Episode 2 Alex Polizzi: Hire Our Heroes

If you could imagine a place where you know

people are going to kill you.

Fire!

One minute you see a bus full of kids and family

and that going through and then the next...

EXPLOSION

After nearly a decade of intense fighting,

many of our soldiers are leaving the military.

But now they've returned,

thousands are struggling to find work on Civvy Street.

I fought a battle in the Army and now I'm fighting a battle every day.

It's demoralising, especially when you've got a skill.

You can't get a job to apply it, you know.

He's just not the same person any more.

I'm Alex Polizzi and I want to find out why this is happening

and what can be done about it.

I would like to try and find you careers,

something that you can grow and develop and enjoy.

-We just all want a chance.

-I understand.

That's all we do, is just want a chance.

They're not out of work because they're lazy.

Need a kick up the arse.

I'm here to provide it. Don't make any rash decisions

and don't give up yet.

I want to do more than stand by the side of the road and wave a flag.

I just need just that one door to open.

Hopefully, I can go out and work. Need to support my family.

I obviously can't guarantee anybody a job at the end of it

but I am going to give it a bloody good shot.

-I've recruited four unemployed veterans...

-Hi, Alex.

..in the hope I can find them jobs.

Bit of positivity to push me in the right direction.

I'm looking forward to just starting a new life

outside the military, really.

It's getting me off my backside and doing something about it.

They have all served their country

and have skills I think would make them an asset back home.

I would see you as a mentor, as a role model.

I wouldn't say I was a role model!

Why not?

It's not a one-size-fits-all solution.

I'm trying to find the best thing for each of them.

Phil was a sergeant in the Royal Engineers

with a distinguished career, including selection to be

a pallbearer at Princess Diana's funeral.

It was just such an honour to be chosen.

One of the days I will never forget and cherish,

probably for the rest of my life.

But several tours of Iraq and Afghanistan left him

with both mental scars and a lower-leg amputation.

Since I've left the Army, I've been unable to work because of

the medical conditions and the problems I've had with my stump.

Since I first met Phil, he's impressed me with his attitude, but

our work together has been hampered by the ongoing pain in his stump.

My bone there ends there, and that means I'm walking on bone.

I've got a neuroma, which is the nerves that

lead down from the leg. They're cut off there and they grow

little balls on, and those balls are so sensitive. It really hurts.

Once you put pressure on it, you do feel the pain.

We had all hoped a final operation would at last have him ready to go.

I want to be in employment.

I want to be working and supporting my family in a decent job

and some job I'll be happy in and good at.

But there have been complications, leaving Phil housebound.

PHONE RINGS

While he's recovering, I'm having to mentor him

with pep talks over the phone.

-'Hello?'

-Hi, Phil. How are you?

'I'm good, thank you. How are you?'

Not bad, darling, not bad, but I've been worrying about you.

I hear your leg hasn't been great.

'I took it off one day and then the whole thing exploded.'

Gosh, darling! That sounds unpleasant.

'Lost about half a pint of blood.'

Good lord, darling! You do...

Honestly, you are up against it, aren't you?

HE LAUGHS

'Won't be long.

'I reckon I'll probably be back in a leg in a week or so.'

-Do you? Don't rush it, for goodness' sake!

-'No, no, no.'

Let's make sure it heals properly before we give this another go.

-'Yeah.'

-All right, darling.

-'All right. Thank you very much, Alex.'

-Thanks. Big kiss. Bye.

This process has been going on and on and on.

You know, until he's been able to put his amputation...

get his amputation right, he wasn't fit to go back to work,

so I've just now... I don't want him to go back too early.

I don't want him to have another physical set-back, cos I think,

once he is physically well, he's someone who will just go for it.

Phil and my other three recruits all suffer with post-traumatic

stress disorder.

Although most veterans return without injury or illness,

I think PTSD sufferers face a particularly tough

challenge in finding jobs when they return.

Lee followed his boyhood dream

and joined the Army straight from school.

Anywhere along the River Tamar has, you know, a spot in my heart

because it's where I learned to fish from my uncle

20 years...20-odd years ago now.

Since being discharged six years ago,

he has applied for over 200 jobs.

I'm happy when I'm down here.

Four weeks ago, I managed to get him a work placement on a road crew

but it ended abruptly

when his PTSD flared up and he felt unable to leave his home for a week.

It is a pain in the arse having it.

It's an invisible foe, isn't it?

I am a normal guy.

I've just got this problem in my brain that it can't process

the information that I've got correctly yet, which is a nightmare.

-'Hi.'

-Hello, Alex.

'Um... How are you feeling in yourself?'

Bit low today, and the past couple of days a bit low, but...

other than that, I'm feeling all right.

'Good, darling. I'm glad.

'I mean, you know, a couple of days of work placement does not a career

'make, but it's a step on the path.'

-Exactly, yeah.

-'That's what we've got to...

'I kind of keep saying that to myself, we've just got to...

'The important thing is that one just keeps putting one foot

-'in front of the other and that we get there in the end.'

-Yeah.

'I can understand...

'I mean, obviously, I don't suffer the way that you do,

'so I don't have that understanding, but I can...

'I kind of feel for you that you had this little setback. Hopefully,

'it's just something temporary and it's going to be, you know...

'You'll be OK once it's sorted.

