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If you are looking for more flexible employment options to fit in with the mobile lifestyle or are considering a career change, there is lots of support out there to help you prepare for new employment and reskill.
Training for Forces family members
On Forces Families Jobs you will find an extensive list of free and funded training opportunities for family members of currently serving UK military personnel.
Free and funded training opportunities and qualifications
Accountancy, Finance and Business online through ACCA-X
ACCA-X is an exciting low-cost way to study via an online learning programme to support learners everywhere interested in accountancy, finance and business.
Free online courses:
AWS re:Start
Amazon Web Services re:Start is a training and job placement programme, launched by AWS, for the UK to educate young adults as well as military veterans, reservists, and their spouses, on the latest software development and cloud computing technologies.
BFBS Academy
BFBS Academy run vocational and academic courses to build skills and inspire confidence. They offer accredited courses specifically designed to upskill veterans and service leavers, as well as military spouses and partners. Additionally, the Academy offers serving military an ELCAS funded course in Photography which is fully accredited.
Google Digital Garage
Online courses, designed for you to grow your career or business. Choose your course, register, and start learning today.
“Being a military wife means I move around a lot and I have not worked since my daughter was born over a year ago so studying is helping me get back into work and do something for myself again. I was lucky enough to speak to my Families Federation representative at a coffee morning and she put me in touch with the ACCA.
“The ACCA qualifications allow me to study at a time to suit me, I am able to do the course in the evening and I don’t have to travel or find child care in order to study. I have found the course both enjoyable and challenging but most importantly it enables me to learn without having large fees to pay and it is flexible”.
Further Education and Higher Education
- Further and Higher Education options
If you are interested in pursuing Further or Higher Education go to our education pages for more information.
Funding for training
The RAF Benevolent Fund can, in some cases, provide financial assistance to those who have found themselves unemployed and need help to cover the cost of training courses, as well as information around options.
Preparing for employment and career advice
There are many routes available when it comes to preparing yourself for employment.
National Careers Service
The National Careers Service provide careers information, advice and guidance. They can help you to make decisions on learning, training and work at all stages in your career. This service is available to people who live in England.
Careers Wales
Careers Wales can help you to plan your career, prepare to get a job, and find and apply for the right apprenticeships, courses and training.
Skills Development Scotland
Skills Development Scotland is the national skills body supporting the people and businesses of Scotland to develop and apply their skills.
Employment Support Officer (Northern Ireland)
The Families Employment Support Officer provides spouses / partners of Service personnel in Northern Ireland with information, advice and guidance on all aspects of seeking employment, further education and training throughout their time in Northern Ireland. Please contact [email protected] for more information.
LifeWorks
Identify your strengths, career and training opportunities with support from Lifeworks, a division of The Royal British Legion. They can help develop your CV writing, interview techniques and increase your confidence. Courses are available for anyone who has served or spouses/partners. Each course is free, funded by various charitable trust funds and the Armed Forces Covenant.
RBL
Prepare for employment with RBL. Get advice on how to put your skills to good use to find the best job for you.
Wellbeing and employment workshop for partners of RAF personnel
The RAF Benevolent Fund has a programme called Thrive, which aims to help partners overcome a potential lack of experience, qualifications, writing CVs or interview skills as barriers and aims to:
- increase the employability of partners who are looking for paid employment
- further the skills of partners who are already resourceful
- explore alternatives to paid employment
- improve overall wellbeing and emotional resilience
- reduce social isolation
Recruit for Spouses Career Academy
The RFS Career Academy assists spouses into work, providing you with the tools to develop, grow and gain confidence in the workplace. They offer tailored coaching, mentoring, training and job preparation and to help you back into fulfilling employment.
