Laura Cook 0:04

Hello and welcome once again to Cadet to Career, the podcast series dedicated to the world of opportunity available through Cadet Vocational College. In this episode, we hear from our learners about their experience of earning vocational qualifications as part of their youth organisation's activities and importantly about how CV College helps turn their cadet experience into something recognised by employers, colleges and universities. As well as our BTEC and ILM learners, we'll hear from a parent about the impact the CV College qualifications have had on their child and their future prospects. And to round off this final episode of Series 1, we have a very special guest from the world of motor racing with a story of perseverance, determination, and of finding success despite physical challenges and having to overcome adversity. But first, let's hear from the learners, the people who've had first-hand experience of completing qualifications with Cadet Vocational College. Back in September 2024, Harry Rillett Melbourne from the Midlands had a day to remember. At an exclusive lunch on the private terrace at the House of Lords, he was announced as CV College Westminster Award overall winner. Now, a full-time university student, he's come a very long way since his cadeting days and the learning journey he started with C V College. He took time out of his summer job as a librarian to join me along with his very proud mum Tracy to share his experiences, talk about his aspirations and to pass on some advice to encourage others who are starting their vocational learning journey. Your life since we last spoke must have taken a very different turn and all the experiences that you've had to date, and then the experiences, obviously, since being a Westminster winner the last uh last year, 2024. Um how how does it feel a year on? Let's start there.

Harry Rillett 2:09

I can definitely tell you that even though we're nearly a year on from where we started, it it still feels surreal to me. So um I I honestly was in shock on the day, as I'm sure everyone's aware, who's sent the uh the publicity photos, and it still feels unreal to me today that I actually went forward, got to the expedition, and actually won the whole thing overall. It was it was just genuinely I couldn't script it, is the best way I can put it.

Laura Cook 2:37

We'll go back and and um delve a little bit more and unpick a bit about you know your learning journey and and everything about that. But tell me what what you're doing now, where where are you now?

Harry Rillett 2:46

Yep, so at the minute I've just finished my first year at university, uh, Warwick University. Um I'm on a maths and physics course. Uh so I got my results back for those, and we've passed and we're going on to the second year now uh in September. At the moment, over the summer, really, I'm just doing a lot of work at the local community library. I've worked there for nearly two and a half years now, so we're just sort of going here helping people out and just really passing on what I know and helping them just be the best per person they can.

Laura Cook 3:19

So tell me a little bit more about in in terms of in the in the ways you're doing that. How how has your your CV college experience helped you on that journey?

Harry Rillett 3:28

Definitely. So, well, CV College sort of helped me get on the map, so to speak. So, you know, once I won that award, it was big news, so it was in the local papers, it was on social media, it was everywhere. People started to recognise that's and I quote, that's the Westminster kid, right? Um, it was put up all in my school, and a lot of my peers out um where I went to to do my cadets, they come to my work as well, so I could help sort of coach them and sort of not follow in my footsteps but sort of guide them to help become what they want to be. Um I'll give you an example. So we've got a cadet that is part of my original CCF, and he comes into my work as well. Um, and I've been helping him, coaching him on his GCSEs, which are coming up, and also what he wants to be. He wants to go into the Navy as a weapons engineer, so I've been helping him with sort of his career steps, what he should be doing, and what sort of he needs to do to make sure he can get that and achieve his goal.

Laura Cook 4:27

Let's just remind people. Uh, we've spoken about the Westminster Award, but let's just remind people the the parts that that went along with that. The BTEC, the ILM. Just explain to anybody who hasn't, well, anybody who's taking part in them or wanting to do them or wanting to go on to do them, or or or maybe people listening to this that don't have an idea about them, just briefly explain what what it's all about and what you learned.

Harry Rillett 4:49

Yeah, so the BTEC starts off as really giving you an introduction and an overview as to what teamwork is and how to ensure that you've got good personal development. So there's a really big push and importance on the first unit, unit one. Uh, and once you get that done, then it really opens the doors of the other optional units which you can tailor to your experiences. So I did units on volunteering and leadership, which really helps me because I do a lot of volunteering at my uh youth groups at work, all sorts of things like that, and leadership. So when I help sort of teach um my degree subjects or sort of coach people into whatever they need to do, um, but really, unit one gives you the foundational skills to get you to that place, and then going from that and taking it further, the ILM really helps build on the P the BTEC level two, so it really hammers home that unit 11, but also builds on that as well. So you learnt about the decide model of um decision making, which really helps you and gives you a guide as to really what's the best decision to make. Normally, you just well, some people I know just go guns blazing and go straight in and make a decision, but after learning about the decide model, it really tells you to step back, look at your decisions, look at what's available, and really analyse what's the best thing to do. Um, and then also really practice, it gave you that real application and practice into doing it as well. So you you've learned practical and theoretical.

