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To bridge the gap for veterans transitioning into civilian workplaces, Brisbane-based veteran Michael Lorrigan has launched Two 14 Recruitment, a specialist recruitment agency for veterans.
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The team behind Two 14 Recruitment have decades of combined military experience, with Lorrigan himself a successful business owner who has been the managing director of Brisbane café chain, Café Two 14.
“We [at Café Two14] were being consistently asked if we were aware of any jobs that were available,” Lorrigan said.
“Oftentimes we would hear about a job along the grape vine and pass that on only to find out it had already been filled.
“To avoid disappointing the people we were trying to help we decided to formalise the process in order to really be there for them.”
As a veteran himself who has made it a priority to hire other veterans at his coffee business, he and the new team at Two 14 Recruitment understand what it's like to re-enter the workforce after years in military service.
“In our past capacity advocating for veteran mental health through Café Two 14, it made sense to want to continue that cause with an idea that allowed us to support our most deserving further,” he said.
“It is now on us to practice what we preach and create a system in which we are concentrating on individuals and not-for-profits.
“So far the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.”
To help veterans gain a competitive edge while seeking work, Two 14 Recruitment aims to provide interview training, tailored resumes and peer support throughout the employment process.
Two 14 Recruitment officially launched on 24 May 2021 and has 12 partnerships with businesses that are ready to have veterans onboard as part of their teams. Two 14 Recruitment said its mission is to help Australian military veterans to find employment with veteran supportive businesses.
“I really had no idea how to start a café when we first began operating [Café Two 14] four years ago, so I surrounded myself with experts and listened intently,” Lorrigan said.
“We followed the same format this time.
“Lots of Google, lots of listening and then a slow implementation with an extended pilot program.”
As a former Armoured Corps Officer, Lorrigan’s growing business portfolio is a nod to his former unit, 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment, where he served for almost a decade. He is passionate about supporting veterans, and by building the Two 14 Group, he can now help more veterans “move forward”.
“There are a number of specialist support systems out there, some good and some not so good,” he said.
“We [at Two 14 Recruitment] are endeavouring to become the go-to for veterans seeking employment moving forward.
“We believe that veterans can never be offered too much support.”
[Related: Defence and veteran suicide royal commission moves into next phase]