'So, are you aware of anything that might have set you off?'

I have no idea. That's why... Doctor's on Monday,

to nip this little thing in the bud, then it's sorted.

I mean, 90% of my PTSD's kind of squared away.

It's just this little bit that just kind of reared its ugly head,

which I'm getting on top of, and then it'll be fine.

While Lee receives therapy, he isn't able to job-hunt.

That's both him and Phil out of the market for now.

I'm feeling quite frustrated at this stage

because there hasn't been enough movement, enough development.

I feel like the guys are advancing one step

and then taking two sideways paces and one step back, and we're

kind of almost where we were at the beginning of this process.

I've been very focused on the employment side,

on making these guys understand where their skills are

to try and help them understand what they might want to do,

how they might get, one step after another, to where

they want to arrive, and it's clearly not going to be that simple.

But there is some hope.

Two of my men are about to take their first steps into getting

jobs, which is great news.

They both live in a supported housing unit for veterans.

Leaving it is a really big step for them.

"A very hard-working,

"confident and dependable person who enjoys a challenge.

"I can put my mind to any task.

"I work well as part of a team

"but I'm equally able to work without direct supervision."

I'm getting nearer to finding Shaun, a former

private in the Royal Signals, an opportunity in construction.

He, like all of my veterans, has been struggling with his self-esteem.

Think the CV's going to help us,

because it's actually highlighted a lot of strengths and weaknesses.

Yeah, I would definitely employ this person. Phenomenal!

Shaun was medically discharged from the Army 15 years ago

after a training accident.

When I left the Army and that, I suffered a lot from, like,

mental illness - PTSD and anxiety and depression.

The last 12 months, it's like all my problems came round

and kicked us back in the teeth, you know.

It's like you lock them all away, you know, and...

They gradually come back and rise to the surface again.

Nothing down.

He started a painting and decorating business

but the stress of running it triggered a return of his PTSD.

For Shaun, that meant nightmares and panic attacks that affected

his ability to work and ultimately lost him his home and his business.

Going back into work will be like... Yeah, it would

make life a hell of a lot easier.

It gives you structure and routine, you know,

which I think, partly with being in the Army, it's what I thrive on.

Makes you feel a lot more settled and a lot happier.

I normally make me and the dog the same tea.

He's having mashed tatties tonight, the same as me, like.

Sit. Paw.

Give us a paw. There you go, son.

Stuart was medically discharged with PTSD 19 months ago.

Until then, for 13 years, he'd had a promising Army career.

Yeah, this has been real good for us to sort us out and help us.

Get back on my own two feet and start again.

He's also leaving the support of the sheltered housing to begin

a brick-laying apprenticeship.

Just a new chapter in my life, still a young man,

got plenty years ahead, hopefully, so it is a new chapter.

-Can I have bacon and tomato?

-Yeah.

-Well-done bacon and sausage.

-What do you want, Stu?

-Bacon and sausage, please.

Another bacon and sausage.

Stuart has managed to get a place on one of the few apprenticeship

schemes designed to attract veterans.

Do you miss being in the Army?

I still feel like I'm on leave, I do.

How long have you been out, like?

Six, seven months.

Did you adapt all right, cos it must be a massive difference?

-Any of you have any problems adapting?

-Aye, I did.

You did? What, just couldn't get used to the different environment?

-I still don't like it, no.

-Oh, yeah?

-No.

Wish you were back in the Army?

Well, we've got you laying bricks on the side. You'll love it.

Oh, no. I like this but still miss the Army.

Go through once, flatten it, back through, nice and even.

Yeah? That's a nice even bed. See the difference in the thickness?

That's why you're struggling to get it down.

The apprenticeship starts with a week of assessment, which he

has to complete in order to progress.

Better.

It's hardly Hadrian's Wall, though, is it?

HE LAUGHS

You're not going to pick it up overnight, mate,

and for what you've done and produced in a couple of short days,

it's absolutely fantastic.

So don't be downhearted by it.

You've done well. You should be proud of yourself.

It could turn into 18 months of employment

but only if Stuart can hack working on Civvy Street.

I don't know what I feel at the minute, actually.

I feel a bit weird.

I always knew the civilian workplace would be challenging for Stuart.

I think I'll be all right working, I think,

but I wasn't the last time I did it.

I wasn't ready for it.

I ended up very ill.

When he first left the Army, he worked on the roads

but his PTSD resurfaced.

I was heavily, heavily drinking at the time

and I made myself really, really ill and ended up in hospital.

I put my life on hold for that long, with hospital treatment

and stuff like that.

Just can't keep doing it. I need to move on.

Now, just two days into his assessment, he is struggling again.

Doing the brick-laying this week has been good

and I've enjoyed learning and moving forward

but I'm still looking backward.

I'm not really looking forward and I think that's been my problem.

I'm still thinking about the Army. Ideally, I'd still be there.

If it wasn't for my illness, I'd be in the Army.

I'm still gutted it's been cut short but I can't seem to

move on from that, look forward or get excited by anything.

Doctors keep saying, "You've made massive progress and massive steps,"

and I'm going really quick but is it too quick?

This apprenticeship is a chance for Stuart to start over.

I'm really keen he shouldn't give up too soon.

PHONE RINGS

'This is the Vodafone Voicemail Service.

'When you've finished recording, please hang up.'

