Anna Luedicke CBE served with the RLC for 31 years from 1993 to 2024 leaving with the rank of Brigadier. “My last role was in DE&S managing the Logistics, Commodities and Service Transformation Programme (LCST), a thirteen-year contract with Team Leidos which procures commodities for Defence and provides warehousing and distribution of materiel worldwide. It is a huge contract which has a fundamental role in supporting Defence at home and abroad, in training and on operations. Our role during COVID, in support of Ukraine and in facilitating all the clothing and accountments for the Coronation were particular highlights. This provided me with great commercial and financial acumen, as well as fantastic and relevant experience running a large logistical operation.
The skills I gained are common to all Service leavers: leadership, resilience, tenacity, adaptability; teamwork, a ‘can do’ attitude, ability to do what is right for the greater good (not sure all these are skills, but they are certainly attributes that I believe are critical). I think that transposing these attributes into civilian employment is what stands veterans apart and is what makes us so employable. We get on with things, we see the bigger picture, we are loyal, reliable and flexible and we work well with other people. These are all relevant, no matter what job you embark upon.
I now work as Head of Infrastructure Logistics for AWE Nuclear Security Technologies. My current job involves devising and then delivering the logistics strategy for AWE as we embark on a significant infrastructure/construction programme. It’s a challenge but I love a challenge! It’s hugely rewarding too, as there is a great opportunity to make a difference and to continue to support the Defence of our nation. It was this purpose, chiming with my values, as well as the challenge of the job, which attracted me to AWE.
I contacted BuildForce the moment I decided to leave, as I had already heard of them (I’ve known Caroline for years). She immediately sent my CV to many companies, some of which I’ve never heard of (I had no knowledge of the built sector before all this) and I also attended one of the brilliant Industry Insight days which BuildForce run and made some contacts there. I was contacted by several companies, and had many interesting conversations and interactions, but the one that caught my eye was AWE. They were looking to establish a Head of Logistics and my CV hit their desk at just the right time. Over several months, they matured their idea of what they wanted from the role and I was lucky enough to get it.
Talking to lots of different prospective employers really helped me decide where I wanted to land. My knowledge of the ‘outside world’ was really limited and I didn’t really know where to start. So, I took each and every opportunity to talk to people, even if I didn’t think it would suit me. That enabled me to work out what was important to me from my second career e.g. values, working practices, staying in Defence or not, private or public sector etc. I also took advice from BuildForce, the Forces Employment Charity, as well as Veterans who wanted to give back and help those that came after them by sharing their experience and giving advice. You can’t talk – and listen – too much is my view.
Not knowing at all what I wanted to do or where to start was the trickiest part of the process. I was so lucky though because a network I didn’t know I had, kicked into action and I was given many opportunities to talk with people and companies about possible future employment in various sectors. Most of the connections came through BuildForce though and I was amazed at how employable I appeared to be! So, for those considering a career in construction, I’d say it can offer a rich and diverse second career path.