The voice of business in the Tees region | 77
statistics. They say research has shown that
recognising the signs and offering support
can be and is successful.
One major contributing factor in the
successful transition to civilian life is
employment. So when RMS and Genesis
met at the recent Tees Businesswomen
Awards – organised by Tees Business –
they uncovered a shared ethos and the idea
for this project was born.
Nikki says: “Our businesses are similar
in that we both deal with people and
their livelihoods and we both have a
responsibility towards their welfare. In
addition to that, we both have strong
connections with the armed forces and
the transition into Civvy Street, so coming
together seemed a natural fit.
“We feel passionate about creating a
forces-friendly community that has one
objective – prevention.”
Both companies have strong business
networks and links with forces charities,
making them well-positioned to kickstart
such a campaign and they believe support
from other local businesses would give
them an even firmer base from which to
help combat the main issues veterans face.
That help, Nikki says, starts with raising
awareness so we can offer opportunities.
Employers can invest in training courses
such as Mental Health First Aid in the
workplace, for example, creating an
environment that recognises and supports
those suffering, while providing a positive
mental health culture at work.
They would then like to engage with
employers who can commit to creating
employment opportunities for veterans.
Sara, who won Best Newcomer at the
Tees Businesswomen Awards, a category
that was sponsored by RMS, adds: “We
both share this passion, we both spend our
working lives dealing with human beings
and we both want to give back.
“We’re saying to businesses and
companies, ‘Come forward, get involved,
make a commitment, give us some time.’
“This is because we would like
businesses to help in their working
environments – simply recognising and
understanding that ex-servicemen and
women struggling to fit in to Civvy Street
might not be as familiar with the politically
correct requirements of 21st-century
offices.
“We also want them to recognise just
what a valuable and varied skillset veterans
have to offer to businesses, with a well-
established work ethic.
“We are using our businesses, contacts
and platform to do good and support the
uphill struggle our veterans and veterans
charities face every day.
“If we can use our skills and resources
to place people back into work, we hope
this will help alleviate some of the worries
our veterans face, such as homelessness.
“It’s thought that veterans in employment
suffering from mental health and PTSD
respond to therapy and treatment better
than those who are unemployed.”
It isn’t only employers they are looking to
hear from. They would also like to engage
counsellors, homelessness shelters and
businesses with the ability to market the
campaign and the vision to meet and make
progress in the New Year.
So if you have a little time to spare and a
shared ethos of working to promote better
mental health and a forces-friendly spirit,
they want to hear from you.
“I’m involved with a charity called
Veterans in Crisis, which is based in
Sunderland,” says Sara. “Eighteen months
ago it saw 189 vets, 90 per cent of whom
had a mental health issue and 40 per cent
suffering from PTSD.
“Out of those 189, 23 were homeless.
How many people are there across the
Teesside area? The facts are hard-hitting.
We’re saying let’s listen, let’s not judge. And
let’s see if we can really help.”
If you would like your business to take
the time to understand what backgrounds
former service men and women have come
from, learn what coping mechanisms they
have developed and discover how they can
be incorporated into their future careers,
Nikki and Sara would love to hear from you.
“Our worlds may seem miles apart, but
they don’t need to be,” says Nikki. “We are
all fighting for the same thing – let’s protect
those who protect us!”
Contact Nikki on nikki.butt@rms-
recruitment.co.uk or 01325 389333 or Sara
on [email protected] on 01748 831900.
PTSD Resolution: ptsdresolution.org
All call Signs: allcallsigns.org
Veterans in Crisis: veteransincrisis.co.uk
IPT Training and Therapy Services: ipttrainingandtherapy.co.uk