franchise companies can work with BFRS to raise awareness of their opportunities with the ex-Forces community and find their next generation of franchisees. 

We are very keen to develop new and long-lasting relationships with a wide range of companies and organisations. Find more information on BFRS corporate membership and our corporate sponsorship packages by calling us on 0845 308 2406.

How many visitors do you get to the BFRS Website?

We have a steady 5000 visitors a month to the BFRS website (excluding robots).

Our website reaches out to those who have either left the British Armed Forces or are on planning to do so. With this in mind, we are confident that our visitorship consists entirely of our target markets and to those for whom the site was created.

Are you a recruitment company?

No, BFRS is not a recruitment company. We provide a hub offering employers, recruitment companies and training providers the ability to meet and discuss or advertise their employment and training opportunities with our members from the Armed Forces community.

We facilitate our members finding new careers, but we do not profit from it.  

What is Gemini Forces?

Gemini Forces Ltd is as a recruitment company dedicated to ex-Military personnel.

Gemini Forces exhibit at BFRS events and are corporate members of BFRS, advertising job vacancies along with the other recruitment agencies and employers. Although the BFRS directors hold a stake in both companies, they are separate entities with completely different objectives.

How is BFRS funded?

As a non-profit Community Interest Company, BFRS is completely self-financed and any surplus we may make is reinvested within the organisation.

BFRS is run as a business, offering services to organisations who are interested in engaging with our 14,000+ members. These services include exhibition space and sponsorship at our events, advertising space in event guides and online engagement with our members through our website and virtual career fair.

Are you affiliated with the Career Transition Partnership?

No, we are not affiliated with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP). The CTP is a partnership between the Ministry of Defence and Right Management, a career management and workforce solutions firm.

Although we are working towards similar goals, CTP is delivering a government contract whereas BFRS are free to assist a much wider range of people who may not meet CTP’s assigned criteria.

BFRS is a values-led organisation working on behalf of Service leavers and their families and we aim to extend the reach of our help and support as far as we possibly can.

Can someone use both BFRS and Career Transition Partnership?

Yes, our services are complimentary and both aim to provide the highest level of assistance to Service leavers. Many of our members seek help from both BFRS and CTP, and attend both organisations’ events.

We are also able to work with people who are not eligible for assistance through CTP.

Would BFRS tender for the CTP contract?

BFRS’s primary concern is with providing a high quality service to the Armed Forces community. If the contract, or elements of the contract, utilised our strengths and capabilities then we would strongly consider putting ourselves forward. If we had to compromise on the level of service we could provide in doing so, we would not.

Does BFRS support all branches of the Armed Forces?

BFRS has members from the Army, Royal Navy, RAF and all reserve forces.

To date, our events have been largely focused on the Army by being held in close proximity to army bases. However we are addressing this and seeking out locations and relationships to further our reach to include the other services.

Is BFRS formally connected to the Military?

BFRS does not have any formal connections to the MoD. However, we work closely with Military resettlement officers and establish links that help us to reach Service leavers. The Military understand that we operate in a complimentary manner to CTP and are thus happy to work with us where they can.

The events we hold are not "behind the wire". This means they do not take place within Military property nor are they bound by any Military restrictions on who can exhibit. We welcome senior Military personnel at our events as VIPs and are thankful for the support they give BFRS.

Is BFRS purely UK-based?

The BFRS head office is located in Leicester. To date we have not organised an international event however our BFRS Virtual Career Fair reaches UK Armed Forces around the world. Our website also provides a massive resource of advice and information which members can tap into wherever in the world they are based.

What is next for BFRS?

BFRS has a strategic growth plan which sees the company expand, allowing it to provide more opportunities to the Armed Forces community.

Each year we are adding more events to our portfolio and we are now starting to partner with industry specialists to develop focused events on specific sectors e.g. the Energy and Security sectors.

Our membership figures are steadily growing and we expect this trend to carry on as our reach continues to grow. We are working hard to nurture relationships with key influencers who will spread the word on BFRS even further.

Our corporate members allow us to provide the high level of services we offer. To continue our growth we are constantly looking to develop new and long lasting relationships with organisations who are interested in engaging with the UK's Armed Forces community.

Our ultimate goal is to continue serving our members, by bringing them a growing range of opportunities so that their resettlement processes can be as smooth as they can possibly be. Resettlement can be a worrying and uncertain time and we pledge to continue offering our members and their families our help and support through it and beyond.

Please read the following update of where BFRS are positioned....