Remembrance Day — Supporting Armed Forces Apprentices

The Armed Forces have always been close to my heart.

I was born in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, the son of an RAF Military Police Sergeant. We traveled the world; I went to school in several countries, wherever my father’s job stationed him. When my father left the RAF in 1976, we ended up moving to Cornwall. I married Lisa, a Nurse Specialist at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, and we've lived in the small market town of Stroud, Gloucestershire ever since. The town overlooks the Welsh mountains; I'm a very keen landscape photographer and hiker, so this is a wonderful place to be.

At Firebrand, I'm an Apprenticeship Learning Mentor. I support a caseload of apprentices who pursue a Level 4 Network Engineering Apprenticeship; they work for a range of businesses. My role is multi-faceted; we're there for our learners through every stage of their Apprenticeship, empowering and encouraging them during the ups and downs of this complex journey. My first cohort, in March 2021, were BT learners, many of whom were feeling the mental health effects of the Covid-19 lockdowns and having to work from home; many were past their planned end dates.

My jobs have always combined technology and helping people understand it; I find helping people retrain for new roles and careers very fulfilling and rewarding, and especially enjoyed helping people in the Armed Forces. 

Back in the day, my first job was Computer Applications Instructor, where I trained people to use a range of computer software, from word processing, spreadsheets, payroll, to accountancy and computer programming. Following that, I worked as Lead Programmer for a large Westcountry firm of stockbrokers; I computerised all their back office and customer-facing systems including portfolio management, capital gain tax management, customer databases, and asset forecasting.

Following that, I entered the field of education more fully, working as IT Manager for a local education authority in West Somerset. I became the go-to troubleshooter for various networking infrastructure issues. During this time, I was invited to head up an Avon and Somerset initiative to educate parents and children about the dangers of being online and how to stay safe and got involved with Think You Know and the National Crime Agency CEOP educational programmes.

I felt drawn to passing everything I learnt in my career to the young, which led me to move to one of England's largest training academies. During this time, I worked on contracts delivering advanced IT Apprenticeships for the Royal Navy and British Army. I was allowed to go onboard ship for the Royal Navy and also travel in the back of army Land Rovers and Warrior tracked vehicles with 24 Commando based at RMB Chivenor, 26 and 32 Engineer regiments on Salisbury Plain, doing observations of the military personnel doing their IT roles in the field. I got to know many of the personnel well including some of the high-ranking ones.

The highlight of my career working with the Armed Forces was successfully bagging the Army Advanced Apprentice of the Year 2016 having supported LCpl Liam Molloy of 26 Engineer Regiment to success!

Following this, I joined Firebrand, which has a track record of supporting the training of armed forces and police forces in the UK. I feel valued, supported and part of what I can only describe as one big happy family of employees. To say I am content and fulfilled in my role might be an understatement. Supporting apprentices is an experience like no other and I look back on it with pride.