BEEP

Hi, Stuart, it's Alex Polizzi.

Um... I'm really excited that you've

got your chance here and I really want you to feel positive about it.

I'm going to try you again. Bye.

Although my four unemployed ex-soldiers all

suffer from PTSD, it's not just those with an illness or

an injury that can struggle for work.

Thousands of veterans are finding it tough to get Civvy Street jobs.

As well as helping my four, I want to see

if there's anything I can do to try and crack the wider issue.

What you can guarantee is that people will always criticise us

-for not doing enough.

-Yeah.

-So in that respect...

I think it's better to do less and to do it well.

I mean, that's my attitude about everything in life, really.

I completely agree, completely agree. And I, you know...

We want to make our people independent rather than dependent.

'For years, the MoD have run what they call

'the Career Transition Partnership,

'which offers those leaving the military a chance to

'retrain for Civvy Street.

'I want to know what the man at the top, Major General Nugee,

'thinks is driving the fact that

'so many veterans still struggle to reintegrate.'

When you leave the military, that support network goes,

the comradeship, the teamwork and all of that disappears.

Some people find that overwhelming.

We all go through it. I'm frankly terrified what I'm going to do next,

cos I don't know, but I'm conscious that, for some people,

that becomes an overwhelming shock and they don't know where to turn.

Do you think employers should be doing more to understand

what it is that a veteran could be bringing to their endeavour?

So, I think this is a question of momentum -

the more companies that are prepared to accept ex-service

people on the grounds that they are well-skilled,

the more companies that are prepared to say,

"Actually, I want an ex-service person,"

then actually this will grow in momentum and we'll find that the

issue goes away and that employers will find that they want more of us.

I think the CTP was set up with the best of intentions.

However, they kind of depend on business coming to them. They're

not an outreach service and so I'm sure there's more work to be done.

I think getting businesses to recognise the value of veterans

could break down the barrier so many face with employment.

To try and broaden my impact on this issue, I've been working with

Plymouth Council, who have brought together

a group of businesses in support of veterans.

Plymouth have set up a Corporate Covenant group.

It's made up of businesses who are very keen to encourage veterans back

into paid work, and obviously that's something I'm trying to achieve, too.

Council officer Heather Ogburn, who set up the group, has been

helping me try and find a way to turn their good will

into practical help for veterans looking for work.

I'm hoping, together, we can create a blueprint

for getting local veterans into local jobs.

Businesses who are in the Corporate Covenant group

here in Plymouth have proved to be fairly committed.

First of all, they keep on turning up.

We all know it's not really working properly,

the "system", in inverted commas, as it is at the moment,

but no-one's quite sure about what to do

and it does run the risk of just being

a kind of lament, a bit like the decline of the high street. People

say a lot about it and no-one's worked out how to stop the rot.

Well, I think that there are some obvious things

that we could do to improve the situation here

and it would be nice to feel as if

I've found some partners in doing that.

Plymouth is home to nearly 19,000 veterans and some major employers.

I have an idea how to join them up.

I just need to get this lot engaged with my plan.

OK, good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

I'd like to welcome Alex Polizzi, who's joining us,

as she's working with some of our veterans.

What has become clear to me

over these months of research is that some businesses,

particularly the larger businesses, are doing some sterling work.

It's a shame to me that there's not the Federation of Small Businesses

involved here, that employ 48% of the privately

employed workforce, so we need to get them onside.

The other thing is, as a small business owner and a veteran,

there's no specific wider Forces networking group.

Well, actually, that's one of the things that I've got written down -

networking. I think more like freshers' fairs than jobs fairs.

You know, I went to university and, in that first week, everyone

put out their stall and all they did was tell you what

they did as an organisation and you saw whether you were interested

in finding out more or whether they weren't going to suit you at all.

And that's, again, something that would be very valuable, cos it's

a kind of pressure-free environment. You're not actually asking

for a job, you're just finding out about what kind of jobs there are.

There's a sort of wealth of experience in the room

and whole different kinds of expertise that I really hope we can

sort of latch on to here in Plymouth.

I'm obviously very pleased that I got some support for the ideas

I put forward.

I think, given a bit more time, I might even come up with a few more.

Although I'm widening my ambitions to help

veterans in Plymouth, I also need to focus on my recruits.

I've not yet caught up with Stuart, who's nearing

the end of his assessment week for his brick-laying course.

PHONE RINGS

-'Hello?'

-Hi, is that Stuart?

-'Yeah, it is, yeah.'

-It's Alex.

-'Hello.'

-Hi, how are you?

'I'm just laying bricks, as a matter of fact.

'I'm sitting here, laying bricks.'

You don't seem particularly cheerful.

'No, not really. Still a bit nervous about it, like.'

What's making you nervous?

Is it the bit about fitting in with people or is it the job itself?

'Bit of both, really.'

Don't give up yet.

It's just a hiccup, it's a bump in the road.

Don't make any rash decisions and just keep plugging away.

-'I definitely won't do that.'

-All right, my darling.

-'All right, then.'

-All right. Nice to talk to you.

-'See you later.'

-Bye, darling. Bye.

-'Bye.'

SHE SIGHS

OK, well, that doesn't sound great,

but, you know, he has done that first kind of really critical step

into employment, and it's very important now that

I kind of bolster him as much as possible, because I don't

want to happen to him what happened to Lee, which is then to fall back.

