Our Team

Heledd founded Recruit for Spouses in 2011 when, with a new posting, a young family and a serving partner she recognised a need to provide support and agile working opportunities to a much forgotten pool of talented individuals - military spouses. She has worked tirelessly since. Raising the profile of this underemployed group and providing real opportunities to get them back into work.

A little more about Heledd:

Best posting to date?
South Cerney or Dishforth Airfield.

What advice would you give your younger military self?
To approach everything with so much more positivity.

What inspires you about working at RFS?
The quality and quantity of skills the spouses have.

What has been your proudest moment?
Helping Rusila Halofaki into work. Her back story as a Fijian wife, moving around the world, underemployed and anxious. Getting her back into work at a level she deserved felt like a historical moment - not only for Rusila but for Foreign Commonwealth spouses who were struggling for so long.

What 3 items would you take to a desert island?
A Swiss army knife, A radio and A copy of War & Peace!

What's your favourite colour?
Teal

If you were a food, what would you be?
A lobster brioche!

I joined RfS in 2015 as a military spouse and mum who had sacrificed her career to support a military lifestyle. Determined to rediscover my identity, purpose, self confidence and financial independence I found myself embedded with a tribe of women who shared my values and vision. Over six years later, and having qualified in life, mindset, CBT, NLP and PTSD recovery coaching, I pride myself in being a single mum who wakes up every day ready to make the magic happen for our diverse and unique community. Alongside my incredible team, we work tirelessly to educate ourselves and our employers, empower our members and eradicate stigmas.

What has been your favourite posting?
Having moved over six times in the three years I was married, Shrewsbury was by far my favourite posting, a typically utopian English town of cobbled streets, rolling fields and beautiful people, still ranks up there as one of my favourite summers.

What advice would you give to your younger military spouse self?
That this too shall pass. The moments of loneliness, the panic, the sense of loss of self - they are all just a few puzzle pieces that will make sense further down the line. Your struggle will become someone else's survival guide.
Additionally, those are the best moments to reach out to us at RfS, your tribe is waiting for you.

What inspires you?
People speaking up for what they believe in. People who refuse to dull their own light to keep others are comfortable. But equally, people who understand and believe that if all they did today was breathe, they achieved.

What has been your proudest moment?
Every time I have had to be brave. Whether in my personal life or on a professional platform, feeling the fear, having faith, and doing it anyway.
Still here, still thriving, still growing, still healing, still learning.

If you could interview one person for the RfS podcast who would it be?
Mel Robbins, an incredible business woman who dragged herself back from the brink of disaster through changes in mindset and behavioural patterns. Our minds are incredibly powerful and the infinite possibilities that are available once you harness that authentic power are outstanding.
She also shares my sense of humour and struggle with procrastination and imposter syndrome.

What is one of your five year professional goals that you are currently working towards?
Write. That. Book!

Name one of your transitional skills and how it improves your working day?
There are a number of times in my life where I have had nothing and have had to a) start from scratch and b) ask for help.
Our academy evolves constantly and many times myself and the team have had to look at a metaphorical brick wall and a blank canvas, transitional skills discovered through life lessons have taught me to use these moments for reflection, to dream big, get excited, reach out and then take action.

A little more about Cerise:

What has been your favourite posting?

Kenya, we had been waiting for this posting for ages, It is where I was born and grew up so it was like going home. My kids got to grow up there from babies. The sun, wildlife, traditions, cultures, food and people. It was heartbreaking to leave!

What advice would you give to your younger military spouse self?

Never get excited about the military plan for postings. It will be plan A or B …however, don’t let your guard down at plan C as it will only go back to plan A or they will create a whole new plan D !

What inspires you?

My best friend, I look at her and it will put my life back in perspective when things get hard. She is a farmers wife so helps out on the farm up at the crack of dawn, never sees her husband either, runs a post office and she’s a Community nurse and a mum yet she still gets up every day and ploughs on. She will always strive for the best and always puts others before herself. Absolute wonder woman!

What has been your proudest moment?

Running a marathon in Lewa,

What 3 items would you take to a desert island?

Spicy sauce, factor 50 as I can burn in the moonlight and mosquito spray !

What is your favourite colour?
Teal

If you were a food, what would you be?

Honey, sometimes it's clear sometimes it's cloudy but it is always sticky!