Laura Cook 6:23

So, looking at the uh benefits that you've enjoyed from both of those, um, the BTEC and the ILM, I want to unpick a little bit more about what the benefits were for you on your learning journey, and also then a little bit later, look at the the feedback that you've received from people who might have seen your development through that and seen what that actually has done for you. We'll be speaking to your mum in a bit, but um, you know, from from maybe people looking at your CV or maybe people, you know, your your university application and things like that. But first off, the benefits that you yourself you think it's it's given you.

Harry Rillett 6:58

So the benefits really I'd start off by saying is it really gave me sort of um a fallback. So when people used to say to me, you know, what makes you the person that I should go to? Why should I trust you? Why why are you the best person to go to? Originally it was just I couldn't really say anything, but now that I have these qualifications, it's some it's evidence to help back up that I can help, I know what I'm doing, and I can really push the best thing for other people.

Laura Cook 7:26

And when you've kind of looked at people giving you any feedback and noticing that your progression and your journey as a young man, as a young student, you know, growing up, have you had any any people kind of noticing differences of you as you've gone through your education journey?

Harry Rillett 7:40

Definitely. Um, so I'd say more so when I was younger, I'm gonna say like the start of high school. Uh, I can tell you now I wouldn't be doing this. I'd probably be sitting in my room just reading a textbook. Um, I would I wouldn't have done anything to do with cadets, really. I wouldn't have been speaking out, I'd probably just go to school, do what I've got to do there, and just continue revising. But sort of the the learning progression and cadets and C V colleges help bring this out in the, you know, I'm here today, I'm talking to you, uh, and on a national podcast.

Laura Cook 8:11

And I suppose that comes into it very much in the learning, because when people ask, certainly in job interviews or or in in any future scenario, every nobody, nobody's perfect. And it's a bit, you know, it's a bit um when when you when people say if they've got everything right, you're just a little bit, you know, wary of what they're actually saying. Sometimes it's the way that you turn those negatives around and learn from them that's that's the most important. Is that is that is that you know what you've experienced?

Harry Rillett 8:37

Uh definitely. So um one of the learning challenges I had was um specifically, I'd say, with my academic side, and then I'll go into C V College as well. Uh academically, I tried I tried to get into Oxbridge, and I took the admissions test for that, and it was my first real roadblock. So I got in there and I don't mind sharing my score, I scored quite low there, and that was a real knockback. Um I was emotional, and I was emotional for a couple weeks after that because I thought I threw my chance away. Um and overall, I didn't get an offer, but looking back now, hindsight 2020, I'm happy I didn't. So sometimes in life you will make failures, but those failures don't define you. I mean, I look at myself now, I'm still doing the subjects I want, I'm still I'm at university and I'm I'm pursuing the best thing I can. So failure isn't the end, there's always another option. Uh, and I'd say with CV college related, there was a lot of trouble sort of organizing with my ILM. So I had to do a presentation, and it was quite difficult to actually organise who should I do it with, where should I do it, who's the audience, things like that. So it was my first real chance to sort of do some proper organizational and see, right, who can I get, where can I do it, what can I do it on, and how can I make sure I achieve this to a satisfactory level, really. Um, I did eventually do it in the end, and ironically, of course, I did it on maths because that's what I'm obsessed with at the moment. Um, so yeah, it has been challenging, but the the failures and the setbacks and the challenges, they are all worth it in the end.

Laura Cook 10:17

So if you could summarise for me what vocational learning route Ben is how that suits your particular way of learning, and anybody sitting here and and maybe thinking, actually, that sounds quite like me and quite would suit me, you know, how what is it about the vocational learning route that's um that's so good for to someone like you?

Harry Rillett 10:35

You know, I I've had lots of setbacks. One uh again, a biggest setback really outside of education was actually getting my first job. Uh, I'd been looking at least for six months before I actually got the job I've got currently. Uh, and the setbacks on that, the current the absolute volume of rejection, I had rejections from retail, rejections from um swimming baths and all sorts of different places. And I was really stuck and I couldn't find anything. But again, it's just tackling those challenges and pushing through, and eventually I found the job I'm in currently. So the vocational route is is a lot different to a normal classroom setting that you've seen throughout everyone's school life. Uh at school, you're taught to sit down, look at the board, read this, do this, end of story. And you're not really told sort of why this is useful or why would you why would you bother learning it? Whereas with a vocational route, you can easily see, oh yeah, I'm learning teamwork skills. Teamwork's obviously a really important skill. I'm learning how to deliver presentations, I'm learning how to make effective decisions. These things are real tangible skills that are used in the day-to-day work environment, and not just that, but also in cadets as well. So it really helps make you a more rounded person and helps you win further opportunities in the future.

