RMC Impact Report 2022-23 v15 - Flipbook - Page 16
Employment
& Education
Employment & Education
16
Case studies and facts
Unlocking
potential
Connecting
with business
Key
facts
James McDonald
CSgt Dave Hills RM
479
“It was through this connection
that I gained useful information on
what project management was all
about, and what Jacobs had to offer
someone who, since the age of 17,
had only known military life.”
I finally bit the bullet and contacted
RMA – The Royal Marines Charity.
Their Employment & Education
team gave me a grant to buy the
equipment. It was overwhelming.
My wife burst into tears. They could
never in that moment know how much
this meant to me and my family.”
James is now successfully selfemployed alongside working
for the college he attended.
“I now have a sense of purpose
for the first time since leaving the
Royal Marines. It’s hard asking for
help but I would urge anybody
struggling, to reach out. I will be
ever grateful for the help given by
the Charity to me and my family.”
In December 2020,
former Royal Marine
James McDonald was in
a job he didn’t enjoy and
was facing redundancy.
He decided to retrain and, using
family savings and credits from
the Enhanced Learning Credits
Administration Service (ELCAS),
enrolled on a locksmithing course.
“It was everything I expected. It gave
me hope and I was able to channel all
my frustration into something positive.”
James planned to open a locksmithing
business but wasn’t sure how.
“I’d served for 16 years and am a
typically proud Bootneck, so not
great at asking for help. I spent
many sleepless nights worrying.
The problem:
Unhappy, medically
discharged
Royal Marine
The solution:
Charity awards grant
for tools to enable
James to start his own
business
The outcome:
James is now a selfemployed locksmith,
alongside working
for the college that
trained him
RMA – The Royal Marines Charity Impact Report 2022–2023
CSgt Dave Hills RM 20
year career as a Royal
Marines Commando came
abruptly to an end due
to medical discharge.
Dave sought to find a rewarding
future career. Although not one
for usually attending events,
he nevertheless decided to go
along to one of the Bootnecks in2
Business (Bi2B) presentations.
Bi2B provides a catalyst for Royal
Marines’ talent to meet informally,
share experiences and find
genuine opportunities to further
their business aspirations, or
directly secure employment.
It was at this event that Dave connected
with RMA – The Royal Marines Charity.
Through our Employment & Education
team, Dave was introduced to Royal
Marine Veteran, Rob Kelly, who is the
Military Talent Acquisition Manager for
project management firm, Jacobs.
Dave subsequently contacted
our Employment & Education
team, who helped him with his CV
and with interview preparation
techniques, a vital piece of the
jigsaw as this was to be Dave’s firstever ‘civvy street’ interview.
497 (2021)
298 (2020)
319 (2019)
“All in all, my transition to civilian
employment was made easier by
attending Bi2B and working with
RMA, who have been absolutely
brilliant. They made time to help
me with anything I needed to
successfully transition, AND to
this day, still stay in touch. “
The problem:
Royal Marine facing
medical discharge after
20 years of service
The solution:
Providing CV support
and connecting
Dave with potential
employment
opportunities
The outcome:
Dave is now employed
by project management
firm, Jacobs
www.rma-trmc.org
Total advised
375
Transitioning
RMs supported
34
Supported
into employment
104
Vulnerable
Veterans supported
£73,453
Total Employment
& Education grants
17
