Leamington Spa-based Risk Evolves are taking part in an initiative with the Armed Forces where personnel preparing to leave the services are provided with an opportunity to shadow staff members as a way of providing experience, easing them into the commercial world.

Risk Evolves are Risk Management experts based in Leamington Spa. The growing team support hundreds of busy businesses to manage their risk, including data privacy compliance, information security, health & safety and sustainability.

The importance of experience

Barri Graham, Lead Information & Security Consultant, came up with the idea after recognising the difficulty of integrating back into the workforce after he left the services. The step from military to civilian employment is a significant undertaking. Imagine losing your family, friends, lifestyle, and sense of security. It is not for the faint of heart.

Barri says: “I was in the same place as Jesse in 2018 with no-one to help. I left the Army and needed to consolidate my skills but only gained experience on the job. So, I wanted to pay it forward and help others prepare for what’s to come after leaving the forces.”

“This arrangement allows military personnel to understand how their skills can be applied in real world settings and provide that all important confidence boost. It is step one in eliminating impostor syndrome, which many other retiring military personnel have reported as feeling after making this leap.”

Support for the initiative

Helen Barge, Managing Director at Risk Evolves, has been fully supportive of the initiative from the start and the team are grateful. “I’m hopeful that this approach may be replicated by other businesses. The military has a pool of resources who would both benefit from the type of experience that we offer, and who would in turn be an asset to organisations. There’s a perception that this is the type of opportunity that only larger businesses can offer, but the reality is all SME’s have much to offer. I believe that Risk Evolves are pioneering how to make this talented resource pool visible to a wider audience.

The transition to civilian life

Jesse, who’s been shadowing fellow teammate Barri, (who was previously Jesse’s first Sergeant Major in the forces) is the 2nd of 4 work placements. Colleague John joined the team earlier this month and new recruit Alex will join later this year. Jesse believes that the ability to contextualise a business outside of the military is so much easier having undertaken a placement in the industry you aim to work in. He notes that it’s been a truly positive experience and has already enjoyed a couple of offers of work.

Phill Davies, who currently works at Risk Evolves after successfully undertaking the experience, agrees: “This opportunity is mutually agreeable to all parties, it helped me transition out of the forces smoothly and allows commercial businesses to capitalise on our unique skillsets. We have the qualifications and the experience but there is still a level of patience needed in easing us into civilian life and I very much value that.”

Armed Forces Covenant and moving forward

In addition to the initiative, Risk Evolves are also signing the Armed Forces Covenant and plan to work towards bronze and silver status. More about the Covenant can be found here: https://www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk.