Honouring Armed Forces Week: Laura’s Story

Submitted by Connie Maddock | 26/06/2024

As Vertas Group reflects on the remarkable service and sacrifices made by the armed forces, the company is pleased to spotlight the stories of its ex-armed forces colleagues.

Vertas Group is incredibly proud of its company culture. We are committed to inclusivity and believe a diverse workforce fosters innovation by bringing various perspectives and experiences together. In line with this, we value the unique strengths of armed forces personnel and the skills gained during military experience.

As part of Armed Forces Week, we caught up with Laura Goodwin, Lead Operations Manager Catering, who joined Vertas Group just a year and a half after leaving the Royal Air Force. Since joining Vertas, Laura has excelled and received multiple promotions. Below, Laura highlights how values instilled during her military service have aided her success in the civilian world.

Thank you for agreeing to share your story. Can you tell me about your background before joining Vertas Group?

I joined the Royal Air Force in October 2004 at 16 and spent my first year completing Basic training and Chef

training. I was first posted to Linton-on-Ouse in York, working in the Officer’s Mess there before my first deployment to the Falklands in 2008. I was stationed at Royal Air Force Marham from 2008 – 2011 and Royal Air Force Honington from 2011 – 2015 and completed another tour of the Falklands in 2011.

Unfortunately, I was medically discharged from the Royal Air Force in 2015. My transition into civilian life was challenging at first, as all I had known from the age of 16 was life in the military. However, they gave me lots of help and support, and there were plenty of courses to attend to make the transition smoothly.

What aspects of your military background relate to your current role at Vertas Group?

The military taught me a lot about teamwork and how everyone has their own talent to bring to the team. It taught me how to work effectively on an individual basis. The military also taught me to respect everyone and listen to everyone equally. I think all these values that I have learnt are important in Vertas Group, and I would like to think that I bring these values along with me in every task/meeting and that I show these on a daily basis.