Southampton City Council supports reservists and veterans
Individuals in the Reserve Forces - known as Reservists - are ordinary men and women who give up their spare time to train and serve alongside the Regular Forces.
Members of the Reserve Forces are an important element of the nation's total defence capacity. As a reservist individuals receive a range of specialist training and transferrable skills they can take back into their day jobs. Southampton City Council recognises the benefits of reservists within our workforce and have put in place supportive policies to enable them to be at their best in their military and civilian careers.
Case studies
Sharon Carroll, Sergeant, 106 Royal Artillery Regiment, 457 Battery
Sharon has been a Reservist for 10 years having joined 106 Royal Artillery Regiment whilst at Solent University. This is the biggest unit in Southampton and is the Army's only Reserve Air Defence Regiment. The soldiers of the RA are highly trained, highly skilled individuals who operate very technical equipment in arduous conditions. Southampton City Council welcomed Sharon into our workforce in 2015. As an Employment Specialist in the Employment Support Team, Sharon is integrated within the NHS Community Mental Health Team, offering support to people who are seeking employment or looking to change jobs. Sharon tells us that her "reserve and civilian jobs complement one another and I learn many transferable skills that I can bring to Southampton City Council."
"My role with Southampton City Council enables me to use skills I have developed as a reservist when I work to support young people into education and training," said Sharon. "I get two weeks additional leave for training a year which really helps. My work is flexible so this fits well with my reserve commitments."
To find out more about becoming a reservist and the support that Southampton City Council provides Reservists visit our Armed forces community webpage.
Address: 457 (HCY) Bty, 106 (Y) Regt RA, Blighmont Reserve Centre, Southampton, SO15 0AJ
Phone: 023 8072 5005
Email:106RA-457-ROSWO@mod.uk
Website:457-Hampshire-Yeomanry-Battery-RA
Justin Baker - Health & Safety Compliance Officer
Justin joined the Royal Engineers as a boy soldier in 1988, and went on to serve with 24 Field Squadron, serving in Canada, Germany, Bosnia and N. Ireland. Postings to 36 Engineer Regiment and JFHQ saw Justin serving in Falkland Island, Malawi, India, Afghanistan and a return to Iraq. In 2018, Justin left the army in the rank of Staff Sergeant in 2018.
Justin completed courses in Facilities Management, Project Management and National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) during his resettlement and transition back to Civvy Street.
"I then attended a jobs fair which was part of my resettlement at the Hampshire Bowl Southampton, where I met the Armed Forces Covenant Programme Manager for Portsmouth, Southampton, Gosport and the Isle of Wight. I mentioned that I was interested in a health and safety role as my future career. It was suggested I carried out work experience with Southampton City Council (SCC) and I was introduced to the Service Lead for City Services, who organised for me to spend a few days looking at different areas of the Service, including Waste Operations and Street Cleansing.
"After completing the work experience I joined the Temporary Employment Agency and started driving mechanical sweepers for SCC. Some months later an opportunity to drive the refuse vehicles arose, and I spent another five months driving these vehicles.
"A vacancy presented itself as a Safety, Health and Compliance Officer with SCC. I applied and was successful. I started in my new appointment in November 2018.
"As part of my Continuous Personnel Development I have started my Diploma in Health and Safety with National Compliance and Risk Qualifications (NCRQ), which Southampton City Council has been fully supportive of and have funded this qualification.
"I am looking forward to my new chapter and career with SCC and appreciate the opportunity they have given me for my transition from the military to civilian life."
Find out more about work experience at Southampton City Council, or visit the Armed Forces Community page.
