Preparing for civilian employment

Great to host our third Ex-Forces day this year at Suited for Success on Thursday 22nd November. We were joined by a team of 13 business managers and staff from the National Grid volunteering with us for the day. Men and women were referred by a number of ex-forces charities and city job centres all wanting to find employment after leaving the forces.

The National Grid team spent the morning carrying out job interview coaching sessions, also dressing and styling the ex-military clients for up and coming job interviews.

From leaving the Royal Marines after serving for 9 years or the HM Forces British army after several years’ service to recently finishing 24 years of service as a military dental nurse, the ex-service men and women who attended the day are now looking to apply their professional transferable skills gained while serving to a range of civilian employment sectors.

The Royal British Legion, Combat Stress and the Poppy Factory are just a few of the ex-forces charities we are working closely with on our ex-forces strand of work at Suited for Success.

Exposure to corporate companies

The Poppy Factory provides bespoke support for wounded, injured and sick veterans into employment. Director of Operations, Sarah Casemore says the support from corporate businesses gives the veterans a real boast of confidence and helps them re-focus for their journey into employment.

“Working with Suited for Success the feedback we have received from veterans reflects the benefit that they obtain from exposure to corporate companies gaining top tips from people who recruit in relation to CVs, job searching and interview skills also having some special time when receiving their interview suit makeover through an individual personalised approach to help them re-focus for the journey ahead."

It was great to also have a visit on the day by a Regimental Quartermaster sergeant major based at the 22 Signal Regiment, Beacon Barracks, Stafford and PC Nick Wolverson from Birmingham West Offender Management Unit also a veterans champion, both popping in to see our ex-forces day in action with a view to refer veterans they come in contact with needing some support.

The National Grid team were blown away by the professional backgrounds of the ex-forces men and women they coached on the day and couldn’t believe that so many struggle to find employment when leaving the forces. Commenting about the day Customer & Stakeholder Experience manager Susie Blackwell said: “We all found the volunteering day so rewarding and hope our efforts go some way to helping the ex-forces individuals on their journey into employment.”

See more pictures from the day...