Latest News Articles from BFRSS.org.uk

BFRS Military to Civilian Roadshow 30th May @ Colchester

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Service leavers and their families attended a free BFRS Military to Civilian Career Transition Event held at the British Legion Village, Aylesford on the 16th May.

The event offered service leavers and their families the opportunity to meet and network with potential employers and learn about training opportunities and housing advice.

BFRS is a Community Interest Company, which is a non for profit organisation working for the benefit of the Military community. With over 10,000 members, BFRS aims are to bring opportunities to members of the Armed Forces, past and present, and their families.

BFRS brings together employers and Service Leavers, in person, such as at yesterday’s event and also online at the BFRS virtual Event with over 140 exhibitors, which is taking place at www.bfrss.org.uk

You register for the Colchester event here....

Andrew Glen, My Transition

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BFRS: Andrew how long did you serve in the Army?

Andrew: "I spent 33 years serving in the Army"

BFRS: Why did you chose franchising?

Andrew: "I chose franchising mainly because it was a tried and tested format. Commencing a new business from the start would entail copious amounts of research combined with detailed planning not to mention the time/expense to achieve this. A franchise in many cases has already undertaken the research and provides a tried & tested model."

BFRS: How did you raise the finance for a franchise?

Andrew: "Fortunately managed to finance the business from my own resources, however, there was finance available from various financial organisations for those that required it."

BFRS: How did you go about the selection process and why did you chose Jim’s Mowing?

Andrew: "I started reading magazines and carried out a lot of internet searches. Looking at many franchise models and comparing my skills base and selecting what was suitable. I decided that I was never going to spend fifteen hour days sitting behind a desk, this decision alone narrowed down many franchises. I visited the head offices of a few franchise operations, watched presentations and spoke in detail to office staff and verified their facts and figures."

" I visited Jim’s Mowing last (the one you think most suitable is best visited last so you can compare) and was in a very good position by this stage to compare all those visited previously. I conducted more research pertaining to my visit to Jim’s Mowing office and then returned a few weeks later seeking answers to my questions. In this period I also spoke to “Jim’s” who were operating franchises around the UK."

BFRS: What training and support did you receive from your franchisor?

Andrew: " I attended a weeks course in Melbourne Australia at the Jim’s Headquarters, this was followed by a week at Hadlow Training College. I was then fortunate enough to work for a period of two weeks with an experienced franchisee in Scotland on projects as well as general gardening work. Once I started operating, the support continued by use of forums, telephone and text. However, your best support in my opinion comes from those that have been operating a franchise for a few years, regardless of it being a franchisor, a franchisee or indeed an individual with more experience. Many Jim’s have spent their entire career in the industry."

BFRS: What are the challenges you have faced?

Andrew: "Having spent most of my adult life in the south of England you become acclimatised to the weather without realising it. Having returned to my native Glasgow to live rather than visit was a big shock to the system. The West Coast certainly has its own weather system which undoubtedly is the biggest challenge. The amount of rain falling is not really the problem (we all have gore-tex), however, the damage the accumulated water does when sitting on clay has its own challenges and prevents gardeners from operating effectively. Many operations can’t be conducted in damp or wet conditions, so when faced with waterlogged ground it becomes a major operation to achieve the desired result. More time and resources are spent which can and does have an impact on your income/expenditure."

BFRS: The Highs?

Andrew: "Being your own boss and the only people you answer to is your customers. You make the decisions and reap the rewards/losses. Producing vast amounts of paper mountains that no one reads is all in the past. Transforming an unused wreck of a garden in a short period of time which is returned to its former glory. Working in the great outdoors, even better if we can get the shorts on. Working the hours that you set for yourself. Have an opportunity to see family more often. Not commuting to work on the M25 & M3."

BFRS: Your advice to Someone leaving the forces and thinking of buying their first franchise?

Andrew: "Research, and when you have done it research again. Time spent in recce is never wasted- never a truer word spoken."

BFRS: Your Plans for the Future?

Andrew: "Await sons education results from his exams, this will dictate which course of action I take. However, consolidating my business is the priority. Watching the results of the recession very closely as this certainly influences your business decisions. Statistics say that gardening in general has not been hit too hard in the recession, this I would have to agree with. Looking at another Jim’s Mowing franchise in South of England – needing a tan!"

BFRS: Finally tell us something we don’t know about you?