Laura Cook 11:53

So, talking about that future then, what does that hold?

Harry Rillett 11:56

Well, for me, I've got I've got to carry on my uh my degree course. So I've got three more years left, hopefully going to get my master's, and then from there I'm hoping to go on to doctorate and hopefully become a university lecturer in maths or physics.

Laura Cook 12:11

Wow. Pass on all that learning knowledge to the next generation.

Harry Rillett 12:15

Exactly. I've I've I've I find it nice to sort of pass on what you know to other people and give them a chance as well.

Laura Cook 12:21

So give me some advice then for anybody listening to this who is interested, possibly a little bit out at sea, not knowing what options are out there, and and maybe a few of your little messages and a few of your stories might have kind of pricked their interest and thought, actually, that sounds really, really relevant to me. What advice would you give to others who who might benefit from qualifications through CV College?

Harry Rillett 12:44

I'd say genuinely it's gonna sound quite blunt, but just do it. Because if you don't do it, you're gonna live in the world of unknown. You'll never know what it could have done for you. So if you just give it a go, give it that extra little bit of effort, that little extra shot, it might be this slight edge that you need in your life and it might open new opportunities for you, as it's done for me. Some of the benefits with the ILM are definitely sort of giving you that direction and you know uh knowledge when leading. So before this, I was a NCO in my CCF, and before that, I really just learned by others, and sometimes you don't have the best leaders. So when you're learning off others, it can be can be a really good thing, but it can also be quite risky if they're not really the way you like to lead or the way that you are. But with the ILM, what it taught me to do was it taught me how to lead effectively, objectively, if that makes sense. Um, so I was able to sort of look at situations, judge them accordingly, and be able to lead effectively. Um, I've had quite a bit of feedback from some of my cadets, mainly as I go back to help that same cadet uh organization as an adult volunteer. Um, I've had feedback from them saying, you know, you would you were a really good NTO, we were really inspired by you, you led amazingly. How do we be like you? Uh and I always say to them, go to CV College, do the BTEC, and then do the ILM, because that ILM will really give you the skills and qualities you need to be an effective leader.

Laura Cook 14:18

Harry, thank you for the moment. We'll pass on now to Mum Tracy, who's been listening to all that, who has clearly been by your side the whole journey. Uh, what what what do you make of him now, the the young man that you've raised?

Mum Tracey 14:31

I couldn't be proud of Laura. He is an absolute credit to himself. Um, Harry talked about his earlier journey at the start of school where he did lack confidence. Uh, I think he lacked um self-belief, if I'm honest. He's always been a very academic and quite a bright, um, bright young man, but he definitely lacked that confidence. And um, when he went for the Westminster Award, which was part of the um the cadet programme that they run at school, when he went for the Westminster Award, I couldn't have felt any prouder for just taking part and putting himself out there because obviously it goes wider than just learning, it was an experience in terms of um, you know, the great outdoors, and it's more than just the education, it was about confidence and leadership and a real sense of direction. There was all those things that I was noticing that it was giving Harry. Um, and it just seemed one of the best decisions ever that he went for that. And we was really proud, regardless of where he came in that process. We were just incredibly proud of that. Um, and then to to get through to the next stage and to the next stage, it was just it was just you know, it was a moment I'll cherish for the rest of my life, it was incredible. And as a parent, you know, you want the best for your children, you want to make sure they're doing all the right things, and you want to make sure they're not putting themselves under too much pressure. So, one of my earlier concerns, which um was about the kind of pressure Harry was going to be under, but do you know what? It it wasn't like that. It was just, you know, it was it was just it was brilliant. The whole process was absolutely fantastic, it's well executed, um, it's really well explained. From a parent's perspective, I sat in and listened to those early meetings that Harry had with the CVC because I was concerned about, you know, you're doing your A levels, how much can you, you know, take on as a young person? We just need to be mindful of that, don't we? In today's world. However, I I was really impressed by how this was led, how it was run, um, how well organised it was. It was one of the best decisions that you know we ever made, and we saw that transformation, not just in confidence and in discipline, but how how Harry approached life going forward after this.

Laura Cook 16:49

Yeah, that's really interesting. The the exact the benefits that the the BTEC has had and his journey has had, you know, you've you've pinpointed some of them there. Um what what do you think? I mean, from a from standing by, you know, as as a parent and seeing from the sidelines, it it must, it's it's so heartbreaking to see when those moments don't happen and the disappointments and things. From what Harry was then talking about there, he's turned that round really impressively. And and you know, those those those benefits, those outcomes from the BTEC, from the learning experience, I mean, that must have uh kind of given you some hope that actually, yeah, he's on the right path.

