The guest of today’s episode, Heledd Kendrick is the founder of an award-winning social enterprise Recruit for Spouses and a military spouse herself. Sitting down with DRM Senior Account Manager Tony Blaney, she speaks about why she felt the need to start her business, issues military spouses and partners face and also the incredible qualities and talents they can bring to business. Don’t forget to rate Being Forces Friendly on Spotify and check out our social media channels. Links from...

In this new season, we focus on personal stories of different members of the Armed Forces community, to understand their unique experiences and hear more about their lives. In Episode 1, DRM’s National Account Manager Ben Onions chats to Army veteran Michael Neville who is now a manager at Netcompany. Mike talks about his passion for Army aviation, flying the Apache helicopter in combat, and transitioning to a career in digital technology. Don’t forget to rate Being Forces Friendly on...

What support can leavers of the Armed Forces access and why should employers hire ex-military staff? In this episode, Nat Haynes (Assistant Director RM, DRM) sits down with Lorraine Cadle and James Moore from Career Transition Partnership (CTP), the official provider of resettlement, to discuss the support CTP provides for leavers of the Armed Forces, from resettlement training courses and workshops to assistance in job searching. They talk about the importance of supporting those leaving...

Since 2014, Defence Relationship Management (DRM) has partnered with organisations across the UK, helping them understand the value of signing the Armed Forces Covenant and building mutually beneficial partnerships with Defence. In this episode, DRM’s Director Neil ‘Jacko’ Jackson sits down with the Senior Management team to chat about DRM as an organisation, providing an insight into its structure and mission. Tracy Halpin (Operations Manager), Tony Blaney (Senior Account Manager), Eloise...

The host for this episode, Sam Berkson, National Account Manager at DRM, talks with two reservists that work for Northern – Ryan Wells and Geraint Bartie. Northern signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2021 and subsequently achieved a Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award in 2022. By being a supportive employer in this way, Northern enables their reservists to balance both their civilian careers as well as their military service. In the episode, Ryan and Geraint outline the benefits and...

This episode’s host is Kate Lole, one of three Regional Employer Engagement Directors based in the South East. She talks to Shaun Cunningham of Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, Laura Farrow of South Central Ambulance Service and Stuart Bosley of Thames Valley Police.  During the episode, Kate and our guests discuss the importance of the Armed Forces Covenant, the Employer Recognition Scheme and how these programmes helped shape their support to the Armed Forces community.  ...

Since 1922, veterans with health conditions have been supported into employment by The Poppy Factory. The first of these were disabled veterans of the First World War, who came to work producing Remembrance products for The Royal British Legion. Today, its support also reaches far beyond the factory into communities across England and Wales, helping ex-Forces job seekers on their journey into all kinds of employment. In this episode Neil ‘Jacko’ Jackson (Director, Defence Relationship...

The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) encourages employers to support Defence and inspire others to do the same. The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to Defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant. In episode 15, Jan Cox, Regional Employer Engagement Director for Merseyside, Cheshire and the Isle of Man talks to Matt Burrows, Director of Self...

In this episode Neil ‘Jacko’ Jackson (Director, DRM) spoke to Caroline Bull, a former combat medical technician, who served five years in the British Army. After a successful career in the private security industry, Caroline has spent the past year volunteering with RE:ACT as part of the UK's response to Covid-19 and she is now pursuing a new career as a paramedic. They discuss her military experience, personal transition into a civilian career, volunteering with RE:ACT and taking on a career...

The VETS (Veteran Employment Transition Service) project brings together forces-friendly employers who recognise the values and skills veterans bring to business. The programme enables veterans to connect with mentors from business, attend ready to work initiatives and apply for veteran targeted jobs. In this episode Kylie Groves (DRM’S Veteran and Charities Comms Manager) spoke to veterans Lisa Marr (VETS Programme Manager, Barclays) Emma Morgan (Program Manager EMEA - Global Military...

In this Anzac Day special Neil ‘Jacko’ Jackson (Director, Defence Relationship Management) is joined by Haley Ison (Director, Australian Defence Reserve and Employer Support) and Garrath Williams (Veteran and Director of Veteran Engagement, JopOppo). Against the backdrop of Anzac Day (a day of national significance to both Australians and New Zealanders) the episode draws on the synergies between Australia and the UK. Our guests explore the employer engagement space, the perception of...

Colonel Dame Kelly Holmes is an Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European multi medallist, a dame commander and MBE for services to the military, winner of sports personality of the year, European and world athlete of the year and an honorary colonel in the British Army. She is also an author, podcast host and is passionate about raising awareness of mental health. And she was this year’s Partnering with Defence virtual conference keynote speaker. In this Partnering with Defence special...

