Forces: Ex-RAF
Keith W - Corporal
"I was lost and unsure of my future when I picked up the phone to my Career Consultant and asked for help. I was directed and guided along a successful path to employment, and without the help I was given I would probably not have found my job; for that I am extremely grateful.”
Keith W served for twelve years in the RAF, initially as a Ground Support Equipment Technician, followed by eight years as a Specialist Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technician. During this time, Keith completed a number of vocational training courses to support his role, including various Engineering, Team Leading and Health & Safety qualifications.
Just over a year before his official discharge date, Keith began the resettlement process by attending a Career Transition Workshop at RRC Cottesmore. He says, “I gained excellent links to finding relevant jobs, and having the opportunity to meet with a Career Consultant to compile a CV was priceless.”
During his initial one-to-one meeting, Keith identified potential areas in which he could utilise his existing skills, and was interested in pursuing a training position within the Mechanical Engineering sector. Keith decided to use his Graduated Resettlement Time (GRT) to complete a Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTILLS) course, a Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocational Achievement, and an Institution of Mechanical Engineers LEAN Design course. Keith encourages other Service leavers to make the most of their resettlement entitlement: “I most definitely would advise anyone to use their Enhanced Learning Credits and resettlement grant, because now that I am back in the real world, these funds are not so easy to come by.”
Keith also used the CTP website, including personalised area myPlan, and says that it provided, “excellent links to courses and a Personal Resettlement Plan to keep me on track throughout my resettlement period.” Keith used a number of different websites as part of his job search, and applied for his current role via the website of the employer, Mid Cheshire College in Northwich.
Keith was successful in the interview process, and is now employed as Mechanical Engineering Vocational/Apprenticeship Assessor. The job involves travelling to various engineering companies around Cheshire to assess mechanical engineering students completing apprenticeships through the college, ensuring they fulfil the assessment criteria of the awarding body.
Keith says, “I support the apprentices throughout their apprenticeships, to ensure they are successful and meet their goals. I also liaise with the companies who employ the apprentices to ensure they are supportive and that they are getting what they expect from both the college and the apprentice. I will also be teaching engineering subjects in the near future.” He says he faced no real obstacles when settling into the role: “I found it relatively easy to settle into a new career and have not looked back.”
Keith uses much of his military training and experience on a day-to-day basis, whilst also being able to share his knowledge with the apprentices. He says that, “experience of leading teams of engineers in harsh conditions and working under extreme pressure has given me vital life experience which I can pass on to my students/learners. I also worked with people from many different parts of the world, which has given me an appreciation of different cultures and has been extremely useful in my new role.”
Keith’s final advice to others is: “Particularly for Service leavers leaving on medical discharge, I would advise them to use the CTP support available to them. I was lost and unsure of my future when I picked up the phone to my Career Consultant and asked for help. I was directed and guided along a successful path to employment, and without the help I was given I would probably not have found my job; for that I am extremely grateful.”
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