This role gives me the sense that I’m giving back

Recruiting tomorrow’s Army today

I was previously in the Army for 24 years, joining as a Junior Gunner and leaving as a Regimental Sergeant Major.

Initially, after leaving, I worked for a small company in Salisbury. Though the work was interesting enough, I missed the feeling that I belonged to something, or that my work mattered.

But when I then saw Capita RPP were recruiting, I felt I could regain that kind of feeling about my work and feel fulfilled about what I was doing again, like I had done during my time in the Army.

We all work towards one aim, and for one common goal.

I now work for Capita RPP as a Service Delivery Manager (SDM) for Reserve Army Recruitment. I’m accountable for the delivery of the Army’s Demand Plan for Reserve and Re-joiners, and manage two separate teams – about 28 people, in total.

Each team member is responsible for their specific candidates, taking them from application to attestation into the Army Reserve, or back into the Army.

Having served in the Army for 24 years, doing this role gives me the sense that I’m giving back. That’s primarily why I chose to undertake the role I now do. It’s given me the drive and determination to have my teams recruit more and more candidates each year.

My current working environment is very different from the “I say – you do” type background I experienced for many years in the Army, though it’s not without its own challenges. Every day brings something new, and I’m always trying to refine our application process to improve and simplify it for our candidates.

“I’ve grown, along with Capita RPP, over these last nine years”

Following my departure from the Army I had to learn, in essence, how to be a civilian again. Many of my close friends from the Army have experienced the same after leaving; it’s something we’ll all struggle with, I think. Undertaking this role and working for Capita RPP has definitely helped ease the transition over the last few years.

My life – both inside and outside of my work – is poles apart from when I was living and working within the Army. One of the main benefits of my current role as an SDM is the consistency of living in one place and having a set work pattern, as opposed to moving around every two to three years.

The stability has seen a marked improvement in my home life. It’s really enabled me to make a home for myself in my local village, which is brilliant. Having been moved around in the Army for many, many years, finally having a stable home and work environment has been great.

“I feel listened to”

Ultimately, when you leave the Army, you’re an unknown quantity. Some businesses may not be so inclined to take a gamble on you. Luckily for me, Capita welcomed me into a completely different environment and trusted me to succeed, something I’m very grateful for.

Much like the Army, everyone here is aiming for and working towards a common goal: to achieve more – whether that’s as a business, for our customers, or even on a personal level.

There’s plenty of training available, so you can always improve and expand your own personal development, something my managers have always been keen to support and facilitate.

I’m very happy here, and firmly believe that my thoughts and ideas on how to change things for the better are listened to, actioned, and, most importantly, welcomed.