British Forces Resettlement Service National Careers Fair, Colchester 8^th June 10.30-14.00

• BFRS National Careers Fairs are an extremely successful and integral part of the British Forces Resettlement Service, aimed at connecting military service-leavers with careers in civilian life.

Get ready Colchester, because British Forces Resettlement Services (BFRS) is coming to the historic Colchester Garrison with its first-ever National Careers Fair staged in Colchester on the 8^th June 2023! For over 2000 years, the Garrison has been home to military history, and now it's time for the Armed Forces community, including veterans, service leavers, reservists and their families, to take the lead.

The Corporal Budd VC Gymnasium on Berechurch Rd, located in the heart of the Garrison, will be transformed into a hub of activity, showcasing a variety of exciting career opportunities. Exhibitors from a diverse range of sectors such as engineering, logistics, construction, and defence will be on hand to offer attendees invaluable insights into the various career paths available. And with over 60 exhibitors present, there will be thousands of jobs available for attendees to explore.

But the National Careers Fair isn't just about finding the perfect job. There are some great training providers present to support attendees in making their journey into civilian life smoother. They will provide practical knowledge and skills to help enhance employability.

Best of all, the event is free and open to all service leavers, veterans, and their families from various backgrounds and experiences. Brace yourself for a day of fun while connecting with like-minded individuals who are also transitioning from military to civilian life and sharing experiences!

BFRS works closely with exhibitors, many of whom are signed signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant, helping to promote civilian career paths, training courses and opportunities, making this a unique opportunity for attendees to meet with companies and support services that can enhance their employability in “civilian street”.

Don't miss out on this exciting event that promises a combination of fun and career opportunities all in one place!

This event is proudly sponsored by AIS Survivex and NASC (National Access and Scaffolding Confederation).

Case Study

Military man lands new wind job thanks to AIS Survivex training programme

A training course to reskill former Military personnel for the wind industry has helped Army mechanic, Jack Taylor scoops a full-time renewables job with Correll Group. Just four weeks after completing the AIS Survivex ‘Military to Wind’ training course, which is part funded by Elcas, Jack landed his first wind role as a fibre-optic installer with Correll, the leading global specialists in offshore and onshore high-voltage cabling.

Jack explains:

“After a decade as a vehicle mechanic in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), I felt ready to move on, so it was me who opted for career change.

The wind industry is fast-growing and mechanical engineering skills are in high demand, so it seemed like a great option.”

“AIS Survivex offers Elcas-approved training so most of my course was paid for with funding. For the remaining cost, I took out interest-free finance with AIS Survivex, making it really affordable.”

Jack spent three weeks at AIS Survivex gaining all the relevant qualifications to work in the wind industry. Within a month of completing his training he secured a full-time job at Correll. Jack continues:

“I feel incredibly lucky. It’s all been a bit of a whirlwind - within just two months I’ve completely changed careers and am now looking forward to setting foot on my first wind turbine. “The training experience at AIS Survivex was fantastic and really prepared me for my new role. As well as providing in-depth knowledge, the instructors were great and the food was out of this world! I can’t thank AIS Survivex and Correll Group enough for helping me to make this exciting life change.”

Harry Dean, founder and CEO of BFRS, said, "We are delighted to announce our first National Careers Fair in Colchester, which we hope will provide a fantastic platform for service leavers, veterans, and their families to explore their career options.”

“Our goal is to help them make a successful transition into civilian life by connecting them with employers and support services. We encourage all service leavers and veterans to attend and make the most of this unique opportunity. The results speak for themselves with many attendees gaining employment and new career paths after attending one of our events"

To register for the event, please visit the BFRS website. Registration is free, and attendees will have the chance to win exciting prizes, including training courses and work experience opportunities.”

ENDS

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

EVENT DETAILS:

BFRS National Careers Fair – Colchester.

Date: Thursday June 8th, 2023, from 10:30 to 14:00hrs.

Location: Corporal Budd VC Gymnasium, Berechurch Rd, Colchester, CO2 9RQ.

Free entry for attendees - turn up on the day or pre-register to reserve your place at https://bfrss.org.uk/events/760624/

We encourage attendees to bring their CVs with them to demonstrate their credentials to employers. However, CV help is provided on the day.

ABOUT BFRS:

As a social enterprise, BFRS provides services to tackle social problems and improve the life chances of the Armed Forces Community. The key to this is knowing that military resettlement is more than just the brief time when leaving the services, and that it isn't just personnel from the regular forces who are affected. Therefore, all the services BFRS deliver are open to Service Leavers, Reserve Forces, Veterans, civilian MOD employees, as well as partners and families, and it doesn't matter how long or how long, ago people served. BFRS offer an ongoing service.

Please note: BFRS is a social enterprise organisation, not a registered charity.

CONTACT:

For further information or any press enquiries, please email Sonja Tombling, BFRS Marketing Executive at sonja.tombling@bfrss.org.uk or call 02476 939 930/ 07833 309393

PHOTOGRAPHS: These photographs were taken at previous Careers Fair in 2022.