The Blue Light Leavers Podcast

Welcome to Episode 55 of the Blue Light Leavers Podcast. 

Return to Policing or Follow Your Heart with former Police Officer Sophie Leone

If you’re going on maternity/paternity leave or considering your options when your period of leave is up, then this is for you. If your partner is close to the point of returning to work after maternity or paternity leave, this interview will give you a real insight into the way many forces treat returning parents and the challenges and inner turmoil, parents or carers returning after maternity/paternity leave go through. 

I loved this interview. Sophie has such a lovely gentle, calming aura about her and shares her story so openly, from Detective Sergeant to parent, maternity leave and career break, yoga instructor, author, speaker, and performer and it’s another hugely inspiring interview. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Don't forget, you can also visit the website and blog at www.bluelightleavers.com and join the private Facebook Group via www.facebook.com/groups/bluelightleavers

If you're not sure what roles you can do after the police, check this out: 'What jobs can I do after the Police?'

You can listen to the podcast on shift, walking the dog, pottering about, and do it on your phone, desktop, laptop, or tablet, anywhere and whenever suits you, pause and play and they're all completely free!

You can now even ask Alexa to 'Play Blue Light Leavers Podcast' and up it pops.

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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bluelightleavers/message

Welcome to Episode 54 of the Blue Light Leavers Podcast. 

Today I'm talking to Kul Mahay. Now, Kul is a genuine force of nature and inspirational leader. He completed 30 years in policing, reaching the rank of Temporary Chief Superintendent and since leaving in 2015, he's gone on to do some extraordinary things. He delivers leadership training to senior execs and organisations globally, helping them to build highly emotional and social intelligent cultures, really focusing on inclusivity, communications and performance.  

He's the founder of the Create and Speak Programme and founder of Ignite Your Inner Potential events. He's an author, he is the co-creator of a new policing drama TV series, and he's also a podcast host.  To be fair, there's not a huge amount that he doesn't do. You're going to really enjoy this I promise. 

Don't forget, you can also visit the website and at www.bluelightleavers.com and join the private Facebook Group via www.facebook.com/groups/bluelightleavers 

If you're not sure what roles you can do after the police, check this out: 'What jobs can I do after the Police?' Scorecard (scoreapp.com) 

You can listen to the podcast on shift, walking the dog, pottering about, and do it on your phone, desktop, laptop, or tablet, anywhere and whenever suits you, pause and play and they're all completely free! 

You can now even ask Alexa to 'Play Blue Light Leavers Podcast' and up it pops.

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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bluelightleavers/message

Welcome to Episode 53 of the Blue Light Leavers Podcast.

Now I'm sure if you're like me, there are certain times during your working life, where you come to a crossroads and need to make a decision about what you're going to do next. This episode will be particularly relevant for those of you that are considering a career break or have actually taken a career break and are maybe thinking about coming back and what to do. 

The theme throughout this episode is about taking risks, and being brave, and what if it all works out...

Today I'm talking with Justine Banks, who is a former Metropolitan Police Officer, who did exactly that. They had a real life changing decision to make, and they stepped out of their comfort zone. It's not all been easy for them, and they've been through some really tough times but it just goes to show, that if you do need to take some time out, that you can come back and you can flourish and continue to grow.

Justine is now working for a fantastic global organisation called Pinkerton who are a Detective and Risk Management Agency. She explains more about her role and the organisation and the journey that took her there, via Singapore and Dubai!

This is an episode that may mess with your head but it's all about, taking risks, being brave and what if it all works out.

Don't forget, you can also visit the website and blog on www.bluelightleavers.com and join the private Facebook Group via www.facebook.com/groups/bluelightleavers

If you're not sure what roles you can do after the police, check this out: 'What jobs can I do after the Police?' Scorecard (scoreapp.com)

You can listen to the podcast on shift, walking the dog, pottering about, and do it on your phone, desktop, laptop, or tablet, anywhere and whenever suits you, pause and play and they're all completely free!

You can now even ask Alexa to 'Play Blue Light Leavers Podcast' and up it pops.

This episode is a bit different, and some of you may find it a little challenging, and I really want you to please listen to this with an open mind. 

