We have been very privileged to have some very illustrious officers join us on our cohorts and nothing makes us more proud than receiving such positive feedback. Read below success stories and to see what people are saying about OnBoarding Officers.

“The best piece of the resettlement process that I undertook.”

William Entwisle | Rear Admiral

“The OnBoarding Officers programme provided an outstanding insight into key areas of Boardroom business that the military are unfamiliar with. Jo’s strategic level overview of the Boardroom, governance, the nuances, pitfalls and opportunities was outstanding and we benefited immeasurably from her vast experience and knowledge. Commercial finance is complicated and to a far greater degree than any military practitioner will have encountered, whilst marketing is both a science and an art; both were comprehensively covered. Emotionally attuned senior military leavers have a huge amount to offer the boardroom but will be very much better placed to offer real worth having attended the OnBoardng Officers course.” 

Nick Cooke-Priest | Commodore

“Firstly, thank you for your time and pulling together what is a great course. It was the best course that I have done in this arena and the way you, Alison and Grant put across such difficult subjects was world-class.

All of you presented as experts but by not using PowerPoint, you delivered the content in a much more conversational and memorisable manner. It worked emotionally as well as practically.

The guidance around your simple Board forms, the key questions to ask and areas to probe in order to spot something wrong were gold dust. All of you did this and illuminated everything with great examples.

Your approach to running a Board is fantastic by the way – it is wonderfully applied common sense. Alison explained balance sheets and P&L better than anyone I have had on IoD or at LBS. Grant was just a brilliant and incisive thinker and he put across his subject really well. Throughout the challenge to us kept us engaged. Once again thank you and I would love to stay in touch and any advice or ideas you might have for the future would be really welcome.”

Lieutenant General

“Transitioning from Service employment is daunting – believe me!  Aside from the basics of finding somewhere to live and looking after immediate family needs, most will want or need to supplement their pension through a second career.  What this might look like and how and where to pitch can be the cause of sleepless nights.  Thankfully, there’s loads of help – advice, counselling, coaching, courses and open-days are now available in abundance to the Service leaver.  Whilst all are welcome, knowing what suits best and where to prioritise can be difficult.  In my case, I wanted to work part-time in appointments that recognised and made best use of my experience and skills and for causes I believed in.

I attended an introductory briefing from OnBoarding on their Accelerated Non-Executive Director (NED) Training Programme.  This course seemed to tick all the boxes.  Those who presented spoke in plain English and were convincing in dispelling some of the ‘black-art’, that in my mind surrounded Board membership. What’s more, they understood how I could ‘transfer’ my military experience into what would be of best use in a Boardroom.  I enrolled on Cohort 2.

The 5-day course, aside from being great fun, opened my eyes and whetted my appetite.  The 3 Modules (The Role of the NED, Understanding Finance, and Marketing and Strategy) dealt with the essentials, but in a ‘vocational’ style – in action rather than in theory – and taught by clear leaders and experts in their fields.  Sessions were definitely 2-way, with discussion flowing freely from the start (and no-PowerPoint!).  Accompanying notes were comprehensive and easy to follow.  The Course’s Learning Outcomes, which I’d previously thought too ambitious, were easily achieved.  And there was also accreditation available for those who wanted it.

Additionally, OnBoarding offer extensive Alumni support.  One-month post-Course and I’ve already drawn on this.  I am receiving advice from an expert that could be the make or break of an opportunity I’ve had – thanks Jo Haigh.  Moreover, it gets you into an extensive network.”

Richard Felton CBE | Lieutenant General

“I just wanted to get in touch and personally thank you for a wonderful programme. Both yourself, Alison and Andrew were very engaging and it was hugely encouraging to hear from personal experience and not just the theory. Your positivity and enthusiasm is hugely infectious and you gave us all a lot of confidence. I am so pleased and hugely excited for you – that this latest venture is going so well and gaining so much ground.”

Ivana-Maria Carrioni-Burnett | Commissioned Officer

“A superb week full of inspiration. Thank you for providing the spark.”