On 21 March, the 2021 census will ask respondents to state if they have ever served in the UK Armed Forces, Regular or Reserve. In this episode Neil ‘Jacko’ Jackson (Director, Defence Relationship Management), speaks with Kerryanne Wilde (Census Engagement Manager, Office for National Statistics), Damian Paterson (Deputy Director, Office for Veteran’s Affairs) and General Sir John McColl (Chairman, Cobseo) about the inclusion of this question, what it means for the UK’s veteran population...

Fujitsu is one of the top five information and communication technology providers in the world, with over 5 decades of experience delivering technology solutions to the UK Defence market. They first signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2014, which they re-signed in 2016. They joined the Employer Recognition Scheme and were first awarded Gold ERS in 2015 which was successfully revalidated in 2020. They have been industry leaders in their advocacy of the Armed Forces community for many...

The Career Transition Partnership (CTP) is the official provider of armed forces resettlement. It is a partnering agreement between the Ministry of Defence and Right Management, a global career development and outplacement organisation. CTP have recently launched a brand new Partner Career Support programme (PCSP) to provide career support to spouses and partners of members of the UK Armed Forces. In episode 9, Nat Haynes, Assistant Director of Relationship Management talks to Charlene...

Salesforce is a global leader in cloud enterprise software, helping organisations across the world to use cloud technology to better connect with their employees, customers, partners and communities. They have just received their Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award and are industry leaders in their advocacy for the Armed Forces Community. In Episode 8, DRM’s Veteran’s and Charities Communications manager Kylie Groves sits down with Sarwar Khan, Head of Government Affairs and James Moore,...

Salesforce is a global leader in cloud enterprise software, helping organisations across the world to use cloud technology to better connect with their employees, customers, partners and communities. They have just received their Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award and are industry leaders in their advocacy for the Armed Forces Community. Episode 8 part two continues with DRM’s Veteran’s and Charities Communications manager Kylie Groves talking to Sarwar Khan (Head of Government Affairs)...

DRM enables organisations to develop a mutually beneficial working relationship with the Ministry of Defence (MOD). DRM Account Managers and Regional Employer Engagement Directors actively manage these relationships with employers to ensure the continued support of Defence objectives and the successful implementation of the Armed Forces Covenant. In episode 7, Nat Haynes, Assistant Director of Relationship Management talks to Tony Matthews, National Account Manager at DRM and Jan Cox,...

The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) encourages employers to support Defence and inspire others to do the same. The scheme encompasses Bronze, Silver and Gold awards for organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to Defence and the Armed Forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant. In Episode 6, Phil Marks, National Account Manager at DRM sits down with Roger Morton, the Group Performance Director from Bovis Homes (now part of Vistry...

Please note this episode was recorded prior to the UK Covid-19 Lockdown and any events mentioned to celebrate Armed Forces Week 2020 have been cancelled and are now being celebrated virtually. Episode 5: Reserves Day Special – Part of our Being Forces Friendly on the road series. Reservists play a crucial role in supporting UK defence, contributing many skills in specialist areas and taking part in peacekeeping and operations worldwide, over and above their day jobs. For this episode DRM...

When we think of sport we tend to think about competition and rivalry, but to many sport is more than that. In this episode we explore the role of sport as a vehicle for recovery, confidence building and employability. Our host Alistair Halliday (RFEA) talks to Imran Khalil (Fighting Chance), Fred Hargreaves (Invictus Games) and James Cameron (Mission Motorsport) about how they use sport within their programmes to help veterans, serving personnel and their families overcome employment...

In episode 3 we ask the question ‘What is a Veteran’? Armed Forces veterans Des Fraser (Combat Pest Control), Michelle Osborne (J.P.Morgan) and Paul Kavanagh (Knives Down Gloves Up) join DRM Director and fellow veteran Neil (Jacko) Jackson to talk about what being a veteran means to them. Together they discuss their personal journeys from joining the Armed Forces to transitioning to civilian careers and how those experiences shaped their identity. Delving into the unique experiences of our...

In episode 2, Nat Haynes, Assistant Director DRM, sits down Caroline Woodward from the Royal Air Force Families Federation, Lucy Heaver from the Naval Families Federation and Kirsty Cameron from the Army Families Federation. The three federations are the independent voice for service families between the tri-services. They provide service personnel and their families with professional support and assistance with any issues they might be facing. With a highlight on spousal employment in the...