Welcome back to The InDependent Spouse podcast and the start of series 8! 

In this episode, we’re turning the clock back to look at where military spouse employment support really began, and just how far things have come since 2011 and 2018.

Host Jess Sands sits down with Heledd Kendrick, founder of Recruit for Spouses, to talk about building a purpose-led organisation from scratch, challenging some seriously outdated stereotypes along the way, and why looking after military spouses isn’t just good for families — it’s good for workforces and defence too.

Heledd shares how RFS grew from a simple idea into a foundation offering coaching, mentoring, wellbeing support and employer education. She’s refreshingly honest about the lessons too: resilience, imposter syndrome, the power of networking, and how to keep going when business and military life collide.

Key topics

• In this episode, Heledd explains how Recruit for Spouses began in 2011 after she searched for military spouse jobs and found almost nothing available.
• She shares how early assumptions about military spouses, especially that they would not work or could only do certain roles, shaped her motivation to create change.
• Jess and Heledd discuss how the pandemic accelerated remote working and helped shift perceptions of military spouses in the workplace.
• Heledd makes the case that military spouses bring adaptability, resilience, and commercial value to employers, from small businesses to large companies like Virgin.
• She explains the importance of moving beyond pity-based narratives and instead showing the contribution military families make to operational effectiveness and defence.
• Heledd reflects on imposter syndrome, including ice baths, stand-up comedy, and singing from Les Misérables as part of a confidence course.
• She shares a difficult financial moment when payroll was due and the business had only £2,000 in the bank, showing the reality behind growth.
• The conversation explores why a clear North Star matters, including having a big vision even when the first goal feels small.
• Heledd outlines RFS’s work supporting spouses into employment, including coaching and mentoring, wellbeing support, and work with foreign and Commonwealth spouses.
• Jess and Heledd talk about networking as a practical skill, with Heledd sharing how late-night events and simple follow-up habits have led to real opportunities.

Timestamps

00:38 — Heledd returns as Jess’s first guest and introduces RFS

01:51 — Being the original military spouse employment advocate

02:37 — The Google search that found no spouse jobs

04:28 — Community support that sparked the mission

06:27 — How the military spouse stereotype has changed since COVID

08:25 — Why RFS pitches spouses as business assets

10:58 — Imposter syndrome and the ice bath challenge

13:41 — Has the landscape for spouses really changed?

14:26 — Keeping the drum beating through business uncertainty

15:07 — The £2,000 bank balance and payroll pressure

17:08 — Why Heledd did not give up

18:01 — The first RFS vision and the importance of a North Star

20:55 — Looking back on how much the military spouse space has shifted

21:52 — Changing policies and increasing awareness

23:35 — Stronger family, stronger workforce, stronger defence

25:18 — What RFS actually offers spouses today

28:53 — Building a core team and stepping into strategy

29:48 — Networking at the right rooms and the right time

32:25 — How early networking built trust and opportunity

37:40 — Why practice makes networking easier

38:46 — The bravest lesson: optimism, trust, and never giving up

40:51 — Why Jess’s community and platform matter to spouses

41:36 — Where to find RFS and its coaching and mentoring support