Mum Tracey 17:26

Yeah, definitely. I would agree there, Laura. He um he was definitely he had his moments, he's had some real damn moments when he, you know, got rejected from from uh the Oxford University, that was a really low point for Harry. And uh obviously as parents you worry about these moments, and you know, Warwick was uh a fantastic opportunity, and he's been doing brilliant at Warwick, so I'm dead proud of that. But then to do all of this on to the side um with the Cadet Vocational College and the work that he's been doing. So, how what Harry's not told you, which I will tell you, Laura, that he's going back into school, he's still helping with the cadets, he's still talking about CVC and all the benefits of that, and the other learning that you can do via that programme, because there's lots and lots of different learning programmes that you can do at all different levels, and Harry has even undertaken some additional ones following the Westminster, so he went back and did something else. Follow so he did the ILM obviously as part of the Westminster Award, but then subsequently went back and did another um did another qualification. Um, so I was really happy to you know to see him do that, and you know, his intentions then is to pass this on that journey to other you know young students, whether that be in school, doing it via cadets, but actually he's in the local boys brigade as he as he might have mentioned previously, and so what he's doing, he's he's got some young people at the boys brigade who are actually undertaking some qualifications there, and so that that learning for him to pass that on and to give other people sort of opportunities, um, it just feels it feels quite inspirational to be honest, and as a parent, I think you can worry, you know, is he doing too much and you know, is he taking on too much? But actually, because of how well organised it is, I think it's really doable, and it's not as you know, it's a really good environment to be in, and I think it's a really good um pathway for people, it's a good what I would describe it as perhaps is a launch pad for people to get to the next step. It's uh been brilliant. I would say it's given him a number of opportunities, um, and it's it's just had a lasting impact. This is something that Harry will take into his adult life, and it and it's part of his journey that has been incredible. It's challenged him, it's inspired him, it's given him confidence, growth, leadership, focus, all of the wonderful things that you would expect it to do, and it's done all of that and a lot more.

Laura Cook 20:03

I mean, that sums up exactly the sort of advice that you'd give other parents. Because I I mean it's interesting when when before he undertook this journey, um, you know, in terms of his schoolwork and his achievements to date, you you would have been obviously your front and centre seeing those, um, and then looking and seeing actually then from the point on at which he decided to embark on this this um sort of education journey, you'd have seen the the difference in him. Sum up for me what you what you would say to other parents who might not know about this and might have stumbled across this podcast, which is actually will be really beneficial. Sum up for me, from a parent's point of view, uh, what doing this BTEC with CV College and this learning journey will do for them.

Mum Tracey 20:45

To be honest, we wasn't aware of CVC. Um, you know, we we weren't aware of it, but actually it's been one of the best decisions that we've ever made um from the beginning, from the absolute onset to Harry's continuing in that journey, but just the confidence it's given him, the platforms it's given him, the opportunities, building all of that confidence. I would say to parents, go for it, encourage your children to do this. Your young people will benefit from doing this in a way that you won't realise until they're doing it. You know, Harry has continued that, he's he has joined to do more learning and and he thrives to do more. And I'm not saying every young person has got to do perhaps as much as what Harry's doing, but essentially, you know, there is a part of this that they can do, and once they get involved, they will realise, and parents will realise because it is it it's fantastic, and I'm not just saying that, it really is something quite unique, it's very, very unique, and it's an environment where your child can thrive both academically and personally. So I think there's a lot of personal growth. I would say, you know, to your young people and to parents who are who've got those reservations. Literally go for it. That's my set sentiment is just go for it.

Laura Cook 22:04

Do you think the schools at the moment, I mean, certainly thinking about more traditional kind of career paths, and we've spoken with Harry about the you know traditional sitting in a classroom setting and all that? Do you think do you think enough is done to sort of persuade um persuade students to go the vocational route if they're if they're not necessarily that um you know uh that inspired by the traditional learning methods? Do you think enough is is done to promote this?

Mum Tracey 22:29

What I would say is more can be done. There's always more that can be done to promote these pathways of learning. You know, the traditional route is not for everybody, and you know, Harry is quite a you know um an academic as we know, but that doesn't mean everybody is, and you know, I've got I've got another son who's not as academic as Harry, and we're and this is the pathway that I would like him to go down as well. So, my other son Charlie, I'd love him to do CVC because I think it it will help him grow in confidence and it will provide that unique environment where he will thrive as well, and so it is really, really important that we don't just focus on the academic, that we look at vocational, that we look at we look at the people and we look at the leadership skills and the disciplines that come with all of that and the opportunities that it provides. And what I would say is the Cadet Vocational College offers lots and lots of opportunities that you don't know is out there. I've been speaking to uh obviously naturally because of what Harry's done, people are very interested, friends, uh family, etc. Um, and I've spoken to friends and they've never heard of it. So I'm there as a parent going, or you what you want to do is get your young person doing X, Y, and Z, and people are keen to be involved, and there's there's an appetite there for it. I think there needs to, this needs to be rolled out in um sort of a bigger arena, in my opinion. I think it needs to be made more well known to people, and not just, you know, those small cohorts of cadets that are using the CVC. Um, but I think definitely there's there's room for more, Laura, is what I would say.

