A charity that supports wounded servicemen and women has teamed up with oil and gas companies for a three-day event in Aberdeen.
Horseback UK works to rehabilitate service personnel, who have suffered physical or mental injuries, through horsemanship and other activities as part of a programme designed to rebuild confidence, focus on their skills and help them make the transition to the civilian world.
The charity, near Dinnet, Aboyne, has also developed a corporate programme, and gives motivational talks to oil companies.
But over the last three days, it has been the turn of oil companies to inspire those supported by Horseback UK.
During the event at the Gordon Barracks in Aberdeen, veterans have been able to quiz companies such as Maersk and Premier Oil about a career away from the battlefield, and get advice about how to pursue the various opportunities available, both onshore and offshore.
Former Marine Jock Hutchison, who set up Horseback UK, said he was delighted with how well the event had gone and now hopes it will become an annual fixture on the charity’s calendar.
He said: “The good thing about the military is its sense of brotherhood. There have been guys at the event who have made the journey into the oil industry, who were talking to guys about to make it.
“It’s been a great three-day event. A lot of big oil and gas companies are keen to help their brothers in arms make good decisions about what to do next.
“For those coming out of the military, especially those who joined up young, it’s a big bad world out there.
“We want people to be well informed about what they can do afterwards.”
This week’s event was organised by Corporal Jay Hare, who lost part of a leg, his left eye and several fingers when he stepped on an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan five years ago. He now works with Horseback UK, and is preparing to go offshore as part of its corporate programme, which he is heavily involved in.
Mr Hutchison added: “We are very good at remembering those that made the ultimate sacrifice, but we need to remember those who also paid a high price for their country, and empower them – not pity them.”