Empowering You Virtual is a practical two-day workshop from 6 – 7 October 2026, supported by Barclays. It will help military spouses, partners, young people aged 18–24, female veterans and reservists recognise their strengths, build confidence, explore career options and connect with employers who understand military life.
Whether you’re returning to work, considering a career change, looking for a new direction or simply want to feel more confident about what’s next, Empowering You gives you practical tools, insight and encouragement to help you move forward.
You don’t need to have your next career move figured out. Empowering You is a space to pause, recognise what you already bring, explore what’s possible and leave with practical next steps.
The new virtual format makes it easier to take part wherever you are, including if you’re based overseas or managing the demands of Service family life, without the travel, accommodation, and arrangements involved with an in-person event.
Who is it for?
- Military spouses and partners, both men and women, who are exploring employment or career progression
- Young people from military families aged 18–24
- Female veterans returning to work or considering a career change
- Female reservists looking to balance both service and civilian careers
Day 1: Confidence and employability
Tuesday 6 October 2026
10:00–14:00 BST | Teams
A practical, interactive day focused on understanding what you bring, building confidence and preparing for employment.
Sessions will include:
- Welcome and introduction
- Personalities, preferences and transferable skills
- Confidence and coaching techniques
- CV and employability workshop
- Career pathways and recruitment insight
- Hear from coach Teresa Rafferty, whose story and reflections have inspired previous Empowering You participants
- Insight into entrepreneurship
Day 2: Inclusive employers and employment opportunities
Wednesday 7 October 2026
10:00–14:00 BST | Teams
Employer showcase featuring organisations that demonstrate a genuine commitment to the Armed Forces community.
Meet employees from the Armed Forces community whose employers understand the value of military-connected talent and can offer insight into their culture, opportunities and recruitment processes.
Sessions will focus on organisational culture, career pathways, recruitment advice and live chat Q&A.
What you’ll gain:
- A better understanding of your strengths, preferences and transferable skills
- Greater confidence in talking about your experience and skills with employers
- Practical tools and techniques to support applications, interviews and career conversations
- Insight into different career pathways and what employers are looking for
- Direct access to employers, lived experience stories and live Q&A
- Clearer career direction, practical next steps and signposting to ongoing support
Why the new 100% online format?
You spoke, we listened! We know that attending in person isn’t always possible. The new format makes Empowering You more accessible and easier to commit to, while retaining the interactive sessions, employer access and supportive environment that are central to the programme.
Register today!
If you’re ready to explore your options, build your confidence and take your next step, we’d love you to join us. You just need to be a registered client of the Forces Employment Charity. Not a client yet? It’s easy to register online – takes two minutes and a member of the team will then be in touch with you and say hello!
Then hit the register to secure your place on the next Empowering You Virtual workshop.
Register below:
Day One Tuesday 6 October 2026 (10:00–14:00)
Day Two Wednesday 7 October 2026 (10:00–14:00)