In Saltburn-by-the-Sea,

three weeks after being sidelined,

Phil is, at last, back on his feet.

He's battled through six operations and countless setbacks,

but, finally, has some news not even the weather can spoil.

Well, like they always said in the Army, "skin's waterproof",

so it doesn't really matter if it's raining or sun.

It's going to be a good day, no matter what.

This stretch of the A1 in North Yorkshire

is undergoing a £380 million upgrade.

A major construction company is recruiting

and, after receiving Phil's CV,

they've asked to meet him to discuss a possible management position.

This has been a really long process for Phil,

and I'm amazed he's got through it as well as he has.

You know, he's had PTSD and physical injury to deal with,

and, my goodness,

the fact that he's as strong-willed as he is

is a testament to what he could achieve, actually.

This is my future now,

not just for me, for my family, as well, and for my kids,

for my partner and for the rest of my life.

If I set up a good, stable platform for us as a family,

with a decent job, then it's the way forward.

If Phil was working, he'd be so much happier.

He'd love to earn his own wage, he really would,

and not depend on anybody.

He just needs a chance.

I know Phil is desperate for it, absolutely desperate,

and I think he'll give his all.

I think he will give his all.

Phil has been out of the employment loop for a long time

and I want to make sure he has the best possible chance

of landing this job.

So ahead of his interview I've arranged for him to see

a Royal Marine who has faced his own battle on Civvy Street

and fought his way into the construction business.

I'm hoping Phil will benefit from his experience.

So, how have you found it since you've been out?

You don't necessarily bring all the technical skills,

all the experience in a certain discipline,

what you bring is your interpersonal skills,

your leadership, your management.

You've set up forward operating bases, under pressure, under fire.

Transpose that to civilian life.

There'll be pressures, but... this isn't pressure, is it?

This is me sitting in a nice office,

in an ill-fitting jacket, drinking tea,

it's not the high-tempo,

"This has to get done or people are going to die" any more.

That experience that you had, you should never let go of it,

but just mould it and temper it to whatever role you go into.

You know, and management is somewhere where

I think you should be looking.

Phil has been waiting for his chance to prove himself again.

To do so, he must show how his front-line experience in Afghanistan

translates into skills his interviewers

will feel compelled to employ.

It's probably worth really just having a look at your role

as engineering manager.

It would be good to just understand a little bit more about that.

Yeah, basically, I was in charge of between eight and 21 people.

I was tasked over in Afghanistan to build three major control bases.

During the builds, you'd get attacked constantly,

so you're working under so much pressure,

and also, you're looking at risk assessments.

You had to make a risk assessment at every situation,

because you've got snipers.

The OC said, he said, he didn't think it could be done,

and we did it, so...

What would you like to get out of the experience,

and what can you bring to our business

that would help us move forward?

I'm so hungry for work at the moment, and I want a challenge.

I want to be able to make a difference

and I've done my Army chapter now.

And this is a new chapter

where this is what I want to do with my life now.

-Hi.

-Hi, Mum.

-'How did you get on?'

-Brilliant! Yeah, really, really good.

They're looking at bringing me in to head the training.

'Oh, my gosh! Oh, well done. Well done!'

The amount of feedback I got just... has blown me away, it has.

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

I said to him, I said, "I'll come and work for you,

"only if I get a Mercedes 4x4."

He said, "That's no problem." He said, "That's a company car."

-So, I'm happy with that.

-'Well done!'

-Love you, bye.

I feel so pleased Phil's got the job.

This opportunity has been a long time coming.

I've had concerns all along about putting my veterans,

men with PTSD, back to work too quickly.

I've been reassured that work can be the best therapy

and I'm hoping that will be the case for Shaun.

I have secured him a week's try-out

at one of the largest construction companies in London.

It's a huge step up.

It's like setting out on a new adventure.

Especially if I get a job out of it,

then I'll have to think about relocating.

So, I've got a lot going round in my head at the minute.

On Civvy Street, Shaun has mostly only worked for himself -

this will be on much bigger scale

than the hands-on decorating jobs he's used to.

I've worked on the labour side now for most of my life now,

but the skills I've actually gathered from that,

and obviously from the Army,

I'm looking on to getting a little bit further up the career ladder,

and go in for site supervisor, site management.

The company has offered veterans on work placements

full-time jobs in the past, so there is everything to play for.

I think what's really interesting about Shaun

is that, quite quickly, over the course of this process,

he's realised that he doesn't want to work on his own,

he wants to work for a company,

and I think that's a really good decision for him.

I also think it will reinforce,

it will bolster his confidence in himself.

You know, he's a leader and he needs to take a role.

But I'm worried that it's a very big leap.

This development project in Elephant and Castle

is one of the largest of its kind in Europe.

It will mean relocating from Newcastle,

as well as working in a role he's never been in before.

30, please, mate.

It's amazing that he is having this work placement

somewhere where, if he does well here,

there are enormous opportunities for him.

And, gosh, I have all fingers and toes crossed.

I take it this is obviously one of the penthouses, then?

There's two here. On this floor there's two,

and then, 36, you've got one.

This area here would be one of the terrace areas for the penthouse.

Aye, I was going to say, yeah, yeah.

When Sean's PTSD resurfaced last year,

he lost everything - his home, his job

and, crucially, his self-esteem.

