Despatches December 08

Royal Navy Reserves

The RNR (see the advertisement on page 75) comprises civilian volunteers and ex-Service people who train in their spare time to enable the Royal Navy to meet its operational commitment. There are 13 units across the UK and NI, some of which have detached units in other major towns. Each unit also offers an active social life and there are opportunities for sport and adventurous training.

Reservists receive pay and other expenses for the time they put into the RNR. In addition, an annual tax-free bounty is payable to those who satisfactorily complete the annual training commitment. There are spaces available now for all ranks irrespective of background, particularly for:

• Logistics junior rates/other ranks

• Operations Branch – especially Clearance Diver, Mine Warfare, Communications, Electronic Warfare and Above Water Warfare junior rates/other ranks

• Other ranks prepared to learn new skills, possibly in an initial lower rate

• Operations Officers up to age 45 (Lieutenant Commander/Major/ Squadron Leader and below)

• Officers up to age 45 with experience of media operations, operational logistics or intelligence, or with advanced foreign language skills

• Junior RN officers qualified as Bridge Watchkeepers (RN specific)

• Junior officers prepared to learn new skills, possibly in a initially lower rank.

Fleet Air Arm/Army/Royal Air Force people interested in joining the RNR Air Branch should contact PA to Staff Officer Reserves (Air) at RNAS Yeovilton on 01935 455680. Chaplains under 55 should contact Director-General Naval Chaplaincy Services (02392 625553). All Medical Branch people should contact the RNR Medical Branch Recruiting Officer on 07795 238616 for Doctors, and 07795 238617 for QARNNS and Medical Technicians.

To find out more visit the website at www.royalnavy.mod.uk/rnr or visit your local RNR Unit.

Afghanistan hero’s mother

gives cheque to limbless charity

Mrs Daphne Dolan, mother of the late Captain Sean Dolan, killed in action earlier this year in Afghanistan, has presented a cheque in memory of her son to the British Limbless Ex-Service Men’s Association (BLESMA).

General Secretary Jerome Church says: ‘It will be very poignant to receive this donation. BLESMA is an association of survivors – of people who perhaps came close but did not have to make the ultimate sacrifice. It is also poignant to receive it in the grounds of SellyOakHospital where so many young service lives are mended, but where Sean Dolan never came. Those who knew and respected him collected the donation on his behalf and it indeed is the measure of a good soldier and a good man. We will spend it wisely and well in his memory.’

Captain Dolan was a serving member of the 1st Battalion, The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment. He died in June after a mortar attack in HelmandProvince.

BLESMA began as an idea among wounded soldiers living in Glasgow in 1920 and became a national charity in 1932. Today, it aids thousands of amputees of all ages, from those who served during WWII, to recent conflicts and peacekeeping missions. There are currently 4,200 members, with a national headquarters in London, two care homes in Blackpool and Crieff in Scotland, and local branches throughout the UK; as well as a nationwide welfare service. Both Homes have disabled adapted coaches and residents and visitors enjoy regular excursions.

Resettlement course wins national training award

Quest congratulates Herron House Licensed Retail Training (see the advertisement on page 28)on winning a National Training Award at a glittering ceremony on 23rd October at St George’s Hall, Liverpool. The awards, which recognise training excellence, are made by UK Skills, a not for profit organisation which champions skills and learning for work through competitions and presents awards every year throughout the UK. Herron House is a CTP preferred supplier for pub management training.

Entries are invited between February and April and the judging process begins; with several several rounds of elimination and the top 15% being shortlisted. They are visited by members of the judging panel, the finalists are announced in August and the awards are presented in October. Herron House had a strong entry, endorsed by Catterick regional employment and training manager Mark Richardson, and supported by retired naval resettlement information officer Commander Clive Lewis, Mitchells and Butlers (the UK’s largest employer of pub managers) and many course graduates.

The ceremony was attended by more than 300 people including representatives of several government departments and industry leaders. Sports and Strictly Come Dancing personality Colin Jackson presented the award to a very happy Alan Herron, Herron House managing director. ‘As he described the contribution made and success enjoyed by Service leavers in the licensed retail sector it made me feel so very proud of all of my graduates over the 16 years I’ve been involved in resettlement training.

‘This is the highest training accolade ever awarded to a resettlement programme thus telling not just the pub trade but the whole of British industry what talents, skills and abilities that Service leavers have to offer.’