Laura Cook 24:07

Well, hopefully that's what this podcast is doing and the CV College is doing. That's exactly what what um we're aiming for. But both of you, thank you very much. Harry, good luck with your studies, mum. Good luck with watching both boys. That's um, I mean, it's inspirational talking to both of you. You're wonderful. Thank you for your time. Thank you. It was lovely to chat to Harry again and to hear how his life is panning out. It was also useful to gain some insight from the perspective of how he's benefited from CV college qualifications and the advice he now passes on to others. And it was also encouraging to hear from Tracy, to get the wider view from a parent who, like all parents, are keen to encourage their children to realise their full potential. Another CV college learner who's been through and enjoyed the BTEC level two process is James Buick. I caught up with him recently as he was getting ready to leave home to start a shift as a lifeguard. So, James, just give me a little bit of a background about who you are to start with, where you're from, uh, how you got into your cadet unit as well.

James Buick 25:10

I'm from Broadstone in Dorset. Uh, one day, just at the start of COVID, I thought I'd try something new. So I signed up to Army Cadets in Lichit and started from there, and we started doing Zoom calls, and then from then we went into the detachments, and then I progressed on and on from there.

Laura Cook 25:31

Wow. Do you mind me asking how old you are, James, and how old you were at that start of the COVID?

James Buick 25:35

At the start of COVID, I was just turned twelve.

Laura Cook 25:38

Wow, okay.

James Buick 25:38

And I'm now 16.

Laura Cook 25:40

Well, that's quite inspirational, then just focus a little bit more on that at the moment, because it's really interesting that you started in COVID and then have that whole experience really, because everything was remote, wasn't it? And Zoom and that must have been a little bit interesting having your kind of journey start off in in that in that atmosphere.

James Buick 25:57

Yeah, it was quite strange because obviously, like you don't meet anyone face to face, so you're seeing everyone, no one that you've ever met before, over the internet and online. And then when you finally got it was about six months later when we went into the detachment and seeing everyone face to face was very odd.

Laura Cook 26:16

Yes, I bet. And at the age of twelve, so wha so you said you know you wanted something different. Um, but the age of twelve, what made you kind of look in this direction specifically?

James Buick 26:27

I think we saw an ad online on Facebook and just thought to try it out because I used to do Cubs and Scouts as well. And so when we saw Army Cadets, it was something similar but different at the same time.

Laura Cook 26:38

Yeah, absolutely. So what have you enjoyed most about this whole experience looking back at well, what are we doing? It's sum up for me. We'll go into sort of specifics, but if you can sum up for me what those what those years have meant to you and what you've learned.

James Buick 26:51

I think some of the best things have been the camps away. Um I've travelled to Belgium and Norway and I've gone all around the country with cadets, which has been absolutely fantastic, and then just meeting new people on camps, talking to different people that you probably would never talk to otherwise.

Laura Cook 27:08

Yeah. So BTEC level two is a specific part of all this. Tell me about what you've enjoyed most about that, what you've learned from the various aspects and things that you've learned.

James Buick 27:17

I think the best parts are the sense of unity, learning about different people's views and opinions, and taking in consideration that not everyone thinks the same and to always try and include everyone no matter how they feel or think.

Laura Cook 27:34

From being a cadet, going into the B Tech level two, there's various things that you know you need to you need to have. You tell me a little bit more about how you manage to use the experience that you gained as a cadet to then complete those those units.

James Buick 27:49

As a cadet, there are many different people in the ranks that take charge over the leadership. And I think as a cadet, they give you the opportunity to become a leader, and everyone is at some point given the time to show how they can lead, and they're given feedback on how to improve that. I think that's massively helped in the BTEC because it helps you when you look at the different sense of unity between everyone and having the experience of trying to lead a group and then putting it down in the BTEC, it brings it all together very nicely.

Laura Cook 28:28

Yeah. The um we spoke a bit about your uh your sort of managing your time and things, but t tell me a little bit more in depth about how you fit everything, the B Tech studies around your work other work school, how does that fit in with your other work commitments and other school commitments?

James Buick 28:42

So I thought that the best way to do it is every now and then have have it on your side where you can see it. And so you're always seeing it and reminding you to do it. If you say if you play Xbox a lot, put it on your Xbox so that before you play Xbox you do 10 minutes of B Tech. Or if you do mountain biking, put it on your bike and do 10 minutes before you go out on your bike. Have it there ready, and then every so often just drop a bit down, jot a bit down, and then the book will be filled nicely.