I am now a 'veteran' spouse after my husband retired in January from the Royal Engineers after 16 years. In 12 years of moving around together we moved 9 times so I really understand the challenges of trying to have a career and a good family life! I got involved with RFS after I took a step back from my HR career after having our first daughter, I had started my coaching qualification and had started a small business CV writing with military spouses. Heledd heard about what I was doing and encouraged me to apply for a role here. That was in 2016! I now manage all of the people involved in either of the programmes so that includes speaking to all of the military spouses and the coaches and mentors! I am the one stop shop for everything coaching related!

What has been your favourite posting?
Kinloss in Scotland

What advice would you give to your younger military spouse self?
Keep being yourself, trust your instinct

What inspires you?
The spouses I speak to every week never fail to inspire me. Even after doing this job since 2016, at least one spouse a week blows me away with their story of resilience and determination.

What has been your proudest moment?
Professionally- most recently we received an increase in sponsorship from BAE for the coaching programme as a result of years of hard work and determination

If you could interview one person for the RfS podcast who would it be?
Ooh good question! How about the Queen?

What is one of your five year professional goals that you are currently working towards?
I am already qualified for Level 5 Diploma in Coaching & Mentoring and started my L7 in January this year. It's a juggle now with two children, my role at RFS and a busy life but determined to get it done!

After I met my husband, I changed jobs due postings and I worked for a utility company, advising customers in debt and a domestic violence organisation too. Once kids came on the scene, my career took a back seat and in 2018 when I was ready to focus on “me” again, my friend told me about RfS and it was like a breath of fresh air to hear that someone backed military spouses and believed in our value. That same year, I joined the first cohort for the Liquid Workforce Academy and trained to be a Sourcing Specialist, my first steps into recruitment and I’ve not left recruitment since!

What has been your favourite posting?
Elmpt, Germany – my husband and I weren’t living together but I’d regularly fly out to see him and it felt like a city break every visit (plus no cooking or cleaning was an added bonus).

What advice would you give to your younger military spouse self?
Embrace the change and the unpredictability of military life – you often feel like you have a 3rd person in the relationship but the unexpected often brings a blessing in disguise (maybe not straight away or immediately obvious). And accept the fact that you’ll get less wardrobe space out of the two of you!

What inspires you?
The military community – as cliché as it sounds, the spirit, the selflessness and the resilience is inspirational. I feel very lucky to have been part of it for the last 13+ years.

What has been your proudest moment?
A skydive to raise money for a Forces charity but most recently, I’ve been extremely proud of us as a family and taking everything in our stride during uncertain times, juggling home schooling, a house move, endless hours of DIY (the kids included) and my husband finishing his 24 year career in the army to work for the NHS.

I became a military spouse 16 years ago and I never thought it would have such a huge effect on my career. Working around my children’s schedule and husband’s deployments was a real struggle, I felt there were so many jobs that weren’t an option for me.

In 2019 I went along to a Career Fair our Garrison had arranged and that’s where I met the Recruit for Spouses team! I knew right then I wanted to help other spouses in the same position as me.

What has been your favourite posting?
As a kid (yep, army brat as well as spouse) we were posted to the Middle East. It’s a period of my life I hold very dear and treasure the memories and people I met. I was very young and it opened my eyes to the big wide world, taught me that there is so much to experience and we should never close ourselves off to new possibilities and adventures.

What advice would you give your younger military self?
Don’t sweat the small stuff and meet as many people as you can.

What inspires you about working at RFS?
All the wonderful spouses I come into contact with every day. Their unique and individual circumstances that bring different hurdles to navigate when trying to build their careers

What has been your proudest moment?
I’m super proud of being a mum to 3 wonderful (most of the time) children. It’s the hardest job in the world but one that gives back daily.

If you could interview one person for the RfS podcast who would it be?
Lucy Wood - Client Operations Director at AMS. Lucy started with AMS in 2013 and has built herself a fantastic career. She has done it all working remotely from home as a military spouse and I want to know her secrets to success!

What is one of your five year professional goals that you are currently working towards?
I am currently doing an APM (Association for Project Management) course ready to sit my PMQ exams.

My career has been leading the operational teams running busy recruitment agencies so when the opportunity came up to work with RfS I leapt at it; I help Heledd and the team to streamline internal processes and push the business forward to enable them to do what they do best... supporting the incredible military spouses to get back in to work.

What has been your favourite posting?
Until 2020 I lived in London and my partner commuted weekly BUT it is going to take a lot to beat our current posting in Catterick. North Yorkshire is a beautiful place to live!

What advice would you give to your younger military spouse self?
Embrace the adventure!

What inspires you?
My mum inspires me - my Dad is in the RAF so watching her manage everything that came with military life as well as maintaining her career as a nurse was hugely inspiring.