Andrew: "As a boy worked in farms and was paid the princely sum of 10 (shillings/bob) a day, 50p in new money."

BFRS: We wish all the success for the future.

Jim’s Mowing is the world’s largest gardening organisation. It provides the ideal business opportunity for a hard-working individual who enjoys the outdoor life, loads of physical activity, an informal working style that has structure, support and great, all year round income potential.

To find out more information about Jim's visit http://www.jimsmowing.co.uk

London 2012: Olympic flame to be lit in Greece

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The flame is kindled by a 'high priestess' who captures the morning sun's rays in a parabolic mirror.

The ceremony comes amid political and economic turmoil in the home of the Ancient Olympics, where a week-long leg of the relay will be held.

The flame flies to Britain on 18 May for a 70-day relay around the UK.

Locog Chairman Lord Coe, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge and Hellenic Olympic Committee president Spyros Capralos will be in Olympia for the moment marking the countdown to London 2012.

Lord Coe told the BBC: "Today is the rallying call to the athletes - the best athletes of their generation - to come to London. That in itself is a big moment because it's the biggest sporting event in the calendar."

The lighting ceremony takes place in front of the ruins of the Temple of Hera from 11:30 local time (09:30BST)

The flame - an Olympic symbol meant to represent purity because it comes from the sun - is then placed in an urn and taken to the stadium where the ancient Olympic Games were staged.

There, it will light the London 2012 torch of Liverpool-born Greek world champion 10km swimmer Spyros Gianniotis, who will carry it on the first leg of the relay around Greece.

He will pass it on to Alex Loukos, 19, the first British torchbearer, a boxer and, in 2005, one of a delegation of east London schoolchildren who travelled to Singapore as part of London's final bid for the Games.

The torch is due to travel 2,900kms (1,800 miles) through the country, carried by 500 torchbearers, on a route circling the country and travelling out to Crete.

Greece has seen huge demonstrations of social unrest in previous months, sparked by financial chaos and efforts to reach a deal with the European Union on a bail-out for the Greek economy.

Talks to try to form a new government have been ongoing after elections on Sunday failed to produce a conclusive result.

Several international companies including BMW have stepped in to help fund the torch's journey.

The Greek section of the 2012 torch relay ends at the Panathenaic Stadium, Athens, on Thursday 17 May, where the flame is handed over to London Olympic Games organisers.

The stadium hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.

The last torchbearers in Greece will be Greek weightlifter Pyrros Dimas and Chinese gymnast Li Ning - who lit the cauldron at the Beijing 2008 opening ceremony.

The 2008 Olympic torch relay, which travelled the globe, was dogged by pro-Tibet, democracy and anti-China protests.

The 2012 flame will travel straight from Greece to the UK on 18 May, flying into the Royal Navy airbase at Culdrose, near Helston in Cornwall.

The UK torch relay begins at Land's End the following morning when three times Olympic gold medal-winning sailor Ben Ainslie will be the first to carry the torch on British soil.

He wrote in the Daily Telegraph: "It is a privilege for me to be asked but, more than anything, it is an exciting moment for the country.

"The arrival of the torch on home soil really brings home how close the Games are."

Carried by 8,000 torchbearers, the Barber Osgerby-designed torch will cover 8,000 miles across all of the country's nations and regions.

It is due to reach the Olympic Stadium in Stratford on 27 July to light the cauldron at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

For the ancient Greeks, fire was a divine element believed to have been stolen from the Gods.

A flame was first lit at the modern Olympics at the Amsterdam 1928 summer games, but it was not until Berlin 1936 that a torch relay route was set out from Greece to Germany.

Harry's award for helping wounded heroes

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Prince Harry has urged the country to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with its wounded veterans
as they face the toughest of battles.

He was speaking as he was presented with a humanitarian award for his efforts supporting injured servicemen and women.

Harry dedicated the honour to those who had been seriously injured fighting for Britain, declaring them "heroes" for paying a "terrible price to keep us safe and free".

But the Prince played down his efforts championing forces charities, saying: "Genuinely, I obviously don't feel that I have done nearly enough to deserve it."

The royal also accepted the award on behalf of his brother, the Duke of Cambridge, as through their joint foundation they have tackled the issue of caring for disabled and wounded servicemen and women.

