The Army Training Centre (ATC) Pirbright, Surrey, has opened a new welfare hub: The Soldiers’ Centre. Designed to support recruits undergoing training, the state-of-the-art facility provides an environment for recharging and connecting with others in the military community.
Tempest Photography’s UK and Overseas Field Sales Manager Peter Dance and operations Director John T attended the centre’s official opening ceremony on 31 January 2025.
The Purpose of the Soldiers’ Centre
The Soldiers’ Centre is invaluable for resident recruits, many of whom are living away from family and friends for the first time. It provides these individuals with opportunities to share their training journeys with other like-minded friends and colleagues.
ATC Pirbright guides these recruits through a 13-week training course (the Core Military Syllabus — Future Soldier). They can then join one of many Corps of the Army, such as the Army Air Corps and the Royal Artillery.
The course enables recruits to develop their basic military skills, meet the army’s standards, and immerse themselves in the army’s values. Recruits also prepare for their Initial Trade Training, where they strengthen the skills necessary for their selected army trades.
Features And Amenities
The British Army and its grant-making charity the Army Central Fund played key roles in financing the £11 million centre.
Now completed, this centre supports local efforts to shrink the army’s carbon footprint. The construction process involved various sustainable features, including the integration of solar panels.
The two-storey centre features a cinema, a music room, social areas, and retail and food outlets. There’s also a gathering space for families attending Pass Out parades, which celebrate recruits as they complete their training. Alongside this space, there is a studio where Tempest photographs recruits with family and friends.
Tempest Photography’s Military Services
Tempest Photography enjoys a long-standing relationship with the British military and uniformed services. For two decades, the company’s highly skilled photographers have captured personnel on camera at Pass Out parades, Regimental Sergeant Majors’ conventions, and international exercises and deployments.
On top of this, the industry leaders have photographed Royal staff and residents at Buckingham Palace.
Tempest’s three core offerings for the military include:
- Portraits: These classic photos are timeless keepsakes for families UK-wide. Tempest sets up a communal venue for photography events and assembles two studios where necessary to minimise waiting times. Customers can view photos instantly within the studio.
- Location photography: The final exercise is one of the most memorable experiences in basic training. Tempest attends to teams on location, capturing their adventures in group photos and individual portraits.
- Military groups: Tempest photographs large groups on its patented, purpose-built staging. Holding up to 1,200 individuals, this high-specification staging is a safe, efficient solution to capture many people in one photograph. Where there are more individuals to include, Tempest can accommodate this with some technical work in its state-of-the-art laboratory.
Tempest’s aluminium staging undergoes regular component checks and an annual inspection from an independent structural engineer. It also meets all safety requirements and distributes weight evenly over a wide area. This protects surfaces both indoors and outdoors.
Learn more about Tempest’s military photography services.
About Tempest Photography
Tempest Photography is a go-to provider for military, education, and travel photography across the UK. Having operated for almost a century, the company has become a sought-after option for exceptional photography, offering both timeless and modern photos.
Tempest’s 450 full-time photographers support nurseries, schools, universities, and other organisations in their local areas, providing each customer with the time necessary to capture the perfect photo.
The company offers a broad selection of photo products. These range from great-value combination packs to contemporary frames on foil-blocked mounts featuring a crest or insignia.
