SkillsActive, the sector skills council for active learning and leisure, is organising a special employment and training fair for veterans those looking to leave the Armed Services. The event offers much needed support to the Armed Forces as the Ministry of Defence has this week announced 4,200 job cuts in a second round of Armed Forces redundancies. The Fair, to be held at Surrey Sports Park, in Guildford, Surrey, will be held on Thursday 8 March 2012, marking the start of SkillsActive’s Change Gear programme. The Change Gear Programme is designed to offer specific career change support to ensure those leaving the Services are empowered to make informed decisions about the opportunities available to them in the sport, health and fitness, outdoors, play work, health and beauty, and caravans industries.

Ronald McDonald doesn’t manage all of his burger restaurants and neither does Burger King – he sits around in his burger palace counting his money. Many of our familiar high street brands are in fact franchises. The idea is simple. Take a trusted brand that everyone knows and replicate it ‘cookie cutter’ style. Every burger, every sandwich and every cup of coffee tastes exactly the same anywhere you purchase it in the UK or for the really big brands, around the world. Rather than go through the blood sweat toil and tears of setting up your own business (or brand) from scratch, franchising enables a new business to hit the ground running with everything that the brand has in spades to hand: appeal, standards and reputation. Building a business It’s because of this reason that franchisors (th

The latest news regarding redundancies and cuts will give some Ex-Service Personnel a rare opportunity to change direction through re-training or gaining extra qualifications. Opportunities to change direction after we’ve been in a particular career for a long time are rare. It isn’t impossible or especially difficult but it does take a positive decision (sometimes into the unknown) to make it happen. All of the same excuses get churned out: haven’t got time, I’m too old, I’m comfortable in my career and I don’t want to spend money on training are just a few that come to mind. It’s usually a choice that people take their time over but of course since the announcement of redundancies, things have changed. If you’re looking at re-training or adding extra qualifications to your CV, there are

The job market is tough right now. In fact, it’s always been tough and it always will be. What you need is a reputable expert on the matter to help you to get through it. Recruitment Agencies can help. You may well have spent the best part of your adult life in the Forces. This is no bad thing but it will mean, particularly if you joined up straight from school, that you have little or no experience of finding a job. Fortunately, recruitment agencies can help to give you the best possible chance in the job market, that even on a good day, can be tough. Recruitment agencies literally represent you in the job market. Normally a candidate would approach them with his or her CV for an initial assessment and some idea of the type of jobs or sectors they’d like to work in or feel that they would be best su

On leaving the Armed Forces some personnel choose to work towards qualifications that will gain them access to new areas of employment. Rather than scruffing down and becoming a campus based student, distance learning is often the preferred option. Distance learning gives students an opportunity to take courses from remote locations to the institution that teaches them. The most famous institution of this type in the UIK is undoubtedly the Open University but many of the major universities both here and abroad will run distance learning courses. Registering Out of sight doesn’t mean out of mind. After registering on a course you’ll be assigned to a tutor who will be responsible for setting projects and activities and will advise you on how to go about completing them. Once the project has been compl

Starting a business is fraught with risk. Franchising is a superb way to lower that risk and increase your chances of success; Civvy Street spoke with Chairman of the British Franchising Association, Michael Eyre to find out how. Michael Eyre has 30 years experience of franchising under his belt. During this time he’s developed a keen eye for the skills and qualities that add up to an effective franchisee. Top of the list, according to Michael is: “Undoubtedly, a genuine desire to work for one’s self. I say that because many people considering franchising think that they’re buying themselves a job.” He says, before wisely adding: “Particularly in times like this when employment is uncertain and redundancies are rife. They’re not. There’s added value in taking on a franchise. Whilst you’re

Does the freedom of the road make driving an appealing career choice back in civvy street? We speak with SMW Training about the qualifications you need. WORDS: PAUL F COCKBURN SMW training has been in business for little more than two and a half years but its two founders have, between them, more than 35 years training in the transport sector, according to director Howard Moore. “We’re involved very much in transport training – all aspects of LGV from licence acquisition, to delivery of the new CPC qualification that all drivers need to have,” he explains. “We cover subjects such as drivers’ hours, tachographs, digital and analogue, covering the legal side of things – to name but a few as far as LGVs are concerned.” Although based in Shropshire and mid-Wales (hence the company’s name)

A Royal Navy Sea King helicopter from HMS Gannet in Prestwick, Scotland, battled difficult conditions yesterday morning, Monday 5 December, to rescue a woman on the Isle of Arran.

TV presenter and journalist Lorraine Kelly joined members of the Armed Forces at the Tower of London today to launch the annual Christmas Box campaign for the Armed Forces.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has visited the British Army's rapid reaction force, meeting its soldiers and learning about the equipment they use on operations.