I get contacted very regularly by cops who are going through the disciplinary process, or who've been through the process and sanctioned in some way, or in fact, dismissed as a result of a Gross Misconduct finding.

I do take it on a case by case basis, but I do actually support a lot of cops who have been through that process, and I've helped them to find new careers, and I know for some of you, that's going to be a bit difficult to swallow. 

I want you to listen to this officer's story. I'm not going to give any details, and obviously it's anonymous and we don't talk about any organisations, but I think it'll be really interesting for you.

If you're going through the process, or you've been through the process and have absolutely no idea what it is you're going to do next, I just want to give you a bit of hope and belief, that whatever happened at that time doesn't have to define you... that doesn't mean that's it for the rest of your life. 

Have a listen to this and please feel free to contact me and feed back any comments or thoughts through [email protected]

Don't forget, you can also visit the website and blog on www.bluelightleavers.com and join the private Facebook Group via www.facebook.com/groups/bluelightleavers

If you're not sure what roles you can do after the police, check this out: 'What jobs can I do after the Police?' Scorecard (scoreapp.com)

You can listen to the podcast on shift, walking the dog, pottering about, and do it on your phone, desktop, laptop, or tablet, anywhere and whenever suits you, pause and play and they're all completely free!

You can now even ask Alexa to 'Play Blue Light Leavers Podcast' and up it pops.

Building on the last episode with CEO and joint founder Tom Moore of the Tech company, WithYouWithMe, in today's episode, I'm speaking with a former police officer, Samantha Gillison.

Samantha is a graduate of the WithYouWithMe programme and has an incredible new role as a result, and her experience of the programme, from skills profiling, through to training, finding employment and onboarding, has been exceptional.

Rather than feeling penalised for having a chronic illness and having to leave the job after 7 years, WYWM and her new employers have embraced her differences, and understand the challenges faced by those suffering from chronic illnesses.

Samantha started working closely with an organisation called Astriid.org. Astriid are an amazing organisation that help bridge the gap between the Invisible Talent Pool (people with chronic illnesses who wish to pursue volunteering or employment), and the UK skills crisis, and they suggested undertaking training new skills with WithYouWithMe.

Samantha has now completed her training and has been offered a really exciting new tech role with Northrop Grumman, who design, develop, build and support some of the world’s most advanced products, from cutting-edge aircraft and next-generation spacecraft to unrivalled cyber security systems and all-seeing radars.

Her story is truly inspirational and actually choked me up during the interview. I hope you enjoy!

Don't forget, you can also visit the website and blog on www.bluelightleavers.com and join the private Facebook Group via www.facebook.com/groups/bluelightleavers

You can listen to the podcast on shift, walking the dog, pottering about, and do it on your phone, desktop, laptop, or tablet, anywhere and whenever suits you, pause and play and they're all completely free!

You can now even ask Alexa to 'Play Blue Light Leavers Podcast' and up it pops. 

To celebrate the 50th episode of the Blue Light Leavers podcast which has just gone live, I'm incredibly proud and happy to announce that my guest on the episode, the co-founder of one of the fastest growing Start-Ups and Social Impact Companies in the world, Tom Moore, is offering free tech skills profiling and Accredited Technology training programmes to the Police, Law Enforcement and Emergency Service Professionals in the UK, North America and Australia, through a collaboration with Blue Light Leavers and WithYouWithMe.

WithYouWithMe is a social impact company, founded by military veterans, and helps organisations identify and fill gaps in their tech capability by matching them with jobseekers who are trained and ready to grow into their potential and I'm incredibly proud to be working alongside them.

'Discover your skills and the right career pathway for you based on your potential, not your experience.'

'Become new career-ready in under 100 hours through their online training platform.'

'Stand out to WYWM partnered employers with a single application and endless career opportunities.'

'Realise your potential, master your craft and continue learning for the rest of your life.'

The courses offered include:

Project Management

Cyber Security

Software Development

Automation

Data Analytics and more

Listen to the episode to find out more and go to www.bluelightleavers.com/withyouwithme

Episode links in the comments below.

