From the Battlefield to Restoration: The Journey of Jaco Van Zyl

Spotlight on Newly Accredited BDMA Technician, Frederik (Jaco) Van Zyl, from Aspen Restoration!

The BDMA would like to spotlight Frederik (Jaco) Van Zyl, who recently passed his Level 1 Technician Examination! Frederik offers a unique insight into his working life – from firefighter and British Army Veteran to now a Restoration Technician.
Please read the fascinating article below to learn more about Jaco, and the vital skills that ex-service personnel can bring to the damage management industry:

From the Battlefield to Restoration:
The Journey of Jaco Van Zyl

For Jaco Van Zyl, life has always been about service. First as a firefighter, then as a soldier, and now-somewhat unexpectedly – as a professional in the restoration industry. His path has been anything but conventional. “I thought Aspen was just going to be a short-term placement,” Jaco recalls with a smile. “I had no idea it would turn into a whole new career.”

His working life began in the fire service, before enlisting in the British Army in 2003. Over the next 22 years, Jaco’s career was built on discipline, resilience, and commitment-qualities that would later prove invaluable outside the military. When his contract finally came to an end, the challenge of choosing a new direction lay ahead.

Through a recruitment agency, Jaco was placed with Aspen Restoration. The damage management sector was completely new to him, but his drive and work ethic stood out immediately. Aspen kept him on throughout his Army resettlement period, and in July 2024, offered him a full-time position. Not one to do things halfway, Jaco quickly immersed himself in the world of restoration. He signed up as an Associate Member of the British Damage Management Association (BDMA) and began studying through the BDMA e-Academy. Evenings and weekends became filled with training modules and coursework, all while he was gaining real-world experience alongside the Aspen team.

The results spoke for themselves. Just three months after becoming a permanent member of staff, Jaco was put forward for his BDMA Technician accreditation-a milestone that often takes years to reach. Against the odds, he passed the exam on his first attempt. “Honestly, at the start I was just trying to keep up,” he admits. “But once I got into it, I wanted to see how far I could push myself.”

Now a fully accredited Technician, Jaco has set his sights on the Senior Technician exam-but he’s the first to acknowledge the road ahead. “I know there’s still a lot more experience I need to gain before I’m ready for that step,” he says. “For now, my focus is on learning, building my knowledge, and proving myself in the field.”

Looking back, the transition from soldier to restoration professional may not have been one Jaco planned, but it has given him a fresh purpose. “I didn’t know anything about this industry,” he reflects. “Now, I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

We are privileged to have professionals like Jaco in our industry, and we deeply value the immeasurable impact his skillset and positive attitude bring. We would also like to acknowledge Aspen Restoration for their support during Jaco’s career transition. The BDMA encourages other organisations to support ex-service personnel like Jaco by signing the Armed Forces Covenant.