He'll need to muster every ounce of confidence to pull this off.

How much would one of these cost us?

-Ah... Too much. Too much, yeah.

-Silly money.

I could only afford one, so that says something!

As part of his week's trial,

Shaun will be assessed to see whether he's management material.

His first task is to check the newly built apartments for any defects.

Switch needs filling, just on the edge there.

It's something he would be expected to do as a site manager,

responsible for other people's work, not just his own.

Turning away from painting and decorating is a big step

when it's always been something you've done,

you know, I've relied on it.

I don't want to be painting and decorating up till I'm 65.

In fact, I would probably die holding a brush in my hands,

and, you know, I don't want that.

So I really want to use this as an opportunity

to go forward and do something different.

It's great to see Shaun in a working environment,

but it's a trial, not a job, so I can't count my chickens yet.

In Plymouth, Heather and her group have shown lots of goodwill

but I am a little concerned.

So far, there's been lots of talk and not much action.

I've been searching for a way to connect businesses and veterans,

and the idea of a networking event

that came out of the meeting is what I'm focusing on.

Somewhere local employers can offer local jobs

and opportunities to local veterans.

It sounds simple, but to succeed,

we're going to need much more support

from businesses across the city.

Not enough companies are signed up to the Corporate Covenant Group.

You know, we don't have transport, retail, hospitality,

I mean, there's lots of sectors that are not really represented at all.

Obviously, the more people who are joined up to the group,

the more possibilities we have for employing veterans.

I've been looking at Stagecoach this morning.

They signed the covenant to support the UK armed forces community,

and they have a very strong presence in the South-West.

It seems obvious to me that, having signed nationally,

they should now take part

in the Corporate Covenant Group here in Plymouth.

-Bob, Keith. Hi, I'm Alex.

-Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.

-Hi, Alex, Keith.

Hi, lovely to meet you. Thank you for seeing me today.

No problem at all.

So, first of all, I've been working a lot with Plymouth City Council,

who is heading up the Corporate Covenant Group,

which is bringing together employers

to try and improve veterans' employment opportunities

in Plymouth and the surrounding area.

And we're really keen to sign up more businesses.

Certainly, we want to build relationships

with other organisations and stakeholders in the Plymouth area.

But also, we need drivers.

We need skilled engineers, we need people to actually fix the buses,

drive the buses, we need people to do administration work,

and those people are hard to come by.

We need to drum up more concrete support.

So, Heather's hitting up the local hotels.

What we haven't got at the moment is a hotel business of any kind,

and we would really like to broaden the base of our businesses.

We do need people who have got life skills,

we need people who have got management skills,

and they can all be transferred into our business.

As well as getting some of the bigger organisations on board,

we're going to need to reach out

to the many smaller businesses across the city

if we're to stand any chance

of making a difference on a local level.

'I've arranged a meeting with Debbie Southwould,

'Vice Chair of the Federation Of Small Businesses.

'They represent hundreds of employers

'and could have access to jobs across the city.'

There's so much focus on big business

and how important it is to bring along that people often forget

just how many small businesses there are.

When you consider that 99.5% of businesses

within Devon and Cornwall are small businesses, you can tell that,

though you haven't got the same amount of employees,

it's just as important, it's equally important

for small businesses and large businesses

to have a joined-up solution to this.

Do you think that the small businesses that the FSB represent,

or that are part of the FSB, would be interested?

Oh, yes, definitely. Plymouth could be an exemplar council for this,

-and I think that would be great.

-Yeah, I agree.

And there's a huge pool of employers out there,

and we need to open it up so that we've got the best opportunities

available for everybody.

I'm keen to crack on with my plan for a networking event in Plymouth.

But I've also got some of my veterans

out there in the workplace to keep an eye on.

Shaun has completed his week-long trial

at a construction company in London

and has been called in to the company's headquarters.

Yes, I've been really trying to impress this week.

I've been jumping through hoops,

I've been putting myself out there,

applying myself as much as I possibly can.

I'm really hoping they have actually recognised my hard work.

But, you know, we'll see, we'll see.

-Hi there.

-How are you?

-I'm good, how are you?

-Are you good?

-I'm good, yeah.

-Shall we head into the meeting room?

Hi, Dad, yeah, just thought I'd let you know that I got the job.

Yeah, brilliant news, I know, I know.

The contract comes through next week.

I feel like celebrating by buying you a big, expensive present.

'I am over the moon.'

Good results, job offer,

get my proposition and my contract next week.

Next move, London.

So, yeah, I couldn't be happier! Couldn't be happier!

I'm thrilled for Shaun - 15 years after leaving the Army,

and after losing his business and his home,

he's finally realising his potential.

Although it means leaving the shelter

of his supported housing to do it.

You'd think I was going to Majorca, the way I'm packing this case!

It's, um...

It's actually settling down into regular work,

getting a regular pattern going, good routine.

Yeah, it's going to be great, actually.

It's going to be a massive difference.

I'm really, really looking forward to it.

I've made a lot of good friends here. You know, it's not goodbye.

I'm moving on. I won't forget them.

I want veterans all over the country

to have the same opportunities as Shaun

and Plymouth Council have agreed to let me pilot an event in the city.

-So, we've got our first networking event.

-Yes, we have.

