Armed Forces Covenant Policy

Our Commitment

We pledge to:

1. Support the Armed Forces Community: We ensure that members of the Armed Forces community are treated with fairness and respect in all aspects of our business. This includes recognising their unique challenges and providing tailored support to meet their needs.
2. Armed Forces Network: We are committed to supporting a dedicated Armed Forces network within our business. We will appoint an Armed Forces Champion to lead this initiative, fostering a sense of community and providing a platform for ongoing support and advocacy
3. Recruitment of Armed Forces Community: We seek to employ veterans, reservists, cadet instructors and military families and recognise the valuable skills and expertise they bring to the workplace. We offer flexibility to meet their training and deployment commitments. We advertise appropriate roles through Career Transition Partnership and Forces Families Jobs. We also hold an annual Insight Day for service people and veterans.
4. Guaranteed Interview Opportunities for Veterans: We are committed to giving veterans the opportunity to interview for roles within our company, except in cases where they clearly do not meet the essential qualifications for the position. Employment decisions will be based on the individual’s ability to meet the job’s requirements and the needs of the company. Veterans who apply for roles will receive feedback, if requested, to help them with future applications
5. Flexible Working for Military Families: We offer flexibility in working conditions to support employees who are spouses, partners, or dependents of those serving in the Armed Forces, including on an ongoing basis when the service person has died or been seriously wounded on operations, ensuring they can manage the unique challenges of military life.
6. Inclusive Approach: We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment through our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives. We make reasonable adjustments for visible and invisible impairments, including providing necessary accommodations for wounded veterans.
7. Leave for Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers: We grant 5 days of unpaid additional leave for reservists and cadet instructors to attend annual training camps and other essential commitments.
8. Deployment of Reservists: Reserve members will be released without delay if called up for deployment. We will hold their positions open for up to nine months and offer flexibility in leave arrangements for spouses or partners of service personnel before deployment, during rest and recuperation (R&R), and post-deployment. We expect reservists to maintain a gap of at least three years between deployments.
9. Fundraising and Community Support: We will participate in Armed Forces events, promote charitable fundraising, and support activities that benefit the military community.
10. Awareness: We will maintain a dedicated Armed Forces Covenant page on our website to demonstrate our support and provide valuable information for the Armed Forces community.

Monitoring and Review

We will regularly review our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and ensure we continue to meet the needs of the Armed Forces community. Feedback from employees and stakeholders will guide our efforts to maintain and strengthen this commitment.

This policy is aligned with our broader company values and demonstrates our ongoing support for the Armed Forces and their families