************************************************************
Army HIVE Christmas and New Year Closures

The majority of Army HIVEs will be closed after duties on Fri 19 Dec 25 and will reopen on Mon 5 Jan 26. There may be localised variations to these dates for individual HIVEs.

Army HIVE HQ is also closed during the festive fortnight, so any enquiries submitted via the ‘If you need further information’ MS Forms function on our UK, Cyprus or Overseas blogs will be answered when we return in the New Year.

We will periodically cover private messages on our Army HIVE Facebook platform (and X/Instagram where possible) whilst we are closed. However, this will not be 24/7 and should not be relied upon for anything that requires an urgent response.

To support our customers with more immediate requirements however, the Army HIVE HQ email will provide a comprehensive out of office autoreply, detailing points of contact that are either 24/7, emergency providers, or open over the festive leave fortnight. To receive this autoreply, please email:
RC-Pers-HIVEComms-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk

Individual HIVEs will also provide localised contact details for Christmas and New Year cover wherever possible in their automated replies. Therefore, if you email your closest HIVE, which you can find on HIVE’s page on the Army website, their autoreply may be of additional assistance.

Army HIVE wishes all of its Service community customers, and our internal and external stakeholders, a very happy Christmas and New Year. We look forward to continuing our support and engagement in 2026.


************************************************************

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

BFBS to Launch First-Ever AI Skills Programme Exclusively for Military Partners.



BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service) has been awarded a significant grant of £66,884 from The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to deliver a groundbreaking AI skills programme exclusively for military partners helping them develop digital skills, grow career opportunities and strengthen employability in an increasingly tech-driven world.

The programme, which will be the first of its kind and part of the BFBS Academy, launches in January 2026. It will combine flexible online learning that participants can complete in their own time, in addition to monthly live evening webinars and four one-off in-person workshops across Cyprus, Catterick, Blandford, and Edinburgh. The entire programme will be fully funded by the grant.


Jackie Collins, Head of Social Media at BFBS (Academy & Creative) who is leading this initiative and will oversee the programme’s delivery said: “The grant is a game-changer for military partners. With so much hype and confusion around AI, this innovative course will focus on delivering practical skills that cut through the noise, giving participants the confidence and knowledge to explore new job opportunities, develop careers or take businesses to the next level.”

BFBS Academy will guide participants throughout the programme, providing one-on-one coaching, to ensure training is meaningful and accessible to all military partners.

The programme will help participants:Build foundational AI skills relevant to real-world projects
Explore how AI tools can support work or business growth
Access training in a format that fits around military life and day-to-day jobs
Understand and navigate AI responsibly

The funding marks a major milestone for BFBS Academy’s mission to provide innovative, accessible training for the armed forces community, empowering military partners with the tools they need to thrive in a digital future.

For general updates, follow BFBS Academy on Facebook, Instagram and X.