Nottinghamshire Army Cadet Force have devised a brilliant day out for employers called “Conversation with Cadets” to engage with local employers.
The “Conversation with Cadets” event aims to show selected employers and recruiters just how employable Cadets are. By raising awareness of the skills, personal qualities and qualifications earned in the Army Cadet Force (ACF), employers are more likely to recognise how transferable those skillsets are to the workplace and spot how valuable a former cadet can be to their workforce.
Many business leaders and recruitment professionals aren’t aware of what cadets learn and the qualifications they can earn. Through the ACF, young people can obtain CVQO leadership qualifications, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, STEM skills, problem-solving and presentation skills, the confidence & experience to work with all different kinds of people and the ability to think on their feet in a variety of situations.
Delegates were welcomed by the Commandant of Nottinghamshire ACF at the Cadet Training Centre in Chilwell. They heard from Senior Cadets and took part in interactive demonstrations of STEM challenges, first aid, teamwork tasks and archery. The event ended with a curry lunch where the employers were able to chat with cadets and the volunteers who train them.
With the support of cadets and the adult volunteers, employers had to work together to build a chair using their STEM knowledge and equipment available to the ACF from CVQO. The First Aid challenge involved a simulated emergency where cadets imparted their knowledge of first aid skills. The teamwork & problem-solving tasks, known in the Cadet Forces as Command Tasks, included the “levitating pole” exercise and the “floor puzzle” exercise (main image). The final activity that the employers rotated round to was archery, to illustrate the Adventurous Training element of the ACF.
James Bingham, Site Manager for Frontier Agriculture, who attended the event said: “If these cadets came to us looking for a job, the skills they’ve got on their CV definitely put them at the front of the queue.”
Some of the employers present on the day had recently signed the Armed Forces Covenant, while others will go on to develop apprenticeship opportunities for cadets in their organisations.
To find out how to run a “Conversation with Cadets” event in your area, please contact us.