-Are you slightly anxious like me?

-Just a little bit, yes.

We've got, I think, between 25 and 30 businesses coming,

and then, also, we've got businesses who are offering

very practical solutions into the workplace.

I'm hoping that they're coming with those kinds of expectations,

because we know we've got companies today

who've actually got something tangible to offer them.

I'm hoping the work that Heather and I have been doing

can be copied by other councils up and down the country

to create a support network for veterans nationwide.

But we have to prove this event can work.

How are you?

'I asked all the businesses attending today

'to bring real opportunities for veterans,

'from work placements and training to jobs.'

-How are you?

-Fine, thank you.

Sorry, I was entranced by this straightaway.

OK.

Our latest job vacancies sheet.

-That's real vacancies that we've got at the moment.

-I LOVE that.

'It's good to see the smaller companies getting so involved,

'and even the Federation of Small Businesses

'has joined Heather's group.

'So, we should have plenty of local support.'

I'm anxious, I want this party to get started,

I want to see some veterans in.

Plymouth's first veteran and business networking event

is officially open to all ex-servicemen and women in the city.

I'm at another crossroads, about the fifth crossroads in my life,

and it's like, I don't know what to do, I don't know how to go about it.

If you've got an idea or something you want to do in business yourself

and you just want to talk about all the things you need

to start becoming a mini expert in to do with law and accounting

and social media marketing...

I was hoping to see if there was any driving opportunities here,

-but, obviously, the nearest to that is Kier...

-And Amey.

Oh, Amey are over there, are they? Outstanding, excellent!

-Let me introduce you to Paul.

-Please, if you would.

Lovely, thank you.

Paul, one for you.

-Brilliant.

-I'm going to hand you over.

Good afternoon. Nice to meet you, Paul.

Every council in England has signed up

to the Government Armed Forces Covenant.

But as far as I know, this is the first time

a council and local businesses

have found a way to turn goodwill and support into a pilot scheme

offering veterans a way into work.

This is the first time we've been able to come together

and do an event of this kind.

What we're doing here today, I hope will be something

that we'll be able to continue to do over time,

and to grow, so that we make sure that all our veterans

in the city of Plymouth are not only well cared for,

but have access to employment and support into employment.

I hope you have a successful afternoon, thank you.

APPLAUSE

-So, has today been useful?

-It's been an eye-opener,

especially speaking to the gentleman over there.

Tomorrow, he shall be receiving my CV,

-and, hopefully, something comes of it.

-Oh, good!

What have you found useful here today?

Just networking and talking to people, and ideas, actually.

Um, I've just become unemployed for the first time since I was 16,

and I've no idea what I want to do,

so it's getting ideas from people,

"Well, we've got this, we've got that available."

And they're things that I've never thought of.

-Thanks very much.

-Nice to meet you.

-Nice to talk to you.

'Before today, I was apprehensive of whether such a simple idea

'connecting veterans and businesses would work.

'But the feedback has been universally positive.'

I've actually met somebody today who I think

I could really develop a good, long working relationship with,

and, possibly, a whole new career, so I'm over the moon.

I'm really pleased with today.

I didn't honestly know that there was this much support out there.

It's very encouraging and reassuring

to see these businesses wanting to come out

and engage with these guys that are leaving the military,

and offering them opportunities.

If every council could run something like this just once a year,

then some of the 120,000 unemployed veterans across Britain

may no longer need to fight a battle to find work.

-What do we think?

-Well, I'm really delighted

that it's been so successful this afternoon.

I don't know how you feel about it,

but I'm really quite pleased about the whole thing.

I am relieved that it went as well as it did,

and I think the ones who came found it really useful.

I think they were encouraged

by the number of potential careers there were out there.

What I'm hopeful about, too,

is because we've made so many more connections today

that our networking and communications

will get further afield,

so that we can attract in more veterans to come and be supported.

I'm judging the success of this not in sheer numbers,

it's whether the guys who have come

actually think it was worthwhile attending,

because I think that will encourage Plymouth Council to do this again

and it also encourages other businesses to take part,

have a presence, initiate a dialogue with veterans.

I think all those things are what we were hoping would happen.

Heather's group now has plans to run the event twice a year,

but I'm really keen to make sure the fight doesn't end in Plymouth.

There are thousands of veterans across the country who need help.

And I want to strike while the iron is hot.

One of Plymouth's MPs is a former Royal Marine.

He's committed to helping fellow veterans.

-ON VIDEO:

-So, Mr Deputy Speaker,

I come here, unapologetically, to improve the plight of veterans.

There are some extremely dogged

and determined characters who fight night and day to improve

the services offered to those who struggle

with mental health problems,

often those who cannot shout for themselves or who suffer in silence

because of the ridiculous stigma placed upon mental health.

I'm going to meet Johnny Mercer MP in Parliament.

Johnny did three tours of Afghanistan,

he knows what he's talking about.

And it's pure serendipity

that he's the MP for Plymouth Moor View.

It means that Plymouth and veterans

have a very strong voice now in Parliament,

fighting their corner.

After all the work I've done with the city council,

I'm hoping he will take on my project and run with it nationwide.

-Hi, Johnny, how are you?

-Hi, Alex, how are you? Lovely to see you.

-Thank you very much. Come and have a seat, please.

-Thank you.

-There we go.

-So...

-Yes.

