The Blue Light Leavers Podcast

Michael Pattinson is a Senior Rail Industry Leader and has an extensive career history in Project and Programme Management and Transformational Change and is now Head of the Digital Factory within Network Rail. 

Network Rail is the owner, operator and infrastructure manager of Britain's main railway network, which includes 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and thousands of signals, level crossings and stations including 20 of the largest stations in the UK and employing around 40,000 staff and contractors. 

In this episode, Michael talks about the influence his humble upbringing in the North East had on him and how it has shaped his leadership style today. 

He also talks about the benefits that he sees in bringing Emergency Service professionals and Military leavers into the public and private sector and about three key factors for doing so: 

We have an inbuilt sense of purpose

Our skills and experience ARE relevant to business

The importance of having different people, thinking differently within organisations

He discusses the future of IT within Network Rail and the significant opportunities that will bring.

He also gives some fantastic advice around CV's and interviews and the importance of making the right first impression but also how to deal with failure.

Michael is a big supporter of the Blue Light Leavers Group, the emergency services and military personnel, previously kindly organising an IT careers evening for us and I promise, this is a great interview.

Don't forget, you can join the Private Facebook group at : www.facebook.com/groups/bluelightleavers

You can also access my free Emergency Service Professional's Guide to LinkedIn via this link: https://www.bluelightleavers.com/pl/95723

If you like what you've heard, please subscribe, leave a review and share and come and join us in our Private Facebook Group.

This short punchy episode is all about making sure that 2020 is your year of change!  

Christian Rodwell is a best selling author, business coach and mentor and host of the hugely successful podcast, 'Escape the Rat Race' which has thousands of downloads every week across more than 130 countries and is consistently featured on Apple Podcasts. Chris has interviewed many of the most successful and influential entrepreneurs and business owners in the world!

In this episode, Christian talks about how he went from a career in the music industry to being a successful business owner and how he has since helped hundreds of people sack their boss!

Christian and I discuss exactly what you need to have in place to ensure you start 2020 as you mean to go on and ensure that 2020 is your year of change! He also talks about the key success factors that he sees with those who have successfully moved on!

Chris has kindly offered a free downloadable version of his best selling book, 'Sack Your Boss!' which is available at : www.bluelightleavers.com/episode8

Don't forget, you can join the Private Facebook group at : www.facebook.com/groups/bluelightleavers

You can connect with Christian via his website which is at www.etrr.online and access his podcast via Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher and all the usual podcast platforms.

You can also access my free Emergency Service Professional's Guide to LinkedIn via this link: https://www.bluelightleavers.com/pl/95723

If you like what you've heard, please subscribe, leave a review and share and come and join us in our Private Facebook Group.

Stabbed, caught up in two terrorist explosions and shot at a firearms incident having been the first Mother to join the SO19 Armed Response Vehicles in the Metropolitan Police, former Police Officer Helen Barnett has an incredible story to tell. 

These incidents resulted in her being medically retired with a diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder which manifested itself in symptoms like Bulimia and relationship breakdown. 

During this interview, Helen talks about how she felt she lost her identity and sense of purpose. She also talks about how fitness became her coping mechanism. Helen has had a long road to recovery and this continues. Despite all this, Helen talks about how lucky she is and the work she now does with two amazing charities called https://rock2recovery.co.uk and https://www.hiddenvalleybushcraft.co.uk where she's able to give back and help others. 

Helen is also a former record holder for Concept II indoor rowing and in May 2019, her and her team broke the 24 hour World Deadlift Record.  

I promise, this is an extraordinary interview with an amazing human being and an episode I found really emotional to record. 

As promised during this episode, I have donated £50 to Rock to Recovery and £50 to Hidden Valley Bushcraft and my receipts shared with Helen as proof.  Both charities help former Military and Emergency Service personnel deal with trauma and PTSD and both charities have kindly agreed to be guests on the Blue Light Leavers Podcast in 2020.

Don't forget, you can join the Private Facebook group at : www.facebook.com/groups/bluelightleavers  

You can connect with Helen via the Blue Light Leavers private Facebook Group. 

