Aaron Cooper’s Journey from the Royal Navy to the NHS

Meet Aaron Cooper, a former Royal Navy Chief Petty Officer, who used his transferable skills to find a new purpose in the NHS thanks to the Step into Health programme.

A Varied Military Career

“I served for 25 years in the Royal Navy as a communications information specialist,” Aaron shares. His career in the Royal Navy encompassed roles such as onboarding various warships, operational tours, and a significant stint in Gibraltar with his family. Aaron’s expertise spans project and programme management, systems analysis, cyber security, team leadership, and mentoring.

Discovering the NHS

Aaron’s interest in the NHS was piqued at a Career Transition Partnership (CTP) event in Salford in June 2023. “It was not something I never thought about,” he admits. “I only thought the NHS was about doctors, nurses, surgeons, and midwives. I didn’t realise there were so many non-clinical jobs behind the scenes.”

Support from Step into Health

After signing up for the Step into Health programme with the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (ULHT), Aaron was contacted by Steve Martin, patient safety improvement manager and chair of the Armed Forces Network at ULHT within three hours. “Steve discussed what the trust offers and the many jobs available,” Aaron recalls. This prompt and supportive engagement was pivotal in Aaron’s journey.

Transitioning from the military presented its own challenges. “I struggled after leaving the military and found it very hard to adapt,” Aaron reveals. “I didn’t really have a direction, but the Step into Health team gave me confidence and helped me understand the varied roles I could pursue with my transferable skills.”

New Beginnings in the NHS

Aaron’s starting role in the NHS is a senior project manager. Although he has only been in the position for eight weeks, he is already looking for ways to improve and learn. His transferable skills, such as project management, risk management, team leadership, and problem solving, have been invaluable.

Advice for Armed Forces Community

Aaron has some top tips for other members of the Armed Forces community considering a career in the NHS:

• Do not worry about whether you have a degree or what is stated in some job descriptions. Your transferable skills more than make up for that, and that is what the employer will look at.
• Look beyond the job title and never be afraid to apply for the jobs if you think you are not good enough.
• Get support from the Step into Health Team.

Aaron wholeheartedly recommends the Step into Health programme to other Armed Forces community members. “The Step into Health programme is amazing and really opened my eyes to the world of the NHS, with so many roles you could go into which are non-clinical,” he says. “The team will help you from day one with applying for a job and talk you through the processes.”

Aaron Cooper’s journey from the Royal Navy to the NHS is a testament to the power of transferable skills and the support provided by the Step into Health programme. His story is an inspiration for other Armed Forces community members looking to transition to civilian careers.