Harry flew to Washington to receive the humanitarian honour from the Atlantic Council, a body which promotes transatlantic co-operation and international security, and he follows in the footsteps of U2 frontman Bono, who received the award in 2010.

Before the black-tie awards ceremony he met some of the "heroes" - a group of British servicemen and women who had competed at America's Warrior Games, an event for wounded service personnel.

The athletes won five gold medals and a bronze during the sporting event where injured veterans compete in Paralympic-style competitions.

Harry gave his acceptance speech after receiving the distinguished humanitarian leadership award from retired general Colin Powell at an exclusive Washington hotel earlier today.

The former US secretary of state made the audience laugh by telling them the Prince's presence had generated a "record number of young single women attending this year", before saying the royal had followed a path of service to his country and fellow human beings.

In his speech Harry, a serving Army captain, said: "It would be wrong of me to speak for these heroes, but not presumptuous of me to pay tribute to them: so many of our servicemen and women have made the ultimate sacrifice; so many lives have been lost and so many changed forever by the wounds that they have suffered.

"They have paid a terrible price to keep us safe and free. The very least we owe them is to make sure that they and their brave families have everything they need through their darkest days - and, in time, regain the hope and confidence to flourish again.

"For these selfless people, it is after the guns have fallen silent, the din of battle quietened, that the real fight begins - a fight that may last for the rest of their lives."

He added that Britain's Armed Forces would cease to be news when coalition troops finally withdrew from Afghanistan, but their wounds, physical and mental, would remain.

"We must be there for our servicemen and women, and their families standing shoulder to shoulder with them," he said.

Highlighting the work he had tried to do with his brother, he went on to say: "Using our fortunate position, William and I have sought to raise awareness of the challenges confronting our wounded, to help mobilise support and resources for them.

"We have tried to do what we can to ensure that servicemen and women - and their families - leaving the military will do so with purpose, with hope and with confidence."

Harry and William have made numerous public and private visits to Headley Court in Surrey - home to the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre - which treats the most seriously injured servicemen and women.

Harry also highlighted the efforts of wounded soldiers who challenge their disabilities when he joined a group of injured servicemen for a number of days last year as they marched to the North Pole supported by the charity Walking with the Wounded.

Each year the Atlantic Council recognises leading individuals working in areas such as business, diplomacy, the military, humanitarianism and the arts.

This year United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-Moon was present to receive a distinguished international leadership award.

Members of the UK's Warrior Games team and some of their American competitors met the Prince when he first arrived in Washington yesterday at the residence of Britain's ambassador to America, Sir Peter Westmacott.

A highlight for the team was the standing ovation the American spectators gave triple amputee Corporal Matthew Webb, 36, as he swam with just one arm in the 100 metre freestyle race.

The Royal Marine - nicknamed Spider - was left with just his right arm when he was caught in the blast of an improvised explosive device (IED) while on a foot patrol in Afghanistan last July.

Cpl Webb, from Taunton in Somerset, said: "I felt great, I came last as I can only swim with one arm so it took me a lot longer than them, but I'm glad to be here.

"The Americans have been great, they just supported our team and treated us as their guests, really well."

The 16 men and women of the British team, which was funded and supported by the charity Help For Heroes, were guest competitors at the Warrior Games staged last week in Colorado Springs and normally open only to US armed forces.

Among those the Prince met were Captain Dave Henson, 27, of the Royal Engineers, who lost both his legs following an IED explosion in Helmand Province in February last year.

He was one of Britain's medal winners, earning two golds in the pool at the 50m and 100m freestyle.

Capt Henson, from Southampton, commenting about Harry's award, added: "He's a massive supporter of us and brings a lot of public awareness to the cause of injured soldiers.

"It seems a very appropriate way to finish off a successful week for the Prince to get the award."

Armed Forces Redundancies to Create Skill Shortage on Home Front

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Earlier this year the Ministry of Defence announced its plans to cut the jobs of more than 54,000 Armed Forces personnel by 2015 in an attempt to balance their books to the tune of £38bn.

Questions have been raised over whether the MoD’s rush to cut its headcount had been properly structured, with the National Audit Office releasing a report1 stating its findings that “reductions are happening in advance of the Department’s fully understanding how it will operate with significantly fewer staff” and “thereby risking making current skills shortages worse.”

A previously unforeseen consequence of the proposed redundancies has come to light, and might have a profound impact on local economies.

