West Midland RFCA

Meet our new Regional Employer Engagement Director

Major Darren Knight has recently joined the West Midland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association as the new Regional Employer Engagement Director for Birmingham and the West Midlands County. Darren has a background in both the Armed Forces and civilian workplace, which gives him strong footing for his new role. Darren joined the Junior Leaders’ Regiment Royal Corps of Transport (RCT) in 1985 at…

Award celebrates 10 years since first recognition of Armed Forces Covenant signees

The Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Award celebrates 10 years and with the start of a new decade for the award the West Midland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association (RFCA) are very pleased to announce that 37 organisations in their region are confirmed as ERS Silver Award winners for 2024. This brings the total of ERS Silver holders, in the region, to 138. This…

New kitchens are better for the environment

Photographs before works commenced. The kitchens at the Tiddesley Wood and Bramcote Cadet Training Centres (CTC) have been revitalised with upgraded facilities. Working together with Three Pines Ltd, Principal Designer/Architect David Richards, and Abraxas Catering Equipment, our Building Estates Manager for the South Region, Richard Cameron project managed the works to modernise and improve the facilities. With our commitment to tackling climate change…

Month of the Military Child

Month of the Military child is an opportunity to celebrate the lives of Service children and their families, and their perceived resilience and achievements. Originally launched in the US, month of the Military child is now growing momentum in the UK. It is led by the Education Policy Team (EPT), and has the backing of the Ministry of Defence, wider government and a…

Royal Naval Reserve take part in Ski Champs

14th January 2024 saw the start of this year’s Royal Navy Snowsports Festival – the Royal Navy’s annual sporting event for alpine and telemark skiing, as well as snowboarding. Representing HMS FORWARD in Birmingham, a small group from the Royal Navy Reserves Medical Branch signed up and Surgeon Lieutenant-Commander Vincent tells us how they got on. “We were a mixed bunch, ranging from…

West Midland RFCA Board member, Dr Catherine Baxter, receives MBE

One of the West Midland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association’s (RFCA) Board Members and former Harper Adams University Secretary, Dr Catherine Baxter, will be made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for her services to higher education, as announced in the New Year’s Honours List. Dr Baxter’s honour marks a career working across a diverse range of educational institutions, including…

Hard facilities management services for the Volunteer Estate to be delivered by the MoD Built Estate contracts

Following the conclusion of the Volunteer Estate Value for Money Study, it has been agreed that Hard Facilities Management services for the Volunteer Estate will in the future be delivered by the MOD Built Estate contracts. These contracts cover key maintenance work, repairs, servicing and Hard Facilities Management, across the Volunteer Estate to enable Reserves and Cadets to continue to work and train….