‘My decision to leave the Navy was based purely on the fact that I and my family live up here and have done for ten years,’ Kevin explains. ‘I wasn’t going to move my wife’s career, my kids’ lives, for the Navy. And I didn’t really want to spend the next five years commuting to Somerset, Portsmouth – sometimes even Cornwall – so I just thought: “It’s time for a change”.’

Facing a life quite radically different from what he’d known for so long was invigorating for Kevin, and he embraced the break whole-heartedly: ‘I was quite an anomaly when it comes to people leaving the Forces – most people are planning it a long time in advance. The only thing I planned was a couple of months off! It was the one opportunity to do it, as once I was back in employment I knew the chance to take long holidays would probably be gone, so I sort of took a “gap”.’

However, whilst omitting to make plans was refreshing, it meant that, once back in the careers market after a long holiday, Kevin found he needed extra help to make job searching actually pay off… ‘I was putting my CV out, and not really getting a lot back,’ he recalls. ‘Mark from Recruit Mint saw my details on an online CV library, and we went from there. I then dealt with Mark, and he’s a very nice bloke to work with! The job he found isn’t one I would have thought about, but I was willing to give it a try as Mark had clearly done his homework on the company, was very positive, and had got to know the people there. The way I left the Navy, I was willing to leave things to chance, a bit, and to look more at what any potential company was like, the people and how I might fit in, rather than the job itself. Mark did all the groundwork, and was able to bring me the details I wanted to hear.’

So, a new job found with a friendly company, where Kevin feels he fits in well with the team. And no more seven-hour commutes! But the real test – what does Kevin think of doing things the Recruit Mint way? ‘Mark is very smart, very professional, and very prompt!’ enthuses Kevin. ‘He was also very straightforward, and I’m very happy with how he described the company I’m working for now. He’s the reason I went to the interview, to be honest, and having met them – well, here I am!’