Laura Cook 29:17

Oh, that's really interesting. So you can literally fill it round and and do it, put it in every sorts of um every sorts of aspect of whatever you're doing. Um, it's very it's it's very adaptable.

James Buick 29:28

I'd say it is, because no matter what you do, you have a team to support you. So if you have something that you're good at, usually you'll always have someone with you to support you with that, and the BTEC will put that all together and show you that.

Laura Cook 29:43

Tell me a little bit more from somebody who doesn't know anything about the BTEC level two, what you've learned, what it's given to you for you know, from someone who has absolutely no knowledge of it whatsoever, what would you say to them about taking it and about how to sort of approach it?

James Buick 29:56

I'd say to always try and think in the other person's feet. So when you're writing about being a leader, always think about everyone in the group. And when you're thinking about teamwork, try and include everyone in the team and try and put yourselves in their shoes so that everyone in the team feels like they're valued.

Laura Cook 30:18

That's good advice. So tell me the the people that you've met and the the camaraderie and the and you know the the relationships that you formed over this time as well. That must be very enjoyable.

James Buick 30:28

So I've I've met people from all over the country, been on camps from with people from Scotland and Ireland, uh Wales, Derby, Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire, and I often do camps with them still. And it's amazing to just meet new people because we all get share contact information, so we stay in touch and see different people's progression. It's it's quite quite amazing to be honest.

Laura Cook 30:51

Yeah, good. I'm just I'm interested about the fluff on your uniform and and keeping everything nice. Does that translate back to home with your parents? How impressed are they at these skills that you're learning?

James Buick 31:00

Oh quite. I mean, um I'm the only one that irons in my family, so I love that.

Laura Cook 31:08

That's brilliant. Obviously, normal life goes on alongside all this. So, what what else are you doing study-wise, and and how easy is it to fit all this in a around your you know, your real life and your other commitments at home and and school?

James Buick 31:21

So currently I'm studying at Kingston More College, doing a military preparation course, and there we also do a CCF, which is quite good in a way because it allows me to transfer my skills over at college and help at college. But it can be quite difficult some days trying to squeeze everything in because you have a long day at college and then you go to cadets and then you get home and you're just like, I need to take a breather.

Laura Cook 31:44

Have you had much feedback about your cadet experience and the things that you've been doing um with your teachers and your your tutors and things uh you know, outside the cadets? Have you had much feedback from what they say that you're learning and how much it's improving your your outside life?

James Buick 32:00

Yes. Um he was saying about how he feels that I've become quite a reliant person and very committed. Uh unlike most people my age, he said, um I have like a strong will to do things and not uh do them continuously without failure and not giving it.

Laura Cook 32:19

That's amazing. I mean how m how did you feel hearing that?

James Buick 32:22

Oh, I was overwhelm I was like over the moon.

Laura Cook 32:25

So now from here, obviously you've you've packed quite a lot into to those those years, but what what now? What aspirations do you have? University and what what do you think your future holds? I mean, at your age, I mean I didn't know what I wanted to do, I still don't at 50. So what what uh what what do you what do you think your future holds?

James Buick 32:44

Uh I would like to pursue a career in the military. Uh I would like to go into the Royal Marines as an officer and uh progress through the ranks and then see where it takes me from there.

Laura Cook 32:56

Well that's really good. Give me some tips. I mean, you've already sort of said that, you know, alluding to people seeing your skills and seeing you develop, but if you could give advice to, you know, other 12-year-olds or or any but any age, because this this affects anybody, you know, you can you can do this at any age, but what advice would you give? What would you tell people about how cadet life has has changed you and you've enjoyed it?

James Buick 33:18

I'd say it gives you so many opportunities and it's absolutely incredible. Like I said before, you'll meet so many new people and you'll do things that you never thought you'd be able to do. Like the opportunities they give you are absolutely phenomenal, and also they're not costly whatsoever. Cadets is very good at providing the opportunities with a low cost, which is very good for most people.

Laura Cook 33:40

And the support that you have as well, the the people that you know in the in the cadet world, what sort of support do you do you get?

James Buick 33:47

Oh yeah, you you're supported by every adult, all cadets and adults will try and help you through it, they'll give you tips on how to progress. If you ever feel worried about it, there's always someone you can go to, and there's always someone who will help you with any issue you have in as a cadet, and it creates a sense of unity and brings you together like a family.

Laura Cook 34:08

That's amazing. In terms of what you're going to then do, you've told me about what you what what you aspire to. How do you think exactly the the the level two fits into that and and and helps that that process and helps your your future ambitions?

