Social Media Spouses
Small Business Saturday is a chance to recognise every small and medium sized enterprise and entrepreneur here in the UK that is helping to level up local economies and local skills.
Often when we talk about our Armed Forces, we think of our brave and incredibly talented serving personnel, but what about our military spouses?
Funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Trust, Social Media Spouses from BFBS Academy is the UK’s first free online social media training programme specifically designed for the spouses and partners of those serving full time in HM Armed Forces.
Jackie Lerm, who delivers the course, explains how it all works.
“Social Media Spouses addresses a real desire and need among military spouses and partners to find flexible and interesting work that fits around military family life. This could be by finding a remote role as a social media manager or, for those with an entrepreneurial side, by using social media to grow their own business. The world of social media offers so many opportunities, which explains why these skills are becoming so sought after.
“In the Social Media Spouses team, we understand from first-hand experience what it feels like having to give up your job or change careers because a new posting came in as many of us are part of the military family community ourselves. But we also know that although finding work that fits around military life is a challenge, it’s definitely not impossible.
“That’s exactly why we want to equip as many spouses and partners with social media skills so that they can change their lives and find meaningful and rewarding flexible employment.”
Lee O’Driscoll is one military spouse that has benefitted from the course:
“My career was actually in marketing and PR but I had always been interested in make up and that’s where it started. The fact that I was online in the UK meant I could build my business up. Unless the company you work for or you as a freelancer are investing regularly in training, it’s hard to stay on top of social media. The Social Media Spouses course helped me both as a spouse and a small business owner to seek opportunities to expand my business — it’s brilliant.”
Andrea Baker is another military spouse, who’s also a mum and owner of a clothing and gifts small business:
“It started off with my daughter. We started making T shirts for the charity for a rare syndrome my daughter has and we expanded from there. I’ve used social media on and off for a few years but the course was really helpful. As an SME owner, being supported by Defence meant as a military spouse I felt like I was getting something back. My advice to anyone thinking about starting their own business is to not be afraid to do it if you have the opportunity to do so.”
Since the Social Media Spouses course launched in May 2019, it has supported 86 students. Spouses have gone on to secure freelance social media management roles, some have gained permanent employment, and one of the very first students is now employed by BFBS as a social media manager.
For more information about Social Media Spouses go to https://sms.bfbs.com/ or join the Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/smspouses
