Supporting the Military Community

College of West Anglia are proud to support the military community. As a college, we support and recognise the benefits the armed forces bring to the college and we aim to do all we can to support staff and students from this community. We have many staff and students who come from, or have strong links with, the armed forces and we do all we can to establish and build on these links. We are also proud supporters of the Armed Forces Covenant.

The college is situated just 14 miles from RAF Marham (a tri-service base home to the F35 Lightning - a fifth generation, multi role, stealth fighter in the UK) and 27 miles from Robertson Barracks, the home of 1^st The Queen's Dragoon Guards (The Welsh Cavalry).

We offer our support to armed forces personnel, veterans, reservists and their families by providing high quality courses across our campuses; King’s Lynn, Wisbech and Cambridge.

We recognise that the military community have many unique skills, which can be transferrable to other industries. We offer courses that can build upon your skills and make them transferrable to new careers, or you can retrain into new industries.

Find out more below or get in contact for more information.

• Armed Forces Families

  Military families hold a valuable role in supporting the armed forces personnel. However, we understand that this role can come with issues when it comes to employment and education.

  We offer a wide variety of full-time courses, that are aimed at 16-year-old school leavers. Alongside studies, the college has an expert Wellbeing Team who will support you during your time at college.

  For Adults, we offer many part-time courses at our King’s Lynn, Wisbech and Cambridge campuses. These courses can help you gain new skills or develop your current skills.

• Serving Personnel

  If you are looking to take part in professional development whilst serving or preparing to leave the services, we offer many courses which will suit your needs.

  The College of West Anglia hold ELC approved learning provider status under the Armed Forces Enhances Learning Credits Administration Scheme (ELC). Find out more about the courses available and how to apply for the funding here.

  We have an experienced Career Team who can offer support and guidance to help you make informed choices about your future.

• Resettlement

  The transition from military to civilian life can be difficult. At the College of West Anglia, we have the support in place to make this transition that little bit easier. Your skills, knowledge and experience will be unique and we can help you to use these and transfer them into a new career.

  There are many funding options for courses available and we hold ELC approved learning provider status under the Armed Forces Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Service (ELCAC) scheme.

  We have an experienced Career Team who can offer support and guidance to help you make informed choices about your future. Contact the college to be connected to the faculty for more information.

  Alongside your studies, we have an expert Wellbeing Team who will support you during your time with us, should you need it.

• Defence Employer Recognition Scheme

  The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) encourages employers to support defence and inspire others to do the same. The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.

  College of West Anglia has been awarded a Gold Award. We were the first Further Education College to achieve this level of award and are keen to show our continued commitment to those who have served and members of the community.

  Gold award holders:

  • must have signed the Armed Forces Covenant.  
  • employers must have an existing relationship with their National Account Manager/Regional Employer Engagement Director/appropriate defence representative
  • the employer must already be accredited as a holder of ERS Silver Award and held it with sufficient time to develop suitable plans and policies and evidence to support the ERS Gold application
  • the employer must proactively demonstrate their forces-friendly credentials as part of their recruiting and selection processes. Where possible, they should be engaged with Career Transition Partnership (CTP) in the recruitment of service leavers and have registered for the Forces Families Jobs (FFJ) portal
  • the employer must actively ensure that their workforce is aware of their positive policies towards defence people issues. For example, an employer nominated for support to the Reserves must have an internally publicised and positive human resources policy on Reserves
  • the employer must be an exemplar within their market sector, advocating support to defence people issues to partner organisations, suppliers and customers with tangible positive results
  • within the context of Reserves the employer must have demonstrated support to mobilisations or have a framework in place. They must provide at least 10 days’ additional leave for training, fully paid, to the Reservist employee
  • the employer must actively encourage a positive environment for Reservists by ensuring that positive policies in support of Reservists within the workforce are communicated to line managers
  • the employer must not have been the subject of any negative public relations or media activity
  • the employer should be an exemplar in demonstrating support to the Cadet movement. This could, for example, be through mentoring cadets in key employment skills, by providing guaranteed interviews for cadets, by direct investment in equipment and infrastructure for a local cadet unit, or by funding and sponsoring competitions, events, and specific activities for cadets such as overseas expeditions
  • the employer promotes volunteering with the cadet forces from their workforce, by providing additional leave for employees who are Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs)