Employers get an insight into what being an RAF Reservist is all about

Business representatives from Gainsborough took part in an employer engagement event at RAF Waddington

A number of employers were given the chance to go ‘behind the wire’ to learn more about life as a reservist.

Representatives from businesses in Lincoln, Gainsborough, Horncastle, Sleaford, Nottingham and Kirkby in Ashfield attended the employer engagement event designed to demonstrate some of the roles and responsibilities undertaken by reserve personnel.

During the event, employers listened to an intelligence-based presentation by 7006 (VR) Squadron, learnt more about the roles of the cyber and medical reserves, visited 8 squadron to see some operational aircraft and got hands on experience with some of the equipment used by reservists employed in the RAF Logistics and Regiment branches.

One of the employers who attended the event was Dr Adrian Tams, head of workforce planning and recruitment at Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT).

He said: “We were proud to be invited to the RAF Waddington event, as we recognise, and welcome the valuable skills and experiences those from the Armed Forces can bring to our workforce.

“LPFT currently employs two reservists and we signed the Armed Forces Covenant last year.

“We have also received a Bronze Employer Recognition Scheme Award from the Ministry of Defence (MOD), in recognition of our continuing support for members of the Armed Forces.”

Flight Lieutenant Stephen Spreckley, from RAF Waddington’s intelligence reserves headquarters, said: “Anyone thinking of joining the Reserves must elicit the support of family and employer if they wish to embark upon a successful spare-time career as a Reservist.

“So, the aim the event was two-fold; firstly it allowed our personnel the opportunity to demonstrate to their employers exactly what it is they do as a RAF Reservist and secondly, it enabled employers to gain an interactive insight into some of the exciting training, roles and mobilisations that reservists undertake.

“Employers and Reservists have every right to be incredibly proud of the valuable contribution they make towards the RAF and UK Defence mission.”

John Wilson, the MOD’s regional employer engagement director, said: “It is vitally important that employers in the East Midlands have an opportunity to see how their reservist employees are spending their spare time when undertaking military training.

“The range of transferable skills and attributes developed by reservists are taken back in to the workplace.

“These include the ability to work as a team, to communicate effectively and have the ability to work under pressure.”

To find out more about the RAF Intelligence Reserves should call the recruitment team on 01522 726291.

For information on any other spare-time roles available in the RAF, please call 0345 6069069.