How Professional Networking Online Is Connecting Veterans During The Lockdown

Two ex-soldiers are among the growing numbers of people turning to the internet to keep communities connected during the coronavirus lockdown by organising online professional networking events for veterans in business.

Russ Nolan and Gary Kendall, both former British Army photographers who left the Armed Forces in 2019, are using video conferencing technology to keep veterans in touch with each other.

This is especially valuable to those who have left the services who find they miss their peers and the camaraderie of military life.

Internet connectivity has become a lifeline to many, providing a vital link to the outside world, as restrictions in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic mean millions of people are isolating indoors.

Swathes of the population are now depending on the internet to do their jobs, keep in touch with friends and colleagues, stay entertained and even educate children – and there has been a significant increase in the use of popular video conference apps such as Zoom.

Zoom in particular has seen traffic increase by more than 500 per cent in one month alone since the lockdown, according to one study by analytics service SimilarWeb, as more people, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, turn to the app to keep vital communication going while they are socially isolating in line with the Government’s emergency measures to combat the pandemic.

Other reports suggest internet traffic has increased by around a quarter in many of the world’s major cities as other nations impose strict restrictions on the movement and gatherings of people.

Russ and Gary set up their professional meet-ups in Devon in early 2020, to bring veterans together over breakfast to discuss business and networking opportunities and to improve the professional lives of former members of the Armed Forces.

The first series of meetings proved successful, with many of those taking part giving positive feedback on how the meetings had been valuable, not only for business but also for wellbeing as veterans engaged in banter with each other like an Armed Forces environment.

However, the COVID-19 restrictions meant the pair had to rethink and adapt their future meetings, so decided to join the ranks of people to move their events online – and they decided to move the professional network events on to video conferencing using Zoom.

The first ‘Zoom’ event took place last week with veterans logging in from as far afield as Australia and the Philippines. 

Russ, who before becoming an army photographer spent ten years in the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers as a tank mechanic, said:

“Veterans leave the military and miss their peers and the comradery.

"You go from having a platoon or company load of people around you who are always on-hand to help, to finding yourself back in your small hometown.

“Some professional networks are all about selling you something, but this is more about ‘what can we do to help?’”

The two men, who were both Sergeants, left the Army after a combined service of 25 years last September. They launched their own business, Cloudhill Productions, a corporate video production company based in South-West England, drawing on their long careers as Army photographers.

Russ and Gary are not the first within the veteran community to realise the importance of staying connected during this difficult time - last week Forces News reported on a Zoom veteran meet-up for ex-service members in Scotland.

The latest events, called Veteran Online Networking, allow each attendee five minutes to discuss their military backgrounds, and then talk about their current work or business interests. Russ said:

“At Monday’s Zoom event, an ex-British Army guy joined us from the Philippines and within minutes, another attendee at the meeting was putting him in touch with somebody he knew out there who was looking for help with a little business matter. It’s things like that we are looking to achieve.”

The pair intend to make the Zoom events weekly going forward.

When asked what he would say to a veteran who is unsure about logging on to one of their Zoom meetings, Russ said:

“It’s free for starters. If it's not for you, don’t come back. Just come along, sit and chat for 40 minutes, and if nothing else it might give you some ideas.”

Veteran Online Networking takes place on Monday mornings via Zoom. To register for free, visit the Eventbrite page here.