MEET The Team

Raised on an English vineyard, Fiona has always loved the physicality of the great outdoors. Now, after twenty-three years of active service in the Army, she is excited to have come home. Passionate about helping people find meaningful and fulfilling careers, she founded RuRALink to help improve career pathways into the land-based sector.

Fiona also maintains a portfolio of other executive and trustee roles.

Fiona takes on selected employment consultancy roles; do please email to discuss how she can help. fiona@ruralink.org.uk

Tess joined us in October 2020 specifically to work on an exciting project building an education and training pipeline into conservation, community and regenerative agriculture. 

She is an Organisational Development Psychologist and former army educator and holds Masters degrees in Organisational and Business Psychology and Adult Education.

Welcome Tess!

Contact Tess by emailing: Tess@ruralink.org.uk

Andy left the RAF in 2021. During his resettlement process, he volunteered with Ruralink, helping set up Op KINGFISHER and providing some sound advice to others on the value of gaining experience, including through   volunteering, in your final year/s of service. 

(You can watch the video he recorded here.)

We are delighted that he is working with us again, this time as a consultant, designing and implementing a mentor scheme for new entrants into regenerative agriculture in Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds. This is not a veteran-specific project but offers support to anyone starting out in Regen Ag; find out more at Greatglos.co.uk.

Contact Andy by emailing: Andy@ruralink.org.uk

Sam left the Army in 2017, spending a year at the Royal Agricultural University studying for an MSc in Business management and undertaking various work experience and voluntary roles to build his network in environmental conservation. He now works as a Catchment Coordinator  at the Environment Agency.

Sam has been a useful contact for resettling personnel  for some time and came onboard as a formal mentor in January 2021.

" In all my endeavours I bring a passion for conservation and the outdoors. 

I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in as a mentor."

Connect with Sam through LinkedIn.

National opportunity (WFH)

Several farm businesses regularly get in touch to offer hosted work experience to resettling personnel on their farms. Ruralink does not make any charge for matching individuals to these opportunities. We are keen to offer projects associated with the coordination role as CWAs to enable other resettling individuals to keep the project alive whilst gaining their own opportunity to get out to several of these farms.

Benefits to you: 

Quality in-sector work experience for  your CV

Reference

Access to a rich network of farmers and farms

Opportunity to shape and develop opportunities which support your resettlement goals and those of others

Great days out in the field with fellow resettling personnel and veterans

If you are interested please get in touch via:

fiona@ruralink.org.uk

We are currently keen to attract a new volunteer coordinator. Would ideally suit some-one who is in the final months of resettling or  left the forces in the last 2 years.

The role serves the dual purpose of providing real sector management experience as well as facilitating and project-managing volunteer experience for the wider resettling community. Includes project management of Operation Kingfisher.

Whether you are still serving or have recently left the service and are interested in a career in land-management roles, volunteering is a great way to develop new skills and qualifications. You will also build up a peer network of fellow veterans and sector contacts - an invaluable source of support, encouragement and expertise as you go through resettlement.

See you out in the field soon! 

Get involved by emailing: volunteering@ruralink.org.uk

To suit your aims

At Ruralink we are convinced that gaining experience and building your sector network are even more valuable than obtaining relevant qualifications.

We will therefore facilitate civilian work attachments (CWA) for anyone who will benefit. This may be as a Ruralink consultant on an existing project. Or we may broker a suitable experience with another business.

If you are interested in discussing opportunities, please get in touch via:

fiona@ruralink.org.uk