A MAJOR recruitment fair to help ex-military staff return to civilian life as cuts in the armed forces are made has launched a new on-line help service.

The British Forces Resettlement Services (BFRS) has held a career transition and networking event at the Scotch Corner Hotel, North Yorkshire.

The event was designed to help past, present and future military leavers access possible employers and boost efforts to get civilian jobs.

It saw the launch of Omnivil, which can be found at www.omnivil.com, which is being hailed as the UK’s first fully functional virtual job fair.

It offers 24-hour access to employers and prospective candidates to ease the job hunting process.

Neil Dean, Omnivil director, said: "Omnivil is the first on-line job fair of its kind that is fully functioning.

"It uses the latest technology to deliver great results for employers and employees alike.

"It offers everything you would expect from a traditional job fair but in an immersive virtual environment."

More than 40 exhibitors also booked stands including staff from British Gas, AMEC, Yorkshire Water and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

The move comes after a Government strategic defence review stated that the Army loses 7,000 jobs, the RAF and Royal Navy 5,000 posts each the Ministry of Defence 25,000 civilian staff.

The Catterick event follows two previously successful BFRS fairs in Aldershot, Hampshire, and it included practical sessions such as CV writing.

It was attended by Councillor Barry Heap, mayor of Richmond, and Colonel Nick Millen, Catterick Garrison commander.

Neil Dean, business manager of BFRS, said: "There will be thousands of highly skilled ex-forces personnel entering the jobs market over the next few years.

"Part of our aim is to help them understand the options that are open to them, to identify their skill sets and ultimately make themselves the most attractive proposition to potential employers."

Colonel Millen said: "The BFRS event in Catterick is an important occasion for those about to or considering leaving the services.

"I am in no doubt that for all those that are able to attend it will be useful and so form an important part of their transition from military service to a successful and meaningful civilian career."