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The only free social media training programme for military spouses and partners
What's it all about?
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We understand that it can be difficult finding reliable work or building up professional skills whilst dealing with regular moves and last-minute deployments – and let’s not even start on the topic of finding childcare!
Becoming a social media professional can help. Not only are social media skills very much in demand, but these types of roles are often ones that allow you to work from anywhere in the world.
If you’ve got your own business, or your current employer would like you to manage the company’s social media, knowing how to use the networks effectively to reach your perfect customer or client is so important.
Our courses:
We offer seven different courses to get you immersed in the world of everything social. Whether you want to understand how the algorithms work, plan and evaluate a campaign, or learn to create engaging social media content, we have something for everyone.
Our courses can be completed from anywhere in the world at a time that suits you best. We use a combination of online learning tools, social media, and mentoring to provide first-class course content.
All you need is a smartphone, an iPad or a laptop, and a speedy internet connection.
Thanks to the generous support of the Armed Forces Covenant, our courses are free to spouses and partners of UK military personnel who are serving in a full-time role. You can take your pick out of any of the below courses. All courses are completed at your own pace, so do as much or little as you’d like.
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Campaign Planning
Running campaigns may seem like a daunting prospect, but it needn’t be! We’ll teach you how to plan, implement, and evaluate social media campaigns like a seasoned pro. You’ll learn the foundations to every successful campaign out there.
Requirements:
15 hours self-study & assignment
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Content Creation
Using your phone to take photos may seem like a no-brainer, right? But you need to buy expensive software when creating cool graphics though, right? Wrong! Learn how to take truly show-stopping images and design eye-catching graphics for use in your social media efforts with our top hacks.
Requirements:
30 hours self-study & two assignments
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Facebook isn’t dead despite what your teenage niece might be telling you. You’re just not using it in the right way to connect with your ideal client or customer. You’ll learn what makes the algorithm tick, how to run ads, and the type of content that works best.
Requirements:
20 hours self-study & assignment
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TikTok
Forget everything you think you know about TikTok. It’s not all teenagers with their miming and dancing. You’ll learn how to create engaging TikToks, understand the #ForYou algorithm and, in turn, grow your following. You’ll be a TikTok influencer faster than you can say “Aaand a one, two, three, four…”
Requirements:
15 hours self-study & video creation assignment
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Ah yes. The platform where people join to complain about their incorrect Asda delivery or send angry tweets about football. Actually, you’ll find that Twitter is so much more than that. On this course, you’ll learn how to use the site to raise awareness of your brand or business by using human approaches. No one likes to be sold to and that’s especially true when it comes to Twitter.
Requirements:
20 hours self-study & assignment
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Gone are the days where you could only post square photos to your Instagram profile. This is one of the quickest evolving platforms around, with new features being introduced almost weekly. In this course, you’ll learn how to create Reels, which hashtags to use, and understand Instagram insights to evaluate what’s working for you.
Requirements:
20 hours self-study & assignment
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LinkedIn doesn’t just come in handy when you’re looking for a job. It can be very useful for networking with influential people, sharing knowledge to develop your career, and finding new leads. You’ll learn how to effectively create your personal brand on the platform and successfully manage a business page.
Requirements:
15 hours self-study & assignment
An online community
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The support doesn’t stop once you complete the course.
When you become part of Social Media Spouses, you get the (metaphorical) key to our exclusive online community. Now don’t be thinking that we’re talking about your bog-standard Facebook group here.
Okay sure, you want advice and support on careers in social media, content, platform updates, campaigns, branding, etc. It’s all there, don’t worry. But that type of good stuff is in a lot of other places, too. What you won't find anywhere else... is us. Our community. This is our spouses’ sanctuary, our social media safe space (emphasis on the social)!
Head on over to our Facebook group to stay up-to-date with the latest news from #SMSpouses.
Interested?
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What are you waiting for? Hit the button! We just need a few details to confirm your eligibility before winging over everything you need to register with our online learning platform.
Our Team
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Jackie Lerm
Head of Social Media
Originally from South Africa, Jackie came to the less-sunny UK in 2006 with nothing more than one suitcase and £120 in her pocket. Her background is in communication campaign planning, specialising in photography and video production. Before taking this job with BFBS, she worked as Comms & Marketing Manager for a military charity.
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Adam Powney
Senior Social Media Manager
Adam is an Army Air Corps Reservist who formerly spoke in between songs for a living with BFBS. He spent the last two years producing content across Salisbury Plain and the Falklands. As a Media Culture and Production Grad you’ll find him taking photos, making videos and helping others develop their skills.
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Laura Trythall
Social Media Manager
Laura's adventure began while she was creating posters and flyers for a local charity, and then progressed to social media videos and postings. She established a modest graphic design business two years later, helping clients to get the most out of their branding. She then went on to complete a course and land a job as a Social Media Manager at BFBS. She is always keen to support people and is continuously learning new things herself.
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Kiara Valentine
Social Media Manager
All the way from the islands of Fiji, Kiara has always been drawn to digital marketing and advancing her skills in the social media field. Before her big move to the UK in January 2022, she worked as Social Media Manager at Tourism Fiji, the Fijian governments tourism marketing arm, and has not looked back ever since. She is also a proud military spouse and has a deep passion for personal development and adding value to others.
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Rebecca Thompson
Social Media Manager
In 2018, Rebecca became the author of her first published book, before going on to do a degree in Journalism. While studying, she ran two educational podcasts and developed her experience in social media, writing and audio production - as well as becoming a military spouse. After graduating, she landed her dream job with BFBS. As a digital creator, she is passionate about bringing her creative ideas to new platforms and people.
Want to get in touch with the team?
Email us at [email protected]
The Newsletter
Frequently asked questions
We know that military spouses find it extremely hard to find reliable work, or to build up their professional skills. They are required to move when their serving partner is posted to different locations, must potentially look after children by themselves, and often live in locations where they’re unable to utilise the opportunities that civilians have access to.
There has been an increase in support for military spouses to start their own businesses. However—despite the fact that spouses are avid users of social media—no other course offers detailed training on the use of social media to grow your business, or as a sought-after skill for employers.
BFBS was formed in 1982 from the merger of the Services Kinema Corporation (SKC) and the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS). The organisation was founded on a single aim: to serve those who serve.
We have provided entertainment to our military personnel around the world since the 1980s, through BFBS Radio, BFBS Cinemas, BFBS Live Events, the Forces TV Channel and BFBS TV.
In 2017 we launched the Forces Media Academy (FMA), now BFBS Academy. The Academy offers service leavers, veterans and reservists with the training and qualifications to pursue a career in media. From 2019, the BFBS Academy incorporated Social Media Spouses.
No, we understand that military families are all unique. You will have to provide evidence that you’re in a long-term relationship with a serving member of HM Forces.
Unfortunately not. Families of those currently serving face unique challenges to those who have settled into civilian life. We are only funded to run this course for the families of currently serving personnel.
Yes. All of our courses are CPD accredited. You can find more information about what that means here.
Nope—all you need is a laptop, a smartphone and a speedy internet connection.
All learning will be completed online through our learning platform, Canvas, and our online community on Facebook.
Of course! We understand that military families are based all across the world.
Unfortunately not. But we will champion our students to organisations and businesses and share any opportunities which pop up within the online community.
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How we're funded
Thanks to the generous support from The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, this course is free to all military spouses and partners.
The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.