HighGround

HighGround’s new podcast series explores careers in the land‑based sector for service leavers, veterans and reservists. Hosts Tom Constable and HighGround CEO Jamie Crisp open by explaining how the podcast complements the charity’s residential Rural Weeks programme, providing free, on‑demand advice to anyone considering outdoor careers. In this first episode they speak with Lieutenant General Rich...

In this episode of the HighGround podcast, hosts Tom Constable and HighGround CEO Jamie Crisp visit the National Trust’s Killerton Estate in Devon to speak with Karl Emmeleus , head gardener and a long‑time supporter of HighGround’s Rural Weeks. Karl retrained from secondary‑school teaching into horticulture more than two decades ago and has worked his way up through the National Trust to manage o...

This episode of the HighGround podcast explores life on a smallholding and the realities of farm diversification. Host Tom Constable welcomes Mark Rees , a 22‑year Army veteran who, with his family, bought a smallholding in Devon and began rearing Gotland sheep —a Swedish breed prized for its lustrous wool and tender meat livingwithgotlands.com . Mark explains that a smallholding is generally a ho...

In this HighGround episode, hosts Tom Constable and Jamie Crisp speak with Dr Charles Trotman , Senior Economics and Rural Business Advisor at the Country Land & Business Association (CLA) . Charles sets the scene with statistics: predominantly rural areas contributed about £315 billion (16.2% of England’s economy) in 2022 lordslibrary.parliament.uk , yet agriculture makes up only 3% of rural...

In this episode, HighGround co‑hosts Tom Constable and Jamie Crisp explore entrepreneurial life in the land‑based sector through the story of Rob Palmer , a former RAF weapons‑systems engineer and Royal Engineer officer who now leads a biochar start‑up. Rob candidly recounts his meandering journey: after dropping out of university and joining the RAF, he saw his Nimrod fleet cancelled on the day o...

This episode of the HighGround podcast features Adam Chant , a former Royal Corps of Signals electronic‑warfare specialist who transitioned to a rural portfolio career centred on deer management . After 25 years in the Army, Adam was ready for a change and discovered HighGround via a segment on BBC’s Countryfile . He enrolled on one of the charity’s residential Rural Week courses at Bicton College...

HighGround speaks with Rob Honan , a former Worcestershire & Sherwood Foresters officer who now runs the 4 000‑acre Ascott Estate in Buckinghamshire. Rob describes his journey from the Army into estate management, explaining that many estates encompass a mix of arable and livestock farming, residential and commercial properties, sporting ventures and tourism edenprivatestaff.com . Estate manag...

HighGround chats with Jamie , a former Royal Corps of Signals soldier who left the Army after 22 years and built a second career as an arborist. Unsure of his next steps, Jamie attended a HighGround Rural Week, which introduced him to the breadth of land‑based careers. He discovered arboriculture—an industry that encompasses tree planting, pruning, felling, habitat management and tree science. Tra...

In this episode, Tom and Jamie talk with Josie , a National Trust countryside manager in North Devon. Josie’s career has been anything but straightforward: she left school after GCSEs, trained as a mechanic and served five years in the REME before embarking on higher education. With life experience but no A‑levels, she contacted universities directly, persuaded them to give her a chance and eventu...

In this episode of the HighGround podcast, hosts Tom and Jamie talk with Martin , a former RAF supplier who spent much of his 23‑year career in tactical logistics roles and as a fleet manager. Seeking an outdoor career after years behind a desk, Martin began helping on a local farm and rediscovered his love of engineering. A HighGround Rural Week at Askham Bryan College opened his eyes to the dema...

This episode features Ollie Pemberton , a former infantry platoon commander who now works as a farm manager for Velcourt. After leaving the military, Ollie explored several careers—including teaching mathematics and running a furniture factory in Vietnam—before studying agriculture at the Royal Agricultural University. A chance encounter with Velcourt at a recruitment fair led him into farm manage...

Episode Summary: Welcome to the HighGround Podcast, the definitive guide for service leavers, veterans, and reservists exploring new career opportunities in the land-based sectors. Launched by HighGround, a charity dedicated to providing life beyond the military, our podcast is hosted by Jamie Crisp, CEO of HighGround, and Tom Constable, both British Army veterans. Each episode of the HighGround P...