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Reserve recruitment campaign launches

 20 Mar 15 Tags: , , , ,

The British Army’s new Army Reserve recruitment campaign launched today with a special event at Waterloo Station, with TV adverts hitting screens nationwide and recruitment events across the country, including London. The campaign aims to improve interest in joining by showcasing some of the unique opportunities that reservists get involved in during their spare time and address what is lacking from their current careers. These include the opportunity to travel both in the UK and abroad; the ability to secure professional qualifications for free; the benefit of being paid while training (including regular promotions and pay rises); and the variety of exciting and challenging roles to choose from.

The British Army’s new Army Reserve recruitment campaign launched today with a special event at Waterloo Station

Serving soldiers from London based Reserve units 101 Royal Engineers, 135 Geographic Squadron, the Royal Yeomanry, and 7 Rifles were at London Waterloo Station to speak with interested commuters about the opportunities a career in the Army Reserves can offer.

The event features the Army’s new Oculus Rift technology – wrap-around virtual reality headsets which will let potential new recruits experience the sensations of being on training exercises and operations in the UK and abroad.

The campaign shows reservists taking part in a range of activities from live firing exercises in Challenger tanks to underwater welding, and from lagoon diving to delivering emergency medical supplies and humanitarian aid.

The event features the Army’s new Oculus Rift technology - wrap-around virtual reality headsets

New research, commissioned as part of the British Army’s new Army Reserve recruitment campaign, has revealed that more than one in four Londoners feel that challenge and excitement are missing from their day job.

The survey carried out by OnePoll, revealed that seven in ten would consider voluntary work on top of their day jobs. The top things Londoners said were missing from their current career include the opportunity to study for employer-sponsored qualifications (25%), to travel (27%) and an exciting and challenging role (26%). Four in ten Londoners said they would consider joining the Army Reserve to benefit from all of these opportunities.

Director General, Army Recruiting and Training Division, Major General Chris Tickell said: “This research tells us that people from London feel their jobs are lacking challenge, excitement, the opportunity to travel and a clear long-term career path – all of which are available at a world-class standard with the Army Reserve. No matter what your day job, the Army Reserve has something to offer you in your spare time, whether you want to use and improve your existing workplace skills, or try your hand at something completely different. You can travel the world, gain extra qualifications and training, and benefit from improved confidence and leadership skills that will help you shine in your civilian career, all for as little as 19 days’ commitment a year.”

Soldiers are at London Waterloo Station to speak with commuters

The research goes on to reveal that seven in ten Londoners surveyed don’t realise that reservists get paid, six in ten don’t realise the Army Reserve provides opportunities for UK and overseas travel, and half don’t know that they can gain qualifications and skills for free by being a reservist in their spare time. Yet, nine in ten Londoners worry their careers are being held back by the cost of professional courses and training, with only 41% of employers offering free training and development to its employees.

Army reservists get paid for their time and can even qualify for a tax-free annual bonus. The Army also pays for reservists to gain civilian qualifications while they volunteer – from apprenticeships, literacy and numeracy skills through to Masters and PhDs – which improve employability outside of the Army in civilian life. Over 1,500 employers nationwide have publicly pledged their support for employing reservists, and over 1,000 have a reservist HR policy in place.

Naomi Lee, 32 from London a captain serving with the 159 Field Company and 101 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, who works for Jaguar Land Rover in her day job said: “I feel so lucky that I’m effectively paid to make new friends and broaden my horizons in my spare time. I’ve travelled to countries I’d never have been to otherwise, and seen a side of life I’d never have experienced. As reservists, we regularly travel and train abroad – for example world-class courses in mountaineering, rock climbing, and diving. The list is as long as your goals and ambitions. And I get the best of both worlds – when I’m spending the weekend running around a muddy field or in a tank on a training exercise with my mates, I know that on Monday morning I’ll be back behind the desk at my day job.”

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