Don't forget, you can also visit the website and blog on www.bluelightleavers.com and join the private Facebook Group via www.facebook.com/groups/bluelightleavers

You can listen to the podcast on shift, walking the dog, pottering about, and do it on your phone, desktop, laptop, or tablet, anywhere and whenever suits you, pause and play and they're all completely free!

You can now even ask Alexa to 'Play Blue Light Leavers Podcast' and up it pops.

It feels so good to be back! New role means I have more time to do the stuff I love, including being back recording amazing podcast interviews to help guide and inspire you to find new careers, outside of the emergency services and prison service.

In this episode, I'm talking to a former police officer, Neil Whitbread. 

Neil is incredibly honest about the challenges he faced coming to terms with leaving the police and how lost he felt, but he's since gone on to do incredible things, including setting up a recruitment company and he's now am Investigations, Intelligence and Risk Advisory Specialist to the Football Industry across the UK and Europe.

Many of you will relate to how Neil felt and this will really help you I promise!

Don't forget, you can also visit the website and blog on www.bluelightleavers.com and join the private Facebook Group via www.facebook.com/groups/bluelightleavers

You can listen to the podcast on shift, walking the dog, pottering about, and do it on your phone, desktop, laptop, or tablet, anywhere and whenever suits you, pause and play and they're all completely free!

You can now even ask Alexa to 'Play Blue Light Leavers Podcast' and up it pops.

From Policing to Child Exploitation Project Manager with Nikki Holmes 

Now some of you may have noticed that the gap between episode 47 and 48 has been a bit longer than usual, and many of you will know I took on a new role at the end of March and it's a massive role and it's taken a lot of getting used to and getting my head round. We also have a business interest outside of that which has needed some time and attention and I wanted to make sure everyone inside the Blue Light Leavers group was in a good place and subsequently the podcast was just one of the things I had to drop for a little while. However, we're back with a bang and I've some amazing guests lined up over the next few weeks and months.

My guest today is incredible. The story and the journey that she's been on is so inspiring. Nikki is a freelance consultant and owner of Safer Together, and is currently a Child Exploitation Project Manager with Coventry and Rugby CCG (NHS). In this interview, we talk about her current role and her time in the Police and we discuss her reasons why she wanted a career change and the key skills she identified that she was able to across to her new role. She also spent time with the Care Quality Commission and more recently, she's developed her own consultancy. We talk about the power of networking and using LinkedIn and she also gives some great advice with regards to a training course that she strongly recommends, if you want to follow in her footsteps. She gives so much insight and passes on so much knowledge, I know you'll get loads from this interview. 

Don't forget, you can also visit the website and blog on www.bluelightleavers.com and download my free UPDATED guide to LinkedIn for Police Officers! 

You can listen to the podcast on shift, walking the dog, pottering about, and do it on your phone, desktop, laptop, or tablet, anywhere and whenever suits you, pause and play and they're all completely free!

You can now even ask Alexa to 'Play Blue Light Leavers Podcast' and up it pops.

In this episode, I had the absolute honour of speaking with Nick Bailey.

Nick is a former Wiltshire Police Detective Sergeant who was a victim of the Novichok nerve agent attack in Salisbury in March 2018.

During this interview, Nick talks really openly and candidly about what occurred on that day, and the impact that it had on him and his family over the coming weeks and months.

We talk about his return to work and the challenges he faced with the ill-health process.

We also talk about the press and publicity and the impact that's had on him and his family as a result of what occurred and we actually look back and reflect on what happened and you'll be surprised at the positives that have come out of such an incredible incident.

We also talk about what's next for Nick.

I promise, this is such a great interview and a real privilege to hear what actually happened on the 4th March 2018.

You can also visit the website and blog on www.bluelightleavers.com and download my free NEW and UPDATED guide to LinkedIn for Police Officers for 2021!

You can listen to the podcast on shift, walking the dog, pottering about, and do it on your phone, desktop, laptop, or tablet, anywhere and whenever suits you, pause and play and they're all completely free!

You can now even ask Alexa to 'Play Blue Light Leavers Podcast' and up it pops!

Don't forget you can also join our Private Facebook group at: www.facebook.com/groups/bluelightleavers If you like what you've heard, please subscribe, hit 5* and leave a review and share with your friends and colleagues and come and join us in our Private Facebook