Scott HarrisonFrom military service to industry leadership

Scott was an aircraft engineer for the Royal Navy. Initially based in Portsmouth, he moved to RAF Wittering in Peterborough, the main operating base and headquarters for the RAF Support Force and a major Station for flying training.

“I joined the Royal Navy following an apprenticeship as a machine operator in a printing factory. I instantly loved the buzz of being in the Forces. Working on the aircraft engines and hydraulic systems was a very responsible job and I’d been promoted to mechanical supervisor by the time I left.

But like many veterans, military life was hard on my family. I had just had a young son and was commuting from Brighton to my home in the Northeast.”

The time had come to move on, but finding suitable work, that matched his skill set was certainly not plain sailing.

Scott continued: “I felt like I didn’t quite fit in a civilian role. I took a job working on a production line and it felt like I had gone full circle to my early apprentice days. I knew I had much more to offer. I just needed to find right role that matched my skillset.”

Said Scott: “Working in the compressed air industry for the past 11 years has given me that excitement I needed. I’ve loved meeting customers and learning about their industry, as well as advising on how to get the best performance from their compressed air system.

But when I first left the military, it would have been easy to settle for less. My advice to any veteran is to never give up. The skills you gain in the forces, such as good communication, working under pressure and flexibility are completely transferrable. Add to this our technical expertise in maintaining equipment and it’s no surprise that the compressed air industry sees us as an asset.”

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