The Armed Forces Covenant does not cover employment and training. However lots of help and support is available to service leavers, veterans and their families:
Specialist Armed Forces support
RFEA - the Forces Employment Charity
RFEA, the Forces Employment Charity provides help to service leavers, veterans and family members including:
- Advice on career choices
- Researching the job market
- Job matching
- Training
- Recommendations for courses and education opportunities
- Support for writing a CV
- Advice on interview techniques
The Poppy Factory provides employment support for those with a mental or physical health condition.
XForces provides self employment support for Veterans.
Service Spouse Employment Support
Service Spouse Employment Support provides information aimed at helping family members
Careers Transition Partnership (CTP)
The Careers Transition Partnership (CTP) provides advice and guides on civilian employment. The site also provides information about current job opportunities in your area.
Telephone 01752 986350
Email: rcplymouth@ctp.org.uk
The Royal British Legion has specific employment grants available.
Active Plus is a Cornwall based Community Interest Company. It uses the skills, experience and expertise of injured and retired veterans to deliver unique programmes. These aim to build confidence, improve motivation and generate a sense of belonging and self worth.
Veterans or service-leavers can find out more about opportunities with Active Plus by contacting: admin@activeplus.org.uk
Health & Wellbeing Innovation Centre Treliske Truro TR1 3FF.
Telephone 01326 567174
The Step into Health programme provides opportunities to find employment with NHS organisations.
Other general employment support in Cornwall
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly People Hub
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly People Hub provides free and confidential advice and support on employment and training.
Telephone 0333 0150699
The Inclusion Cornwall website provides information for people seeking work or facing redundancy in Cornwall and Plymouth:
Resource Sheets - Inclusion Cornwall
The National Careers Service provides one to one support. It can help with planning next steps, improving skills and finding alternative employment.
To get started call 0800 100 900 to speak to an adviser or arrange a local/online appointment. Or visit the website to look at the range of support information on the website and use the online chat facility.
Further education and training providers
Truro and Penwith College and Cornwall College deliver a wide variety of short courses, further and higher education courses and apprenticeships. They can help you to retrain, gain extra qualifications or learn new skills.
Truro and Penwith College: Telephone 01872 267000
Cornwall College: Telephone 0845 2232567
The Adult Education service provides learning programmes to help adults develop:
- skills
- knowledge
- judgement
- interests and creativity
Telephone: 0300 1231 117
Self-Employment/Starting a Business
Government advice and guidance on starting your own business:
School for Social Entrepreneurs Cornwall
The School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) helps people to develop personal and professional skills. It delivers programmes to support and equip people to:
- start, scale and strengthen social enterprises
- realise their ambitions
- create social change
Telephone: 01872 306130
Email : admin.cornwall@sse.org.uk
Outset is an award-winning national programme of tailored advice and support. It helps people in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly start, run and grow their own business. They provide support through practical, informal sessions, online learning, and tailored 1:1 support. They can help with:
- an initial chat with one of their business advisors exploring whether self-employment is for you
- attending a specialist workshop on subjects such as social media and building a website
- helping you secure finance or meet other business owners through regular networking events
Telephone: 01209 311063