Harry Dean, founder of the British Forces Resettlement Service, explains: “Where there are Military bases, life in the local communities revolves around the Military. Families relocate to be near their loved ones, get jobs and put down roots. Once made redundant, a Service man or woman may have to look for work elsewhere, taking their family with them.”

BFRS have concerns over the skills shortages that will be left in the areas affected by the redundancies, “there will be a massive impact on the local business economy.”
The impact will be felt hardest in areas where the cost of living is higher, for example Oxfordshire (home to RAF Brize Norton), where there will be more impetus for families to move to more affordable areas of the country to find work.

Oxford Brookes University, whose 2010 study2 discovered that 1 in 5 employers in Oxfordshire are already experiencing skills shortages, feel that these Military redundancies will exasperate the situation. The workforce development initiative with Oxford Brookes University has been talking with the military and resettlement organisations for some time. “We have a responsibility to respond to the challenges that resettlement brings for armed forces personnel”, explained John Francis, Research and Business Development Director at Oxford Brookes University “It’s ironic that despite the recession we are constantly made aware of the skills shortages faced by major local and regional employers and many people leaving the armed forces potentially have so many of those skills. They sometimes just need to be redirected or channelled in to areas where there are opportunities.”

BFRS proposes a simple solution to the problem: for local businesses to hire ex-Service people. Harry Dean explains “Service leavers possess a unique combination of highly developed skills and qualities. As well as offering a wide variety of trade and technical knowledge, they also bring communication and leadership skills that prove invaluable in the workplace.”

An upshot of this is that skills remain in the local area, plus there is an added level of continuity to aid the Service leaver’s resettlement – children continuing their education at the same school, and families having the same community.

The British Forces Resettlement Service is a Community Interest Company with a membership of over 10,000 Service leavers, many of whom are looking for jobs in their local areas. They are currently looking for employers who are interested in the many benefits of employing ex-Armed Forces.

Director Harry Dean says “a successful transition has a massive impact, not just on the individual’s sense of purpose, but on their family and the wider community – both in terms of retaining skills and experience and also as a contribution to the local economy. With the large number of redundancies looming it is easy to look at this as a political issue rather than the connection with local economies.”

If you are an employer and would like to find out more about BFRS, likewise if you are a Service person facing redundancy, visit www.bfrss.org.uk.

References:

1 National Audit Office report: http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/press_notice_home/1012/10121791.aspx

2 Oxford Brookes study into skills shortages: http://www.brookes.ac.uk/business_employers/workforce/docs/oxon_employer_skills_survey_executive_summary_final_21july2010_2_1.pdf

HMS Dragon to be commissioned at Portsmouth Naval Base

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Type 45 Destroyer HMS Dragon will join front-line service in a colourful 'Christening' ceremony to be held at Portsmouth Naval Base.

The vessel is the fourth ship of its kind built by BAE Systems in Glasgow and will be affiliated to Cardiff.

Type 45 Destroyers are used in air defence to protect UK national and coalition forces against enemy warcraft and missiles.

HMS Dragon is the fourth of six Type 45 Destroyers to be built for the Royal Navy, all of which are based in Portsmouth.

HMS Daring was the first to be commissioned in July 2009 with the fifth - HMS Defender - set to arrive in Portsmouth this summer.

All six are scheduled to be in service by the middle of the decade.

HMS Dragon's commanding officer, Darren Houston said: "This very special day marks the end of our trials phase and the transition to front-line service.

"Thereafter the emphasis will be on combat readiness in preparation for our first deployment next year.

"I am very pleased that so many families, friends and affiliates will be part of our momentous day."

Nato to discuss funding Afghan forces after pull-out

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Nato foreign and defence ministers are set to meet in Brussels to discuss how to fund security forces in Afghanistan once international troops leave.

They insist there will be no change in strategy despite Sunday's co-ordinated attacks by the Taliban.

Nato has agreed to start handing over security to Afghan forces, leaving them in full control from the end of 2014.

The US is expected to ask international partners to provide up to a quarter of the costs of backing Afghan forces.

Washington is looking for other countries to pay up to $1 billion (£630 million) a year, while it provides around $3 billion a year in support.

The meeting is preparing for a summit of Nato heads of state being held in Chicago next month, where a final commitment on funding Afghan security is expected to be announced.

The BBC's defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt says one of Nato's toughest jobs now will be holding the military coalition in Afghanistan together as the alliance's combat mission draws to a close.