James Buick 34:22

Uh I think the BTEC helps me because going into the military, you will always need to work as a team, and BTEC will help me because it's shown me ways to help manage in a team and help cooperate better, and skills that I will need in the military to work well with everyone I'm with.

Laura Cook 34:44

I suppose before you get to that point, you might have some part-time jobs and things like that, and any any C V any any part of the experience, those those skills that you've learnt on on that level too, you you know, they'll they'll transfer and they'll be quite impressive on a CV, won't they?

James Buick 34:58

Yes, I've already put it on my CV and uh for my current job, which is I'm a lifeguard, and so I've already put it on my CV for a current job, and my interviewer was very impressed by that. They just said about how they've never seen a CV so impressive because I put all my cadet things on there. I had like pages full of cadet things that I've done that stocked it, and they just really impressed.

Laura Cook 35:23

And it's so amazing that all of that experience has been enjoyable. It sounds like you've really enjoyed it, you've really absorbed it, and it ha it hasn't been an extra chore, it's been something you know that you've taken on and you've really enjoyed, you've really um you've you learned a lot, you've met a lot of people, and you've gained all of this experience, and and you know, people are already impressed at your age how much you've achieved. That must be really rewarding for you.

James Buick 35:47

Oh, incredibly, it's quite an amazing achievement and to see myself and think what I've done. I sometimes don't even believe it.

Laura Cook 35:54

And what do you think, your what do your friends and your your family think of of what you've achieved and what you're doing?

James Buick 35:59

They're very proud of me and they're very supportive as well, which is very good. It's very nice to know that there's people behind me to support me. So my advice would be to stick with it and fit it in nicely around your schedule because you don't have to prioritize it like all the time, and then it looks great on your CV, and any employers would be very uh impressed by it.

Laura Cook 36:26

You're listening to the Cadet to Career podcast brought to you by Cadet Vocational College, improving lives through vocational education. Recent official data suggest in England over 1.7 million school pupils have been identified with special educational needs, which represents 18% of all pupils. Additionally, a significant number of children experience challenges outside school that impact their education, with some studies suggesting nearly 40% of pupils face barriers to learning due to factors like poverty, neglect, disability, or mental health concerns. For these young people, achieving their life ambitions can be a challenge, and inspiration can be in short supply. Nick Hamilton is a prime example of you can do anything if you put your mind to it. Born with cerebral palsy, he was told as a child he'd never walk due to his condition and would spend his life reliant on a wheelchair. Not one to be told he can't do things. With determination and gruelling training, he not only walked unaided, but he started to realise his dream to be a racing driver. In a notoriously competitive and tough sport, Nick has established himself as a potential future champion. An achievement in any context, but even more so for someone who was told as a child he would never walk. He is the first disabled athlete to compete in the British Touring Car Championship, inspiring both disabled and able-bodied individuals worldwide to show that pushing to better yourself, regardless of your life situation, is possible. My colleague Steve Taylor caught up with him earlier this year at Donnington Park Race Circuit to chat about his best-selling book. And to hear about overcoming challenges.

Steve Tayor 38:31

It's an inspiration for people who are struggling in their own way.

Nic Hamilton 38:37

Yeah, I mean, um, to be honest, Steve, it's not the um, you know, it's not a happy, it's not a happy book, you know, it's what I I write in it. It's not a happy book, it's a it's a real book. It's a it's a book that hopefully um you know strikes a call with a lot of people, uh, makes people realise that they're not alone um, you know, with the decisions and directions that they make in life. Um and it's just me being brutally honest and open. Um and I feel like the world, um, especially at the moment with social media, it's all about um, you know, having this facade and and making out that life's going really well and everyone's happy and you're in a really good relationship and you're smiling and you, you know, you you you look perfect. Um and the whole point of the book is is that um you know I'm just a disabled kid. I was a disabled kid that was not perfect, my life isn't perfect, I've made my mistakes, and these are the things that I did to get over my condition, overcome my condition. Um, and if it helps people, then great. If it's upset people at the same time, then that wasn't my plan. Um, you know, but it's uh it's a book that hopefully will just touch a few people, um, help them and and get them to improve their lives in whatever they see fit.

Steve Tayor 39:43

I a number of the young learners that uh that we deal with have learning difficulties, they have physical challenges, mental health challenges, whatever it might be. And very often they create barriers for themselves. You had to overcome a lot of barriers. What advice would you give to those people who are seeing those barriers as almost being too difficult to overcome?

