RFEA – The Forces Employment charity has received a significant funding boost from the Veterans’ Foundation, to support its ground-breaking TechVets programme.
TechVets is a unique RFEA programme that aims to build a bridge for veterans and service leavers, and their partners/spouses, into the cyber security and technology sectors. It offers free upskilling and job opportunities through its offering of networking, mentoring, signposting, and training services, via its TechVets Academy platform.
TechVets Programme Director, James Murphy, is an Army Veteran of 19 years. He joined the 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment in 2000, before transferring to the Intelligence Corps in 2013 after sustaining life-long injuries in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He says:
“The tech and cyber industries offer varied, fulfilling and often lucrative career opportunities, yet they are facing a huge shortage of talented individuals to fill a vast number of roles. This is where TechVets comes in. We recognise that many ex-Servicemen and women, as well as their partners and spouses, could contribute a wealth of valuable attributes and skills to these industries. Thanks to this funding, we can continue to expand our unique service to upskill more of the Military community and enable them to carve out sustainable careers in these exciting and growing sectors.”
RFEA’s Chief Executive Officer, Alistair Halliday, adds:
“Our programmes change thousands of lives every year, but our work simply wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of organisations like the Veterans’ Foundation. We are incredibly grateful to the Veterans’ Foundation for its continued support, and we look forward to expanding our services through our TechVets programme to help bring more of the Military community into the tech and cyber sectors.”
TechVets member Gareth Paterson, joined the Army in 1994. He started out as a Tank crewman and then transferred to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers as an instructor in 2001. He left in 2018, having completed operational tours of Northern Ireland, Former Yugoslavia and Afghanistan. He says:
“I left the Army as I was at the end of my 24-year career. I needed a new challenge. I didn’t want to go into a job that was simple and easy. I wanted a role that would push me outside of my comfort zone and force me to constantly learn. I did not have a clue what career to move into, then I was introduced to offensive cyber security and penetration testing.
“I joined TechVets in January 2018 and it gave me my first insight into the tools and techniques of penetration testing. After that I was hooked! The support of everyone at TechVets, and its community, has helped me to gain confidence and push harder. I was able to gain qualifications in penetration testing which improved my job prospects in the sector. By November 2018 I started working as a cyber security consultant.
“I now spend every day out of my comfort zone and learning new things, but I get to see and do things that I never thought possible before 2018. This career teaches you resilience and to never give up. If you have a passion for cyber and want to push yourself, there is nothing stopping you!”
Anyone interested in finding out more should visit https://techvets.co/