I've been working with these four guys,

trying to get them back into employment,

and I've had kind of qualified successes, but it has been...

I mean, it certainly has not been linear progression.

Each time I think we've succeeded somewhere,

there's been a step backwards somewhere else.

And so, it's been a bruising process.

It's a very difficult transition, I've just done it.

You know, if I had a problem, I wouldn't know where to go.

If I was struggling to find employment,

I wouldn't know specifically who to talk to,

and if I can't do that, the chances of our guys and girls

being able to do it, I think, are reduced.

It's a massive challenge,

but not trying to sort that out isn't really good enough,

because, ultimately, we still have people who are finding life

a desperate struggle after serving in our armed forces.

We need to come up with a sustainable model of how it works.

Yes, Plymouth is, frankly, streets ahead of any other council

that we've researched in veteran care,

and I have been encouraged over the course of this process,

because having seen the beginnings of the Corporate Covenant Group,

and seeing, first of all, the businesses that have joined,

also their...their desire to engage

and to really make a difference,

and, actually, to show best practice in their dealings with veterans.

I mean, somehow, there is a fire that's been lit

in the bellies of these companies in Plymouth.

And that's where this Corporate Covenant is so important,

because that...having a job

is a huge part of a holistic approach to veterans' care,

because that is often what is going to keep someone going.

So, it's vital, it's great.

The work you guys have done is brilliant,

but we now need to jump on that,

that's what I want to see expanding in Plymouth,

so I can then go to the Secretary of State for Defence, and say,

"These are the problems I encountered

"when I came into Parliament. All these people, it's not about me,

"it's all these other people who are contributing to these schemes.

"We think this is the best way

"of delivering a better standard of care for our veterans.

"This is what you should be doing nationwide."

Plymouth does have the opportunity of providing a blueprint,

you know, of best practice, of how to behave with veterans.

And if we can put a sort of jetpack under that covenant,

we can now seize that opportunity and go for it.

It was wonderful to meet Johnny

and I can't think of a better person

to take on this whole issue

and he's so determined

and he has first-hand knowledge of all the issues.

I look forward to seeing what he's going to achieve.

In the meantime, there is surprising news from one of my veterans.

For some time, I'd not heard from Lee.

He's been having a fresh round of therapy

to help better manage the nightmares and flashbacks caused by his PTSD.

And, that's not all he's been doing.

So, last time I saw Alex...um...

I've...got a job!

And it's working in Germany.

Yeah, big decision.

Since I've found out about the job, I have had no nightmares,

no flashbacks,

no...nothing...

..which is weird because I've never not had it.

Something's clicked.

The job's made me, almost, I guess, complete.

The job I'm doing is actually repairing

and fixing American armoured vehicles.

It'll be like being back in the Army again.

I just missed that, and now I'm going back to it.

I can't be happier.

'This is good news, but if there's one thing I've learned,

'it's that PTSD can be triggered in a myriad of different ways.

'I just hope Lee isn't trying to run before he can walk.'

Do you think you're going to be all right in Germany?

Mental-health-wise, I mean.

Yeah, it will be...

It's what I need.

Yeah, I just think it would be remiss of me not to point out

that a few weeks ago you were feeling really miserable,

and I was incredibly worried about you. I don't want you to think

you're going to escape yourself when you go to Germany,

because you're going to take yourself with you,

and everything with it.

Since I knew I had the job, I've cut down my medication,

I don't take it any more, and I've had nothing.

And it's weird how it's just this one thing

that's just kind of made everything gel together

and I've had no nightmares, no flashbacks,

I don't see images every day. And it's...

A big weight's been lifted off my shoulders, it's fantastic.

So, yeah, fresh start. It's going to be brilliant.

Have you told your new employer about your PTSD?

-It's not a problem now, though.

-At the moment!

It's not going to be a problem!

-I promise, it's not going to be a problem.

-OK, well, I... OK.

I feel so nervous for you,

you keep having these massive highs and these massive lows.

No, I can't have any more lows, because that would bloody kill me.

I know, but you get so enthusiastic and so excited,

and then you get this... kind of hit a brick wall.

Yeah, I'm not letting anything stop me this time.

I really hope that this all works out for you, darling.

My only word of warning is just keep an eye out for your...

Oh, yeah, I'll always... Yeah.

-It'll be... I'll be all right.

-You'll be all right?

-Yeah.

'Lee is the one I'm most worried about, currently.'

I'm all for him going back into the safety of an environment

that he knows so well and doing a job that he loves so much,

but I think saying that he's no longer suffering from PTSD

is just plain unrealistic.

I mean, it just isn't something that's fixed like that

from one day to the next.

So, I don't know, I'm worried about him.

'Only time will tell if Lee will be able to control his PTSD

'and make a go of it in Germany.

'If he can, it will be an amazing new start for him.'

There's no doubt that work - and the self-esteem it brings -

has been helpful for most of my veterans' ongoing recovery.

Sadly, for Stuart, the timing wasn't right

and he was forced to pull out of his bricklaying apprenticeship.

You know, you seemed to be doing quite well,

as well as anyone might have hoped,

and then you started the bricklaying.

-I think it was just too quick.

-Yeah.

-I just dived in.

What could I have done differently?

What could I do differently to help you?

-Is there anything I could...?

-Nothing, I need to help myself.

