A speed networking event next week provides an ideal opportunity for RAF personnel who are about to leave the services to meet local employers and kick start a new career. 

Organised by the HIE Moray RAF Task Force team, the event will be at Horizon Scotland, Forres Enterprise Park on Wednesday 3 October from 5:45pm to 9pm, beginning with a welcome from Ian Fraser, HIE Moray operations manager.

HIE Moray set up the RAF Task Force project team in January 2006 to mitigate the local impact of RAF redundancies through a broad range of projects planned under the Moray 2020 Strategy.

The event follows on from the successful speed networking event held in February and is designed to give RAF leavers five minutes to talk to each potential employer. As a direct result from the earlier event, FR Aviation Services, based in Kinloss recruited Andy Davies as a mechanic working on their fuel tank team.

Having spent 24 years with the RAF, Andy was uncertain what he would do when he was made redundant last April. He said: "I went along to the speed networking event not knowing what to expect, but it resulted in a great job with FR Aviation. There was a limited time for employers and potential employees to get to know each other so everyone had to be quite focused. I am delighted to have had the opportunity to meet the each company as I was concerned that going offshore was the only option for me."

A buffet and coffee will be available on arrival and several local companies will attend including Synergie Scotland, Grampian Police, Moray Council and FR Aviation Services.

Kathleen Ryan, HIE Moray's RAF Task Force team leader, said: "There are many highly trained and skilled individuals leaving the RAF -  80 per cent of those want to stay and work in Moray. We are working closely with the RAF to make sure that these leavers can find positive outcomes in their search for a new career.

Since the announcement was made in 2005 that both Kinloss and Lossiemouth bases will lose a number of jobs, HIE Moray has been promoting its range of services to RAF leavers including business start-up advice, training opportunities and careers planning advice.

Businesses and RAF leavers should register for the speed networking event by contacting Deborah de Jonge on 01309 696 020 or email Deborah.dejonge@hient.co.uk