On Tuesday Australia announced that it was bringing home most of its troops almost a year earlier than expected.

Other nations in the coalition, including Canada, the Netherlands and France have already pulled their forces out of combat or speeded up their withdrawal.

Afghans 'can cope'

The Afghan National army will number around 350,000 soldiers in the next few months, with the US providing most of the training and logistical support.

A US plan predicts the Afghan army will be cut to around 230,000 in few years time. The planned reduction has worried some security experts in Afghanistan.

Co-ordinated gun and rocket attacks on seven sites in the Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday saw two Afghan soldiers killed and 17 militants.

Nato officials have acknowledged that the attacks helped highlight the challenges ahead, but the BBC's Caroline Wyatt says they are keen to stress their view that the attacks show that the Afghan army can cope in providing security.

Nato spokeswoman Oana Lungescu pointed out that Afghan forces dealt with the situation and defeated the attacks, largely on their own.

"Clearly, we still face security challenges," she said. "This was not the first such attack, and I don't expect it will be the last. But such attacks don't change the transition strategy."

Nato ministers will also be discussing how to improve the sharing of equipment among European members in an initiative known as "smart defence", as they try to cope with falling defence budgets.

During the two-day meeting they will also discuss the next stages of Nato's plans for a missile defence system across Europe .

Bank of Scotland reports 'marked' rise in Scottish job vacancies

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The number of permanent job vacancies in Scotland rose "markedly" in March, according to a survey of recruitment agencies.

The latest Bank of Scotland report on jobs said the rise was the strongest it had recorded since last August.

All eight employment sectors posted an increase in permanent vacancies, with IT and computing leading the way.

Average pay for permanent and temporary staff also rose at their fastest rates in several months.

The Bank of Scotland's jobs barometer - which is designed to provide a snapshot of labour market conditions - stood at 54.6, up from 52.4 in February.

Measurements of 50 and above represent expansion, while numbers below 50 suggest contraction.

'Greater demand'

The report indicated an increase in the number of people placed into both permanent and temporary work last month, with recruitment agencies generally linking this to greater client demand.

Edinburgh-based recruitment agencies reported the strongest increases in both permanent and temporary staff placements during March.

Permanent salaries increased at the fastest rate in Aberdeen, closely followed by Edinburgh, while the strongest rise in temporary hourly pay rates was posted in Dundee.

Bank of Scotland chief economist Donald MacRae said: "The Scottish labour market showed a further improvement in March with the barometer at its highest level since last July.

"The number of people placed into permanent jobs increased solidly in the month while temporary job placements rose at the strongest pace in seven months.

"Job vacancies for both permanent and temporary jobs rose across all eight sectors for permanent jobs and in six of the eight sectors for temporary jobs."

He added: "This provides further evidence of an economy beginning to reverse the slowdown experienced at the end of last year and raises hopes of a return to moderate growth in 2012."

Bovington Military to Civilian Event

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A forthcoming Military to Civilian Roadshow aims to help those leaving the Armed Forces prepare their next steps into Civilian life. The Roadshow which is coming to Memorial Hall, Bovington, on 25th April between 10:30-15:30 features a mixture of exhibitors. These include employers and franchise opportunities who understand and value the high level of skills possessed by Armed Forces service people, plus training organisations who specialise in Service leavers. Sandy Caple, a former officer and Forces resettlement expert, will be there providing one-to-one support on how to craft the perfect CV.

The Roadshow aims to bring in people who are leaving or have already left the Armed Forces, in order to demonstrate the career and training opportunities available to them. The event is being held by the British Forces Resettlement Services, a Community Interest Company.

BFRS founder Harry Dean says: “The British Armed Forces are some of the best in the world and our Service leavers possess a unique combination of highly developed skills and qualities. However, the actual transition process from military to civilian life can be daunting. We hope our Roadshow will help skilled Service leavers overcome any reservations and take their first step into a happy and successful resettlement.”

Beth Passey, National Grid’s HR Manager for Experienced Hires explains: “We find such events an invaluable opportunity to chat informally to people about what their options are, and if there’s potentially a future for some Service leavers at National Grid, then that’s a bonus. We attend these events to help people determine the path they take on Civvy Street and if we’ve helped people to make choices for their future, then our job is done.”