Passport for resettlement

Omega Solutions Group (OSG) (see the advertisement on page 12) work for several telecommunications companies including Vodafone, T-Mobile, O2 and Siemens. They source a number of their telecoms engineers through their resettlement training programme and recently reviewed their evaluations to examine the course.

Marc Walsh left the Army in June 2007 and completed the course with flying colours. ‘Leaving the Army after five years was very daunting but this course has made me a lot more confident and has shown all the opportunities available. I gained the qualifications I needed to actually undertake the job and had many opportunities to go out and get some real on the job experience. I found my military experience valuable throughout. This course has given me the knowledge and experience that I need to actually get out there and start earning money. I would fully recommend this course to any Service leaver thinking of working in telecoms.’

John Williams left the Royal Marines after six years, and believes that he has had ‘some of the best training available in the industry with a well structured company setting me up for an exciting time ahead.’

Gastec support Children in Need

Once again Gastec Training and Assessment Centres (see the advertisement on

page 2)have been involved in raising money for Children In Need. This year they have been selling home-made cakes, bacon rolls and hot dogs, and had one day on which the staff dressed up in costumes depicting different countries from around the world. Manager Maria Jenkins has been thrilled with the time and effort put in by all the people working at the company.

At the time of writing a very impressive £1,150 had been raised with even more to come once all the money military and civilian candidates on the current New Entrant course paid for the privilege of waxing their tutor. They would like to make a special mention of the extreme generosity of all their candidates; one of whom has voluntarily had one of his legs waxed raising £32 for this excellent cause.

Able skills for able bodies

Able Skills (see the advertisement on

page 43) offer training in tiling, bricklaying, plastering, plumbing, carpentry, kitchen fitting, and electrical installation. Their Construction Training Centre has worked with Service leavers for several years, and has found that they fall into two broad categories.

The first is the Service person who has lived in rented accommodation – married quarters – and has never acquired any home maintenance skills. They may be ready to move into their own property but do not want to pay expensive labour charges. A multiskills course is available for them to learn the basics of plastering, tiling, bricklaying and plumbing. It provides all the skills required to maintain or renovate a home. However, this basic package may not suit everybody so it can be altered to suit individuals’ specific needs. There is also an electrical training package which includes recognised qualifications.

Other Service leavers may be interested in a career in the lucrative building trade. They can undertake either specialised training in a core subject leading to City and Guilds Certification, or take a tailor-made course which suits individuals needs.

This training can usually be provided at little or no cost to the individual. However, people wishing to pursue City & Guilds Certification may have to a small contribution and plan for a longer training period. Courses are available during the week, or at weekends for people with other commitments. Some students may opt for intensive or advanced courses. All tools and materials are provided throughout course, and students have the option to buy new tools when they have finished so that they can begin work immediately.

Packages can be arranged to suit individual needs, regardless of which course or how many weeks’ training are selected. For more information or advice, phone Able Skills on 0808 100 3245 or visit the website at www.ableskills.co.uk

Realise your potential with E.ON

Ex-Forces personnel are thriving at one of the UK’s leading electricity and gas companies E.ON (see the advertisement on page 79), which is looking for self-disciplined and determined candidates to fill lucrative sales roles.

E.ON is recruiting full and part-time Home Energy Consultants to sell electricity and gas on a door to door basis. It’s a job that’s appealed to many ex-Forces people, who’ve been attracted by the company car, benefits package and the opportunity to earn up to £36k* per year.

“The pension scheme is the best I’ve seen in the industry,” said former Lance Corporal and Team Manager Tristan Parnham. Although previous sales experience is not essential, E.ON do need people who are highly motivated and enjoy working outside to challenging targets. In return, new recruits attend an in-depth two week training course, have access to the latest sales technology and receive regular in the field coaching.

“The financial rewards are great,” said Dave Hall, a former RAF air traffic controller who works as a Home Energy Consultant in Staffordshire. “Ultimately, it’s all about believing in yourself and never giving up, so my RAF background has helped me immensely.”

Added former army engineer and Team Manager Larry Stroud: “If you’re a people person with a ‘can do’ attitude, then E.ON is the place to realise your potential. Joining the company is the best thing I’ve ever done.”

To apply for the role of Home Energy Consultant, please call 0800 068 5274 or email fieldsales@eonenergy.com

*£15K basic, which depending on satisfactory performance, rises to £17K after 6 months and £19K after a further 12 months. Plus realistic commission of £17K (uncapped).