On Wednesday 11 March Poppyscotland welcomed speakers and guests from across Scotland’s twenty-two NHS Boards to meet at its Edinburgh offices for a special Armed Forces Community event.
The event, titled Serving Together, was led by members of the NHS Armed Forces Talent Programme (AFTP), aimed to highlight the many close connections that exist between the Armed Forces and the healthcare sectors, and how the skills acquired in each can not only be transferable but highly mutually beneficial.
Poppyscotland, a charitable organisation dedicated to supporting military veterans and their families, received the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award in 2022, and several of the NHS Boards located in the Lowlands of Scotland also hold Silver and Gold Awards of their own, with HNS Scotland being the first organisation in Scotland to receive the Gold in 2014 for its support of Reservists and service leavers. The Serving Together event, therefore, presented a perfect opportunity for two major Forces-friendly organisations to come together for a common cause.
The morning session of the event was dedicated to internal discussions and workshops, followed by a more relaxed chance for guests to network over lunch.
The afternoon was then dedicated to presentations delivered by the Armed Forces Talent Programme, offering insights into how to attract Armed Forces talent into various NHS roles, whether they are clinical or clerical, how the skills gained by Reservists, service leavers and veterans can fill a range of skill shortages across the sector, and how the AFTP works to help Armed Forces personnel transitioning into NHS roles through placements and support with the recruitment process.
The afternoon concluded with a Q&A panel chaired by Ed Challis, Principal Lead for the AFTP, and featuring speakers from various NHS Boards and departments, including project and hiring managers and service leavers currently working on placements facilitated through the AFTP.
Lowland RFCA would like to thank the Serving Together organisers for inviting us along to a thoroughly engaging event, and Poppyscotland for their excellent hospitality.