Wayne Davies, HR Manager at Harris Pye, a global engineering firm, attends the events to find new talent. “We’re particularly keen to recruit Armed Forces leavers because we appreciate their disciplined attitude to their work and their training. We operate on a global basis and it is imperative that we have the right manpower to successfully undertake projects throughout the world.”

BFRS founder Harry Dean says: “We recognise it is a challenging environment in which to start considering a new career. In a difficult economy and with increasing numbers leaving the Forces our aim at this event is to showcase the opportunities available to those who have served their country. Employers who are exhibiting have told us that they are experiencing a skills shortage in some areas, and they see Armed Forces leavers filling those roles.”

The Roadshow consists of three dates:

April 25th, 10:30-15:30. Memorial Hall, Bovington, Dorset.
May 16th, 10:30-15:30. British Legion Village, Hall Road, Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7NL.
May 30th, 10:30-15:30. The Musket Club, Fallowfield Road, Colchester, Essex, CO2 9ND.

Attend the event free of charge by registering at www.bfrsevents.co.uk

Organisations wishing to exhibit at the Roadshow should call 0845 308 2406 or email info@bfrss.org.uk

“Be Prepared” is the key message at the Catterick Careers Transition Event

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On Thursday, March 29th 2012, the British Forces Resettlement Services (BFRS) held it’s fifth Military to Civilian Career Transition Event at the Catterick Leisure Centre, Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire. The bustling event featured 80 exhibitors include employers, franchise opportunities, training organisations and information centres who welcomed the more than 600 British Armed Forces service leavers looking to take their first steps into life on Civvy Street.

At a workshop on how to craft the perfect CV, hosted by former officer and Forces resettlement expert, Sandy Caple, we met Rob Locking, who is currently awaiting his date for a medical discharge from the army. Rob explained “With Sandy’s help I have changed around my CV to create a better impression with potential employers. Now I have come to terms with the fact I am leaving the forces I found today’s exhibition highlighted that there are roles for people with my skills and I feel more optimistic about the future”.

BFRS founder Harry Dean says: “The British Armed Forces are some of the best in the world and our Service leavers possess a unique combination of highly developed skills and qualities. However, the actual transition process from military to civilian life can be daunting. We hope our event helped skilled Service leavers like Rob to overcome any reservations and take their first step into a happy and successful resettlement.”

Human Resource representatives from Hilton International, National Grid and Harris Pye shared tips with Service Leavers looking for work at a seminar on “What employers are looking for”. The overriding message from the employers session was the key to making a successful transition is to be prepared. This means researching the market and identifying those skills which Service Leavers can apply in Civvy Street. Kathryn Porter, Divisional Resourcing Director of Hilton Worldwide summed up the interview preparation process by explaining “facts tell and stories sell”. “In order to demonstrate competencies service leavers need to be able to discuss where they have demonstrated transferable skills.”

Many exhibitors were employers from a wide range of different industries, all delighted with the chance to meet potential new employees. The National Grid, the event’s sponsor, found the event to be a real success. Beth Passey, National Grid HR Manager for Experienced Hires said: “We find such events an invaluable opportunity to chat informally to people about what their options are, and if there’s potentially a future for some of you at National Grid, then that’s a bonus. Ultimately, we attend these events to help people determine the path they take on Civvy Street and if we’ve helped people at Catterick to make choices for their future, then our job is done.”

Wayne Davies, HR Manager at Harris Pye, a global engineering firm, was on the look-out for new talent. “We’re particularly keen to recruit Armed Forces leavers because we appreciate their disciplined attitude to their work and their training. We operate on a global basis and it is imperative that we have the right manpower to successfully undertake projects throughout the world.”

The event also had its share of VIP special guests. These included retired Major General James Short, CB OBE who opened the event, James Ramsbotham of the North East Chamber of Commerce, Nick Millan and Julian Smith, MP for Skipton and Ripon. James Ramsbotham, Chief Executive, North East Chamber of Commerce spoke passionately about the breadth of opportunities available to Service leavers in the North East of England to help fill a skills shortage in the manufacturing and engineering industries. “In the past few years export from firms in the North East has grown dramatically and for this to continue local employers require specialist skills, such as those possessed by people coming out of the Forces.”

On the success of the event, BFRS founder Harry Dean says: “Given the event’s resounding success our biggest to date – we are looking forward to making next year’s even bigger to ensure we can help open doors for more people attempting the career transition from Military to Civilian life.”