You can also access my free Emergency Service Professional's Guide to LinkedIn via this link: https://www.bluelightleavers.com/pl/95723 

If you like what you've heard, please subscribe, leave a review and share and come and join us in our Private Facebook Group.

During this episode, Jamie Davies talks about his background in sport and how his work ethic as a professional international rugby player, helped him forge a new career as a recruitment consultant. 

Jamie also talks about what a recruiter looks for in a CV and the importance of a quality CV, personal behaviours, motivators and key attributes and why evidence and a work ethic is more important than qualifications. 

He touches on the Applicant Tracking System (ATS algorithms) and how to ensure you match the key words. Jamie emphasises why networking is so important, how to go about doing it and gives hints and tips about how to get noticed by recruiters and what to do if you see a role you really like and much much more!

He also goes on to answer many questions posed by members of the Blue Light Leavers Private Facebook Group which you can join via: www.facebook.com/groups/bluelightleavers

Jamie tells it straight... 'Get comfortable being uncomfortable.'

This is an exceptional interview and one worth sitting down with pen and paper to make notes!

You can connect with Jamie via LinkedIn and he's also a member of the Blue Light Leavers private Facebook Group.

If you like what you've heard, please subscribe, leave a review and share!

During this episode, Simon Hankins talks about his Police career and how despite loving his role as Temporary Inspector in the Force Control Room, he got increasingly frustrated with the lack of resilience of other services and agencies and the lack of progression in terms of promotion. He talks about how this impacted him and his family and the catalyst for him and how suddenly being open to new roles and opportunities ensured he was in the right mindset when a new exciting role suddenly materialised.

Simon also discusses the importance of investing in further/higher education, a quality and in-depth CV and coaching and interview preparation. He also talks about his application, the fears and concerns and those of his family on leaving the Police with 24 years service. He discusses the interview process, dealing with the shock of a successful interview and transition to his new role as Operations Manager for the Houses of Parliament.

Simon talks about how competitive the market is and how to stand out from the crowd. He has continued to gain qualifications and new skills and within 18 months of landing his new role at the House of Commons, Simon has been promoted and is now the Head of Security Operations for the entire Parliamentary estate. He goes on to explain the challenges and expectations of working in the Private sector and the benefits and rewards but that you do have to earn it, sometimes with long hours and pressure, but at no time does he regret the decision.

Simon was the on duty Operations Manager for the terrorist attack of March 2017 when PC Keith Palmer was brutally murdered and talks openly about where he was when he heard the call and the struggles of those on duty that day.

This is such a great interview and one I know that many of you will relate to and get a lot of advice and guidance from and most importantly, the belief that if Simon can do it, you can too.

If you like what you’ve heard, please subscribe, leave a review and share it widely!

Don’t forget you can access our private facebook group via: www.facebook.com/groups/bluelightleavers

You can also access the Free Emergency Service Professional's Guide to LinkedIn, how to get noticed by recruiters in 5 simple steps, via this link: https://www.bluelightleavers.com/pl/95723

During this episode, Ian Towell talks about four key attributes which helped shape his career and success in the corporate world, despite leaving school with few qualifications and not going to University. He talks about the recruitment process within Tesco and the wider Private Sector and the key sought after behavioural skills and values. He talks about the areas to focus on within your CV and how to prepare and he also talks about how the skills and experience gained within the Emergency Services are sought after within the Private Sector.   

Importantly he talks about why we should take pride in our Service history and that fear of not having role specific experience shouldn't hold you back from applying.

Ian gives a fantastic insight into the corporate world and Private Sector and the pressures, expectations and associated benefits.

Ian is one of my closest friends and we've known each other for many years. This was recorded in Autumn in my back garden, so you may hear birds and voices in the background.

If you like what you’ve heard, please subscribe, leave a review and share it widely!

Don’t forget you can access our private facebook group via: www.facebook.com/groups/bluelightleavers

You can also access the free Emergency Service Professional's Guide to LinkedIn via https://www.bluelightleavers.com/pl/95723