Corporal Carly Smith has become the first of the cohort of Armed Forces Personnel to graduate in her Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) studies at Cardiff and Vale College.
Carly started her studies with Cardiff and Vale College (CAVC) in 2018 and has been able to complete her Level 5 Certificate in HR Management as a result of the flexible approach taken to support Service Personnel through this course. Carly is currently based at MOD St Athan in South Wales and works in the Personnel Support trade as a HR specialist and has managed the course alongside her full-time work commitments.
CIPD Programme lead and HR Management Lecturer Nick Carter said: ”CAVC has seen a significant increase in enrolments this year for the course from both military and MOD civil servants, the inherent flexibility we offer appreciates the demands of Service life whilst seeking to support those who want to attain their qualification. We have a breadth of ranks who are travelling across the country to attend our courses which demonstrates the value placed on the provision being offered”.
CAVC was recently one of just 19 Welsh employers to be awarded the Silver Employer Recognition Scheme Award, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and supporting personnel in their aspirations to achieve and area leading the way working with Armed Forces agencies and prospective employers to promote the unique value armed forces personnel bring. In addition to the longer HR course, the college has also created a CIPD accredited Resourcing and Talent short course to benefit those in recruitment related roles to gain wider industry knowledge and broader application beyond the military.
Cardiff and Vale College Principal Kay Martin said: “It was a huge honour to enter into this partnership with the RAF in 2018 during its Centenary Year and I am so glad that we have seen our first graduate in Corporal Carly Smith.
“At CAVC we understand the need for flexible learning, so the blend of distance learning and face-to-face sessions offered on this Level 5 CIPD course will help RAF personnel achieve their qualifications at a time and pace that will be best suited for them individually. It will also help personnel, like Carly, progress both in and outside of the RAF.”
Wing Commander Steve Parkes, Personnel Support Advisor, who has been working with CAVC to implement the programme said: “By providing well considered, high quality, tailored and flexible higher-level academic courses that allow distance learning CAVC has fully embraced the unique challenges that Service Personnel have in managing the demands of their military role against the opportunity to undertake academic studies. It is this innovative, forward thinking and proactive understanding approach that significantly contributes to underpinning the professionalism of Royal Air Force Personnel, specifically those delivering HR support.”
Anyone interested in undertaking CIPD studies to complete the Certificate in HR Management should view the college website, www.cavc.ac.uk for further details.