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Been there, done that... Stuart ‘Harry’ HarrisSSGT Stuart ‘Harry’ Harris has served in the Royal Engineers for 24 years, specialising as a Geographic Technician. While serving, he has gained civilian qualifications including European computer driving licence (ECDL) and Protecting Children level 1. He registered for ELC to ‘allow myself a chance to gain higher education qualifications in the future’. He selected a course ‘in a subject area that I was interested in studying: criminal justice. We were all told to register for ELCAS as we never knew when we might want to use the grants. You had to be in it to use it – no second chances!’ He is training with Kaplan Open Learning, working towards a BA in Criminal Justice. The course, he says, is ‘very professional, and very relevant to my aspirations. I have several friends who are studying with other universities and they do not receive the same intensive academic support that I receive through Kaplan. From the student advisers to the academic director, all act with commensurate professionalism, backed up by a solid academic background. ‘Around 6–12 hours’ study a week is required, depending on where you are in the module cycle. The work-based projects can increase the time, but this is done during work (with a supportive boss!). Before starting, he hoped that the course would give him ‘a learning experience that would lead to an academic qualification – a degree – through a very reputable university: Essex. I am fulfilling a desire to change my career path on leaving the Services and become a social worker. I will be able to start a master’s degree next year having gained a relevant degree while still serving by using my ELC. I will have the necessary civilian qualifications to step into postgraduate education and gain a social work qualification, allowing me to become a practising social worker. This different career avenue is something I realised I wanted to do while being a Unit Welfare Officer. I had to plan my future, and started to do so five years before I was due to leave.’ His advice to others is: ‘If you use your ELC while serving, you do not have to pay tax on the entitlement, thus saving yourself a vast sum of money over the three instalments and allowing you to fund a more expensive course. I never used my SLC, but I didn’t make the same mistake with my ELC!’ He concludes, ‘Try to think of the future: you will not always be in the Services, so never put off studying or using your ELC. A degree is for life, not just while serving. The range of ELCAS providers is vast and there may be a subject provided under the scheme that you never knew about previously, so spend some time exploring all the options available.’ See advertisement on page 11
Chief Technician Mark Coxon has served in the RAF for 26 years, specialising as a General Technician Electrical. While serving, he has gained civilian qualifications including a level 5 Diploma in Management Coaching and Mentoring, and has used his ELC to gain the following City & Guilds qualifications: level 3 Certificate in the Requirements for Electrical Installations, level 3 Certificate in Inspection, Testing and Certification of Electrical Installations, level 3 Certificate in Design, Erection and Verification of Electrical Installations, and Certificate in Portable Appliance Testing (PAT Testing).
See advertisement on page 17
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Mark Coxon