Nic Hamilton 40:05

Yeah, I mean, personally for me, you know, everybody has barriers, right? It's just how you how you overcome them, how you perceive them. Um, for me, you know, I see barriers as an opportunity to to really learn about yourself. Um, I personally believe you're never gonna really fully understand who you are or what you can achieve if you don't put yourself in uncomfortable situations. Um and so if there's a barrier there, you do everything you can in your in your power to to at least tackle it at least once, you know. And it's when you get knocked back, you know, it can be very heartbreaking, you know, rejection is really hard to take sometimes. Um, but I also believe rejection is part of the process of of of growth. Um and to to learn to to succeed, you have to learn to to fail first. Um, and I did a lot of failure, made a load of mistakes, uh, which will which you'll read in the book. And and so that's my advice is to to not be scared of failure, make it your friend. Um, and and you'll realize in time um you know that you're stronger than you think and you can overcome more than you originally thought. Were you a good student at school? Were you academic? I wasn't very academic, no. I I really had to um apply myself uh mainly to get my dad off my back. I think my dad wanted me to have good grades. I didn't enjoy school a lot. Um I I was you know being bullied at school like a lot of a lot of kids were, and a lot of kids still are. Um I actually wasn't at school a lot just because I was you know flying around with Lewis at the time, but that's very, very unique to me. Um but yeah, I wasn't the most academic student, but I got to a point where I I really applied myself in the last year or so and came up with really, really good grades, um, you know, a couple of A's and a couple of A stars and stuff like that. So what it taught me was that if I could apply myself, really, really focus and structure myself and my revision, um, you know, you could do really well, and that's that's pretty much what I did.

Steve Tayor 41:56

If you had to give one single piece of advice to somebody, some young person who's saying, Look, the world is quite a big place. I'm not that academic, but I am I am clever in my own way. I can do things. What single piece of advice would you give them to help spur them on?

Nic Hamilton 42:12

Um, it sounds very cliche, but it's to to to be true to yourself. Um, there's a lot of people that want to put their 50 pence piece in in terms of telling you what is right and what is wrong and what you should do and what you shouldn't do. Um, to be honest, you you do what you feel is right and you you learn to succeed and fail on your own terms, make your mistakes on your own terms. Um, not everyone's gonna like you, not everyone's gonna help you, but there are gonna be people that help you, people that guide you, people that support you. Um but the person that is is most loyal to you is yourself. Um, and you have to give yourself that time to understand yourself, grow, learn, um, and just enjoy it at the same time. Um, with every with every bad day, the bad day is there on purpose. Um, you know, it's that those are the days that you can grow the most. Um, and it builds you, builds your character to continue moving and getting stronger, and eventually you'll look back on it and be proud of you know all the hardships that you've had, and it just makes you who you are.

Steve Tayor 43:10

The proof of the pudding is what you've done as well, Nick, because no matter what uh challenge you've had and the disability you work with, you are on the grid in the British Touring Car Championship again. Arguably the most competitive and high-profile uh tin top racing series uh in Europe. You have proved it can be done. You have a yes I can do it attitude.

Nic Hamilton 43:31

Yes, um I do. I mean, I don't wake up in the morning and think, yes, I can do it. You know, I do work wake up in the morning and go, you know, it is hard, it's gonna be tough. Um, but I got this, you know, and I keep pushing forward. And yeah, um, I've I've made a great name for myself being on being back on the grid, but especially this year, I want to really work on um, you know, improving uh accessibility in motorsport and and really prove that disability is is accepted within the sport itself. Um, and yeah, it's it's great to have this disability and to be racing against able. Bodied people. I like to think of myself as a Paralympian in the Olympics. I always say that, and it really, you know, means a lot knowing you know that I have this physical disability, but I'm able to race very closely with these guys that you know are at the top of their game. Um, but yeah, I I feel it very feel very home here uh at BTCC and yeah, I can't wait to get started.

Steve Tayor 44:19

As always, real pleasure to chat you, Nick. Thank you. Take a late.

Laura Cook 44:23

Inspiring stuff there from Nick and a lesson for us all about how, even when challenges may seem insurmountable, perseverance and the right attitude can create new and exciting opportunities. To learn more, Nick Hamilton's book, Now That I Have Your Attention, is available from Amazon and all good bookshops and as an audiobook via Spotify and Audible. And that brings to a close this episode of Cadet to Career Podcast. So far in this series, we've heard from educators, learners, recruitment specialists, employers, and career soldiers, all providing a valuable insight into many aspects of the journey from cadet to career. Looking ahead, we'll have an exclusive podcast from the Westminster Award lunch in September and an adult award special from graduation at the famous Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in October. And the good news is we'll be back for series two later in the year. If you have any suggestions for topics you'd like us to cover, or if you'd like to take part and share your story and experience of learning with Cadet Vocational College, then drop an email to marketing at cvcollege.org. The editor was Steve Taylor, the producer Matt Jones, and this has been a create media production for Cadet Vocational College. I'm Laura Cook. Thank you for listening.