What has been your proudest moment?
Finishing the Edinburgh Marathon! I am not a runner but I trained hard and pushed through it and getting to the end of those 26.2 miles is something I am incredibly proud of!

If you could interview one person for the RfS podcast who would it be?
Richard Branson

I am a freelance social media manager and I help Recruit For Spouses by creating and sharing their amazing, valuable content.

What has been your favourite posting?
Our current posting in Somerset as I am only an hour away from my parents!

What advice would you give to your younger military spouse self?
Don't live your life to be a people pleaser!

What inspires you?
My Parents. They both worked two jobs when I was small and their work ethic has definitely rubbed off on me.

What has been your proudest moment?
Starting my business in the middle of a global pandemic...and having my children of course!

If you could interview one person for the RfS podcast who would it be?
Ant Middleton - I just love his no BS attitude!

What is one of the five-year professional goals that you are currently working towards?
I am currently working on a number of things but one of my plans is to run my own social media training workshops. I want to help empower small business owners to move their social media platforms forward with easy to understand strategies and systems.

I produce the Recruit For Spouses Podcast which goes out on every decent podcast platform out there. Heledd and myself get to interview some incredible people and spread the word of the amazing work that Recruit For Spouses does. The podcast gives us a voice.

What has been your favourite posting?
My favourite posting is definitely the Falkland Islands, the wildlife is incredible and the locals are so welcoming. I also really like the community feel up on camp.

What advice would you give to your younger military spouse self?
To not get wound up by issues out of your control, they get sorted out eventually!

What inspires you?
My family inspire me!

What has been your proudest moment?
Landing my first proper job on the radio is definitely up there!

If you could interview one person for the RfS podcast who would it be?
I would love to interview Mr Motivator as he has so much energy and would be a great motivation for all military spouses to get out and be the best they can be!

I served as an Army Officer for 8 years with postings in Brunei, Germany and UK with operational tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. For the past 15 years, I have been a proud military spouse. I am now enjoying a new career as an Associate VA which fits well alongside being a military spouse and Mum. With a focus on digital competency, new challenges and flexible working.

What has been your favourite posting?
My favourite posting was Australia! We lived in New South Wales 5 minutes from the beach and a Bay full of bottlenose dolphins.

What advice would you give your younger military self?
The advice I would give a younger military spouse is 'go with the flow' and do not plan too far ahead as it will change. Postings are new chapters of the book and just be adventurous - it's an amazing life.

What inspires you about working at RFS?
I inspire to be a lifelong learner, never give up and always stay positive.

What has been your proudest moment?
My proudest moment was being awarded the Physical Training Prize during my Officer training at RMAS.

Hi, I’m Paula, a RAF spouse of 26 years, a mother of three amazing (almost grown up) children and a business owner. My team of Virtual Assistant support a variety of small businesses; I offer Operations expertise to our clients and our VA course equips people wishing to join this industry with everything they need to know to get started and build and grow their own amazing business.
I love working with Recruit for Spouses, helping with all things in the back of the business. I am a huge advocate for RfS as I have developed a great passion for empowering military spouses to create a fulfilling business for themselves that provides an excellent work life balance, without interruption, due to military expectations.

What has been your favourite posting?
A posting to Canberra, Australia has to be my favourite posting. An amazing experience.

What advice would you give to your younger military spouse self?
I wish I had been braver to start my business earlier

What inspires you?
I am hugely inspired by business owners who are doing amazing work

What has been your proudest moment?
Apart from my husband’s and children’s achievements, I am very proud to supporting military spouses helping them to create a fulfilling business for themselves

I have recently started to work for RFS as a Payroll Administrator on a part-time basis. I have a background in Administration and Customer Service, and I have been employed in various sectors during my working life. In recent years, I have completed my AAT qualifications and I was very happy to secure my position with RFS as it allowed me to gain further experience in collating payroll information.

I have received a warm welcome from the ladies at RFS who are all friendly, enthusiastic and very committed to the ethos of the company.

I have a busy family life and enjoy time with and without my children. I like to read, eat cake, go to the cinema and walk my dog.

What inspires you?
Doing a good job. Ensuring that staff feel supported in respect of payroll queries and understand the process. Providing accurate and timely information.

What has been your proudest moment?
The birth of my children

If you could interview one person for the RfS podcast who would it be?
Winston Churchill

What is one of your five year professional goals that you are currently working towards?
Professional goal is to learn as much as I can about RFS and it's structure and build strong professional relationships with both Candidates and Managers.