Making the best of yourself

Some people will not involve themselves in lifelong learning – the process through which individuals improve their knowledge and skills throughout their lives to enable them to achieve all the goals they set themselves. They may be fortunate and survive in a competitive world, but they are more likely to end up in a dead-end job with little opportunity to improve their lives. And they will probably also find that they missed out on promotion in the Forces because there was someone just that bit better qualified.

Learning is now a normal part of life for anyone who is going to get ahead. The old (and false) idea that only rich, intellectually advanced, academically gifted people get degrees has been exploded. Nowadays just under half of all people in the UK go to university or take an alternative Level 4 qualification, so anyone below this is already in the bottom half of the population in educational terms. This makes it more difficult for them to get employment that reflects their capabilities.

For those happy in junior roles with no desire to get ahead, there may be no point in chasing qualifications unless knowing more about things in general or one area in particular is of interest. Some people enjoy life and can make a huge contribution to the general good without ever seeking to better themselves. For many, however, a desire for advancement, status, money, self-fulfilment, or even the drive of a partner encourages them towards ‘greater things’.

Training has been a key component of the activities of all three Services for many years. A huge slice of the defence budget has always been spent on preparing people for operations, and on the facilities that are required to support such preparation. And training is now more closely aligned with and accredited to civilian qualifications. This most welcome shift is of considerable benefit to the individual who gains the recognition. Service education has now caught up, and offers the individual less military-specific skills than training because its content and qualifications may be exported to new employers.

There has never been a better time for a Service person who wishes to add some education to what is already first-class training. Despite the level of operational commitments, line managers and education staffs are more aware than ever of its importance in terms of personal development. The introduction of Enhanced Learning Credits, alongside Standard Learning Credits and Individual Resettlement Training Costs, makes some £10,000 tax free available over a 22-year career towards personal development projects that can largely be selected by the individual.

The cry of ‘there’s no time’ cuts little ice. Military leave is generous, the routine working day in barracks is often short, and a great deal of time on operations may be spent on stand-by. The civilian who is working regular ten-hour days with a one-hour commute at either end may well try to fit in some personal fitness and family life, so comparative workloads are often similar. Both may have to juggle time to be able to study.

Civilians will almost certainly not get the same funding and support for learning as that available to Service people, unless they are very high flyers indeed. Nevertheless the ones that get ahead accept that it is up to each individual to make the best of their working life, their hobbies and pastimes. People who do not get this message will be left behind by those who do, in uniform as well as out of it.

To ensure that Quest readers make the most of the opportunities available, we suggest you get hold of a copy of Courses 4 Forces,the quarterly guide on how to use Enhanced Learning Credits and the other funds available to you. You should also read the article on page XX to understand how Britain’s economy works and its effect on employment. After all, it is clearly important to make sense of something that affects every aspect of our lives. There is also an article on vocational qualifications to explain some of the opportunities open to you to improve the skills you already possess or to embark on new ones.

Perennial career favourites include the security industry with its new qualification requirements, sport and fitness, and diving. All these sectors have obvious relevance to military experience and historically recruit large numbers of Service leavers. To get ahead in transport and driving needs qualifications and we cover these in outline, alongside an insight into the key building trades of which the UK has such a shortage and such a growing requirement.

Descriptions of the work of the Merchant Navy and the Coastguard, and aviation engineering may primarily be of interest to the Service specialist in these areas; but people can change their employment areas very radically so it is worth considering every option before dismissing some of them. Finally, we preview October’s Franchise Exhibition in Birmingham and how it can help the budding business person.