Great Place to Work for Veterans Scheme

My name is Tom Rodda, and I’m the Reporting Manager in the Carbon Capture, Usage, and Storage (CCUS) Programme in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) - a job I secured through the Civil Service Great Place to Work for Veterans scheme.?

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I joined the Civil Service in September 2024 after 21 years as a Musician and Director of Music in the Royal Air Force (RAF). Before you ask, yes, this is a full-time role! There are approximately 160 musicians in the RAF, who support the RAF’s and HM Government’s public and international engagement and provide ceremonial support to major State and formal military occasions.??

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During my military career I was privileged to conduct bands on national radio and television, and at events such as Her Majesty the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, her state funeral, and the Coronation of Their Majesties, King Charles III and Queen Camilla. I also conducted military bands at locations such as Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, various sports stadia, and was involved in international events, travelling across Europe and to North America and Australia.??

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Alongside my role as a musician, and later a Commanding Officer and Director of Music of Royal Air Force bands, I deployed on separate occasions as a Dog Handler and as a Media and Communications Officer. I thoroughly enjoyed my military career, and I look back fondly on my time serving in HM Armed Forces. I had always planned on a second career once I left the RAF, and after 21 years I felt the time was right to seek new opportunities. To prepare for this transition I completed a master’s degree at the University of Birmingham and gained several project management qualifications between 2020 and 2024.??

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I began actively looking at civilian roles in January 2024, applying for vacancies from March. One of the roles I applied for in the late Spring was a Project Manager vacancy in the Central PMO in the CCUS Programme in DESNZ as part of the Civil Service Great Place to Work for Veterans scheme. ?

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Getting through to interviews felt like a huge challenge. It was at times difficult not to doubt my decision to move away from my career in the RAF. However, when I got to interview, my success rate rocketed, and I was fortunate enough to be offered several private and public sector roles prior to accepting my current role as Reporting Manager in CCUS.??

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The Great Place to Work for Veterans scheme was key in helping land me where I am today. I looked at a variety of roles and chose the ones where I felt sure that I had relevant and transferable skills. By demonstrating that through the application process, I met the minimum criteria and was offered an interview. I’m now lead reporting on a multi-billion pound programme which is key to the UK’s energy security and climate change commitments. I’ve already had the opportunity to identify areas for improvement, for example establishing an improved approach to the organisation of reporting within the programme, and ensuring lessons identified are learned and captured.??

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Service leavers bring a huge range of skills, strengths, and experiences from their military careers. I was fortunate to work alongside highly trained, incredibly talented and dedicated professionals in the RAF and in tri-Service environments. I am now involved in recruiting for our growing team in CCUS, and I will have no hesitation in promoting the Great Place to Work for Veterans scheme to my new colleagues in the Civil Service.??

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I would encourage any Service leaver making the transition into ‘civvie street’ to consider Civil Service opportunities. I urge them to seek information about the Great Place to Work for Veterans scheme as there are many positive similarities with Service experience. The Civil Service also has a really positive approach to serving in the Reserves too, providing up to 15 special paid leave days per year to support Reservists’ commitments.?

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In summary, 2024 so was a rollercoaster year! Leaving the RAF after a professionally successful and enjoyable career was, at times, terrifying. However, the support I’ve had from my new team, who saw, and believed, in the skills, strengths and experiences that I’d acquired during my Service career, has helped me settle in successfully, and together we’ve achieved some quick wins.?

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We have so much to offer. From my perspective thus far, working in DESNZ as a Civil Servant, has been terrific. I have no regrets about my decision to change career, and I’m looking forward to making the most of the opportunities available within the Civil Service as a ‘civvie’!???

For more information on the Great Place to Work for Veterans Scheme click here

For more information about locations within the Civil Service click here

For more information about the the National Transition Event click here