What was your occupation before joining the construction plant sector?

I served 12 years in the Royal Airforce as a logistics supplier. I was responsible for the distribution of kit, equipment and RAF assets. I specialised in tactical fuels and fixed wing refuelling, dealing with battlefield helicopters. Wherever the helicopters went, I went. This would require me to travel for long periods at a time, often to austere locations. The role was challenging, but very rewarding.

Why did you make a career change?

I loved serving in the Royal Airforce. I am proud to have served my country. However, it got to a point where I was going around in circles. I am more of a hands-on person, but my role became primarily desk-based, and I missed being in the outdoors. After careful consideration, I decided to see what challenges civvy street had to offer.

How was the transition from leaving the Royal Airforce to joining the construction industry?

I initially found it very difficult. I struggled a lot after leaving the Armed Forces. Obviously, you are leaving behind a great team, and a way of life that you become accustomed to. When I was on my resettlement, I was offered a lucrative job opportunity. However, the role would have been primarily office based, and that was not where I saw my future. I found myself reverting back to route one.

I had all my lorry licenses, so I done a bit of driving for a while. However, that did not provide me with the work-life balance that I craved after leaving the Armed Forces. I felt like I was driving my life away. I started to research different career paths, and that is when I came across the Skills Bootcamp in Plant Operations. I immediately felt excited. It was something I could do, and it would be working in the outdoors, which is what I was looking for. I applied immediately. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

How did you feel when you were offered a position on the Skills Bootcamp in Plant Operations?

I was over the moon. I promptly received a call from the Operator Skills Hub training team and was then registered onto the programme. After discussing my prior experience with the training team, they recommended that I join the tractor programme. This was the best match based on my experience and my future career goals. The first day on the Skills Bootcamp was very exciting. I felt like a small fish in a big pond, but I did not allow my nerves to get the better of me. You learn the fundamentals in the Army – you feel comfortable being uncomfortable. You know how to adapt, overcome and face whatever is in front of you.

Did you enjoy the training provided on the Skills Bootcamp in Plant Operations?

The training was brilliant. The trainers and the team behind the scenes are supportive throughout the 2-week intense course. The trainers are experienced plant operators themselves, so they have been in your seat before. Many have military backgrounds too. They demonstrate everything they teach and fully prepare you for working on-site.

Did you secure a job opportunity after the Skills Bootcamp?

Yes. I received my guaranteed interview, which is part of the Skills Bootcamp offering, and I got the job. I now work for Flannery on a tractor. I am gaining lots of experience and harnessing my skills each day.

Do you feel you have made the right career transition?

I have definitely made the right career transition. I have got the work-life balance and the income that I could only have dreamt of before. I’ve doubled my salary from the military, and I am home every night with my wife and kids. I have not got to work the long hours that I did when I was truck diving. It is the perfect career choice for me.

Do you receive ongoing support on-site?

The support does not stop when you leave the Skills Bootcamp. The team have continued to keep in touch beyond that. They are always on hand to help when I need it. Starting a full-time role on-site can be daunting, but Flannery sent out a trainer on day 1 who immediately put me at ease. He provided full familiarisation training on the tractor that I had been allocated. The trainers are like mentors, and they want to see learners succeed.

What skills can ex-military personnel bring into the construction industry?

We are regimented, disciplined, polite, and always on time, everything that is instilled into us from day one in the military, the construction industry is looking for. The industry has a huge skills shortage, and ex-military have the transferable skills that it needs.

How can the Skills Bootcamp help other ex-military personnel?

The Skills Bootcamp can help ex-military massively. I have now worked in the industry for around 7 months, and I have realised that it is full of military veterans. Working in the outdoors, in a ‘goal-focused’ environment, and working with a great team of people, has given me my purpose back.

I would say to any ex-military personnel – Just do it! If you can deploy to random places all around world at a moment of notice, then this will be easy for you. Get online, sign up to the Skills Bootcamp in Plant Operations and just do it.

What are your next steps on your career journey?

I would like to enhance my skills on the tractor and undergo training on more attachments. This will ensure that I am versatile on-site. In future, I would like to complete another Skills Bootcamp on a Telehandler. Ultimately, I want to keep improving my skills and continue to deliver work to the highest standard.

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