Meet Iain Chorlton, one of our veterans

The facilities management sector can be a good fit for those with an Armed Forces background and we are sponsoring a free FM careers event exclusively for those who are about to leave, or have left, the services and are seeking a new challenge.

The event, hosted by ThisWeekinFM at Old Trafford, in Manchester, on March 10, aims to showcase the many opportunities available within FM.

The specialist services director at Amulet, Iain Chorlton, previously spent nine years as a sergeant in the Royal Military Police.

He said: ‘I spent my formative years in southern England, starting at Bulford then moving to Aldershot to join the airborne brigade after completing Pegasus Company training and the military parachute course.

‘My career took a different direction after I completed the Close Protection course, resulting in deployments to the Middle East as part of small teams, protecting diplomats, senior officers and members of the Royal Family.

‘The last three years of my career were spent in Northern Ireland, undertaking close protection duties.

‘My decision to leave the military was bitter-sweet as I loved the military life and the challenges of the operational tours but found it difficult to adjust to day-to-day non-operational routine and so started looking for opportunities elsewhere.

‘I found the transition to civilian life relatively trouble-free, as I spent a year providing close protection in the UK and overseas and then spent 28 years with South Yorkshire Police, both of which provided environments similar to that of my military career.

‘By chance, towards the end of my police career, I met a member of the Churchill team at an awards event. In conversation with them my skills and experience were recognised as a possible fit for the business and I was subsequently engaged as a consultant, before being offered a permanent position to lead a new enterprise, Project Blueprint.

‘My experience of operations, project and people management was directly relatable to this new role which offers a unique and proven technical platform used by all the emergency services in the UK to support private sector organisations during business as usual and emergencies – ‘a control room in your pocket.’

‘And I was delighted to join Churchill, as their values and ethics were closely aligned to mine, which is extremely important to me.

‘Despite only joining six months ago I have already found the experience to be liberating as, although there are rules and guidance, there is also room for innovation, alongside a desire to do the right thing while striving to be better.’

If you enjoyed this post, maybe you’d like to meet some more of our veterans:

Meet Louisa Clarke

Meet Jonathan Clarke

Meet Mark Reay