News

April Round-up

Career Transition Partnership (CTP) Employment Fair

It was encouraging to see such a strong turnout at the CTP Employment Fair in Edinburgh, with representatives from 90 businesses and over 400 military personnel in attendance. It was also a great opportunity to hear an update on changes to the CTP delivery contract, which will see Service leavers offered more support for finding jobs in civilian life.

Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company

I was delighted to attend an event celebrating the 5th birthday of Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company, where they were awarded with a King's Award for Enterprise. Research led by Glasgow Caledonian University evidenced real impact on the lives of veterans working there, including increased skills and confidence. It was a pleasure catching up with inspirational Training Manager Julie, as well as hearing from veterans that I had met on a previous visits about how they continue to benefit from working in a supportive environment.

Scottish Veteran Awards

I had an inspiring evening at the Scottish Veterans Awards, meeting with many of the winners and finalists and hearing about their achievements. It was a privilege to meet Christian Jetuah and present him with the Reservist of the Year Award. The Awards are an excellent showcase of the impact that veterans can make in business, fitness, sport and the wider community, and an opportunity to recognise the companies that go above and beyond to support the military community.

Female Veterans Transformation Programme

I had a meeting with Liza Jarvis, Project Lead of the Female Veterans Transformation Programme (FVTP), to discuss the importance of ensuring that the voices of women veterans across Scotland are heard.

The Programme launched its consultation and co-production phase last month, in which it is seeking the views of women veterans and the services that support them to complete an online questionnaire and consider taking part in focus groups.

You can learn more about the FVTP and getting involved here.

Veterans working in the NHS

I was invited along to St John's Hospital in Livingston where staff in the Armed Forces Network were sharing a 'NAAFI break'.

It was great to meet veterans in a wide range of NHS Scotland roles from administration to engineering, and to hear more about their varied career paths which took them from the military to our NHS.