PathFinders: A Morson original series

This Remembrance Day, we’re joining the world in paying respect and tribute to those who have lost their lives in conflict. But in addition to that, we’re also looking at how we support those who have spent a portion of their lives in the armed forces and then face the often-difficult transition into civilian life and employment. For a special edition of our PathFinders series, we spoke to two British Army veterans who both had very different transitions out of the armed forces. Andy Reid MBE, Morson’s ex-forces ambassador, lost both of his legs and his right arm after stepping on an IED in Afghanistan in 2009. Following a long road to recovery, Andy spends his time inspiring others and working with his charity, the Standing Tall Foundation, to offer free support to people who are struggling with mental health issues, addiction and more. Dan McGuigan left the armed forces after serving 13 years and now works as a specialist ex-forces recruiter within Morson Forces, helping veterans transition into civilian roles with our major clients. They talk about their experiences in the armed forces, their transitions into civilian life and much more.

Boxing trainer Joe Gallagher is an instantly recognisable face in the corner of the ring. A veteran of some 60 amateur fights himself, the young prospect turned his attention to training in the early 1990s, and has since gone on to become incredibly successful, training the likes of the Smith Brothers, Anthony Crolla, Scott Quigg, Natasha Jonas and more to world title successes, many while benefitting from sponsorship from Morson along their journeys.    With Joe’s current stable of fighters now moving back from Bolton to where it all began for Joe, Phil Martin’s Champs Camp in Moss Side, Manchester, we caught up with Joe to reflect on his career journey. He talks openly to PathFinders about his parents’ influence on him, the years of struggling to balance his amateur training with his day job and the strain that it put on him, the golden years of his stable and much more.

Professional boxer Natasha Jonas has conquered everything the sport has thrown at her throughout her successful career. From humble beginnings in Toxteth, just outside of Liverpool, to becoming the first-ever female BBBoC Boxer of the Year in 2022, Tash Jonas navigated the challenges of an amateur career, enjoyed Olympic success, overcome a disappointing loss to Katie Taylor and managed it all while excelling at her most important job – being a mother. Our in-depth interview with her comes at a time when she is riding high. Currently unified WBC, IBF and WBO female light-middleweight champion of the world, she also sits on a government boxing board and enjoys being a role model for women in sport. She talks openly about many topics, from boxing and training to life on the quieter side of the ropes with her daughter, Mela. She discusses the many challenges she has faced along the way, from struggling to balance work with her Team GB career to managing her busy schedule. She also talks about overcoming self-doubt, what boxing has taught her about herself and much more.

Welcome to PathFinders #Shorts, bite-sized conversations with people from all walks of life, uncovering their career stories, work/life challenges and successes, and much more. Filling Carol Vorderman’s shoes on TV’s long-running Countdown would always be a big challenge, but for one Oxford graduate maths enthusiast, it proved to be a surprisingly natural, if unplanned, fit. Rachel Riley had been good with numbers from a young age, and after gaining a Master’s degree in maths from the prestigious Oxford University, in 2009 she took her first steps onto the sound stage at Channel 4 to become a household name. We spoke to her about her career, her love of STEM, and the secret trick she uses to master the Countdown numbers game.

​Ian Blease is the Director of Rugby and Operations at Salford Red Devils. Already a club legend from his playing days with the Salford rugby league outfit in the 1980s and 1990s, Ian returned to the club in 2016 to take up a senior role in the boardroom.