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Social Media Spouses

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

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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Photography

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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Community Management

Facebook

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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Social Media

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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Twitter

Twitter

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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Instagram

Instagram

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

LinkedIn

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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Community Management Illustration

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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Apply Now Image

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.

Apply Now!

Our Team

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Jackie Lerm

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

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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Kiara Valentine

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

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?

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Frequently asked questions

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Armed Forces Covenant Logo

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.