It's not other people, I need to help myself.

I need to...

..get more help, cos...

..I still haven't come to terms that I've actually got an illness, me.

-Yeah.

-I still don't believe it.

I'm really sorry that I couldn't be more helpful,

that somehow this hasn't been as useful for you as I was hoping.

No, it has been useful,

-cos I've found out I wasn't ready to start work,

-Yeah.

I'm...slowly getting used to living on me own in the flat...

-..and getting me shopping in like an old woman.

-Ha-ha!

I even take me own bags now, you know, them bags that you buy?

-Yeah.

-I take them...

-Good for you.

-..instead of carrier bags.

But I'm getting used to it.

I know it must be incredibly hard to open up as much as you have.

I never thought I would. Honestly, coming into this, I said,

"I'm not talking about my illness."

But then, it's a big part of my life at the minute, so how can I not...

-talk about it?

-Right, well, we won't do any of that kissy-kissy stuff.

I'm not into foreign kissing, me.

-Let's go and get ourselves a steak and a pint.

-Yeah.

'He was very open with me,

'he was very brave.

'And I feel like finally we had a really honest conversation,'

which I think will help him in the future.

He's been out the least amount of time. He hasn't been out two years,

and I think, if, already, he can accept where he is at this point,

then I have high hopes for the future.

It's been an emotional rollercoaster

working with my group of veterans over the past six months.

They've helped me understand some of the issues facing veterans,

particularly those with mental injuries.

This is only the start of their journeys,

and before I discharge them onto Civvy Street

to start their new lives,

I'm bringing them all back together one last time.

-Hi, darling, how are you?

-Very good, thank you.

-Lovely to see you on your two legs again.

-Yes.

Look at you, sir, you're looking very dapper.

Thank you.

Kisses! Sorry.

-Hiya, how are you, darling?

-Good, good.

Come and sit down.

Right, so, first of all,

over the course of this process, do you think

you've got to understand Civvy Street a bit better?

I hate Civvy Street, me.

I hate it even more now.

-You can't say you hate Civvy Street!

-I do.

Well, I know, darling, but you've got to find a way to like it,

because that's where you are.

There's no point hating your life, you know,

there's a long life ahead of you.

I think this PTSD problematic side of things

is just something that's kind of simmering away, isn't it?

-It's always got to be kept on top of.

-Yeah.

You'll never get rid of PTSD.

PTSD will always be in your life, and the thing is,

it's how you deal with this PTSD is how you live your life.

I think lots of people are still very nervous

about talking about it as an issue,

and I think the more that one can be open about it,

and discuss...the fact that it is possible to live with it.

What about you? First of all, pain?

Pain management getting better,

coming off my meds because I've started work now.

Woohoo! Well done, you, too.

How's that going?

I can see a future, and I can see the future will be bright,

and I can do something about it. I can change it now.

Look at you, suited, booted!

I saw you across the road, and I was thinking,

"Who is that very dapper-looking gentlemen?"

And I was like, "Oh, my gosh!"

Everything, you look great. You seem quite relaxed.

I am. I've seen massive changes in myself, so...

-I think I've come a long way.

-You were ready for it.

Yeah, I was ready for it.

-I was biting at the bit, to be honest.

-Yes.

When you consider where you were before you started this process,

and what you were doing and how you were looking...

I mean, you're a really good example because you'd applied

for so many jobs and you hadn't got any interviews.

Going from then to now is totally different.

I didn't want to say boo to a goose,

but now, I'm not the same guy I was five months ago.

It's thinking outside the box about yourself,

thinking about, actually, companies do want you,

and what companies want you.

-And realising how much you've got to offer.

-That's really important.

Confidence is key.

My confidence was rock bottom when I started this.

And determination, as well,

and the willingness to do something about changing your life

and getting out there and working, I think that's important, as well.

Right, I'm going to send you on your way.

'I've got really mixed feelings about saying goodbye to the group.

'I'm really impressed by how open they are,

'and how far most of them have come.

'I don't really want to say goodbye to them.

'I'd like to think I'm going to be able to find out

'how they're doing and keep in contact with them.'

I won't really know how effective this process has been,

how useful to them, ultimately,

until quite a bit of time has passed.

Three of them have just started or just starting jobs,

and I need to give them time to get used to life on Civvy Street,

before I really find out if they can handle it.

Realistically, this is such a small sample

of the thousands of veterans

that are out there who are facing similar problems.

I think there needs to be a better understanding of the skill sets

that could inform a veteran's usefulness in a company.

I think HR departments should be much more au fait

with how to read a military CV.

I think businesses need to make a lot more effort

to employ veterans, but, you know, we all have to start somewhere.

Hopefully, something that I've done through this process

will prove, ultimately, to be useful on a grander scale.

Three months on...

..Shaun is nearing the end of his probationary period

as a construction manager for Lendlease.

If he continues to hit his targets, he'll be kept on in the role.

Stuart recently completed a tarmacking course.

He does now feel ready for full-time employment

and is looking for work on the roads.

Lee had to return from his job in Germany to resolve a family issue.

He's now applying for work closer to home in Plymouth,

and has had no recurrence of his PTSD.

And Phil has been given a permanent contract

with construction giant Carillion.

When his role as a training manager on the A1 project comes to an end,

he has set his sights on promotion to project management.