Apprenticeships: Creating Futures & Friendships
February 10, 2022
What is an Apprenticeship?
September 12, 2022Armed Forces Day 2022. From Armoured Corps to Classroom
This Saturday 25th June we celebrate Armed Forces Day. Here at Exalt Training we are immensely proud of the commitments and sacrifices made by the men and women of the armed forces and their families.
For us, supporting the brave and selfless servicemen and women in the British Army and other forces is personal. Most members of our senior management team have personal links to the armed forces – having served themselves, been an armed forces spouse or have worked with the British Army to deliver training and apprenticeships. Our HQ is in Dorset, so locally we are connected to the armed forces bases in Bovington, Blandford, Poole and nearby Salisbury Plains. In fact, spotting a Troop of Armoured Corps soldiers hiding on the road side on exercise, or driving a massive Challenger 2 tank, is a daily occurrence on a commute round here.
Our colleagues don’t often talk about their experiences of serving. Having seen active service in Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia, they’ve had experiences that us civvies can’t, and probably don’t want to, understand. But their attitude, commitment, diligence and strength of character, self awareness and team work, is apparent in them as colleagues, leaders and the service they provide to our learners, partners and employers. One colleague who exemplifies this attitude is our Head of Curriculum, David Foster.
From the Armoured Corps to the Classroom
David is a retired soldier who served for over 22 years as a tank commander in the Queen’s Royal Hussars from 1995 to 2017.
David has served all around the world and on multiple operations overseas including his final active tour of duty in Afghanistan. His last post was as the training manager of the Royal Armoured Corps Training Regiment where he ran the continuation training for all Royal Armoured Corps soldiers.
David made the transition to civilian life in 2017, in the lead up to this and beyond he has channelled his transferable skills to become a highly skilled teacher, leadership and management expert and curriculum specialist.
He gained his teaching qualifications, Levels 5 & 6 in leadership and management and later a degree before joining Exalt Training to head up the development of our curriculum and resources. David can often be found challenging colleagues to improve our delivery as he creates impactful and effective resources that support all our apprentices and learners on their developmental journey. Self-improvement is personal to him and he is passionate about improving peoples’ effectiveness in the workplace and evaluating the impact this has on individual and organisational performance.
David is currently enrolled on the Level 7 Senior Leader apprenticeship to develop his strategic management and leadership practice and enhance the knowledge, skills, and behaviours to drive business activities in a senior management and leadership role.
We asked him what advice he had for someone leaving the armed forces. David said:
“My advice for service leavers is to nurture your network as well as grow your network, you never know where opportunities will come from, change your mindset from ‘always think flank protection’ to ‘always think flank opportunities’. Have confidence in yourself and your abilities never underestimate your adaptability to manage difficult situations.”
David’s TOP FIVE TIPS on a smooth transition to civilian life:
- Plan in advance and remember the 7P’s.
- Have confidence in yourself and your abilities.
- Remember you can adapt and solve problems.
- Your better at managing stakeholders than you will think.
- If you have a passion, go for it. If you don’t, passion often comes AFTER you’ve got bloody good at it and with your commitment you will become bloody good at it.
David added: “Finally. Good luck. It’s great on the outside.”
From Challenger Tanks to New Challenges
Exalt Training is proud to have been awarded Bronze Army Covenant status for our support of the armed forces and our provision of qualifications and training to existing and ex armed forces personnel via the Enhanced Learning Credit programme (ELCS). This initiative supports individuals to develop new career opportunities when they leave the forces by providing training, qualifications and career options, enabling people to shape rewarding and lucrative careers, in civilian life.
We offer a wide range of qualifications to under the ELCS including Coaching & Mentoring, Teaching and Assessment and Leadership and Management.
So, if you know someone who’s in the army or recently left, connect them to us and we’d be pleased to help. They can rest assured that we understand about the transition from military to civilian life and we can help support them on the journey.
On behalf of Exalt Training, thank you to all members of the armed forces and your families for your what you do to keep our country and way of life safe.
To find out more about how we work with the armed forces, get in touch enquiries@exalt-training.com