Richard Murrison | Commodore

“Firstly, thank you for putting the programme together. The training that you gave on NED roles and responsibilities was excellent, as were the finance and strategy modules that followed. There is a lot to think on and still work through, but I feel that I have great foundations from which to do so.”

Jonathan Dawson | Captain

“I just wanted to thank you for such a fantastic couple of days last week. I thought you were fabulous and a joy to learn with. I came away from the Tuesday having both learnt an extraordinary amount of stuff and enjoyed the process – a rare event these days. I am happy to say Alison picked up your baton with flair and taught us finance and accounting and also (rather wonderfully) how to test/revise in stride with clever exercises. I do hope our paths cross again. Until they do thank you again.

I am very grateful to OnBoarding Officers for recommending us to Nurole (Jo and the course were highlights of the summer).”

Sir Clive Johnstone | Vice Admiral

“I want to say a massive thank you – the course was excellent! I absolutely have a better understanding of how the military skill set fits in at Boardroom level.  The overlay of your insights into what the role actually meant and our obligations as a NED was vital and so valuable.  I am hugely excited to feel I’m on the brink of a further, hugely rewarding career.”

Nick O’Sullivan | Major

“I have just taken a Director role for my daughter’s pre-school, so whilst fairly modest and voluntary, it will offer me some experience and perhaps cover the gap of dealing with a budget that is in my CV. The course gave me the confidence and knowledge to nail the interview, so thank you! It is the best one-week course I have ever done!”

Philip Butler | Senior Strategist to Chief Information Officer

“Thank you for staging such a great course. I don’t think I’ve ever been on a course which I learned so much and didn’t want it to end. Your part was particularly relevant and compelling. Thank you.”

Catherine Coton | Air Commodore

“Thanks for a terrific couple of days. I now have an even longer list of things to grip, starting with my LinkedIn profile. Looking forward to reading your book and to staying in touch.”

John Patterson | Major General

“Jo, I really enjoyed meeting you last week. You were an awesome (5 star) speaker. I learned tons.”

Nick Pope | Lieutenant General

“Thank you for an excellent week. I think we all left feeling positively inspired.”

Ivan Hooper | Lieutenant General

“Thank you. I found the programme was an excellent and highly productive week.”

Martin Bricknell | Lieutenant General

“Belated thanks for a great course last week. Thoroughly enjoyable and very useful, now need to make time to digest and use the information.”

John Weale | Rear Admiral

“Just a quick line to thank you for a very enjoyable and exhausting week on the ‘Onboarding Officers’ programme. I met some fabulous people and learned a great deal! The instructors (you, Alison and Chris) were extremely knowledgeable and really helped to demystify the subjects covered. I thought the approach of ‘facilitating’, rather than ‘preaching’ was brilliant.”

Tim Harris MBE | Lieutenant Colonel

“For all those service leavers pondering whether a NED role could be for them get signed up for this event. Jo Haigh at OnBoarding Officers will open your eyes to just how transferable your skills are and why you are more suited in these roles than you may think!”

Peter McCreedy | Squadron Leader

“What a week so far, with fabulous new connections and fellow alumni, in London! It’s been great to hear from Jo Haigh over the past few days at OnBoarding Officers. We are super prepped to have a significant impact. Chris, Thank you for the final 2 days of the cohort, I really enjoyed your session, you may have even uncovered a secret passion for brand marketing in me! I think as a start-up it really resonated and it was an excellent way to finish a superb course.”

Ryan March | Officer

“What a smashing week! Very informative and a great opportunity to learn the ‘trade secrets’ of what it requires to be a Non-Executive Director. The cohort was well-led, well put together and perfectly pitched. Onboarding Officers should be the first stop for anybody either leaving the Armed Forces or indeed having already left, to build on the skills we already possess. I will now be looking for ‘that’ NED opportunity on the right board for the right group that I could possibly add value to.”

Mark Gresty | Major

To find out more about the OnBoarding Officers programme and what is covered throughout the five-day in-house cohort please click here. Alternatively, enquiries about upcoming cohorts can be made here.