Armed Forces Corporate Covenant

Jon Beake, SaBRE & Employer Engagement Director, Wessex Reserve Forces' & Cadets Association

The Armed Forces Covenant ‘Family’

• The Armed Forces Covenant sets out the relationship between the nation, the Government and the armed forces. It recognises that the whole nation has a moral obligation to members of the armed forces and their families, and it establishes how they should expect to be treated.

• The Armed Forces Community Covenant aims to encourage local communities to support the armed forces community in their area and promote understanding and awareness among the public of issues affecting the armed forces community. 98% of local authorities have signed a Community Covenant partnership with their local armed force.

• The Armed Forces Corporate Covenant is for businesses andother organisations to pledge support to the armed forces community.

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Armed Forces Corporate Covenant

• Voluntary pledge from businesses and charitable organisations who wish to demonstrate their concrete support for the Armed Forces Community.

• Includes core statement of commitment to the two key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant:

• no member of the armed forces community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen

• in some circumstances special treatment may be appropriate, especially for the injured or bereaved.

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Benefits of the Corporate Covenant

• Identifies and demonstrates value to businesses from relationship with Armed Forces

• Encourages further development of two-way relationship between Defence and employers

• Promotes openness between employers and employees

• Facilitates support for employees undergoing career change

• Enhance reputation - CSR

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Elements of a Corporate Covenant

• The Corporate Covenant pledge document includes a ‘menu’ of options:

• Armed Forces-friendly organisation

• Support of Armed Forces activities, including Armed Forces Day, UTWD

• Employment of Veterans

• Support for Wounded, Injured and Sick

• Support of Reserve Forces

• Supports employment of Spouses and Partners

• Support of Local Cadet Units

• Discounts to Armed Forces Communities

• Other

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Armed Forces-friendly organisations

• How can this be demonstrated?

• Activities of support

• Website, Social Media, PR & Comms, Internal Comms & Policies

• Potential Benefits:

• Reach a large audience:

• Armed Forces Community

• Wider community - public opinion favours Armed Forces

• Staff recruitment and retention

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Supporting Armed Forces Activities

• Armed Forces Day

• www.armedforcesday.org.uk

• Uniform To Work Day

• Visible support & recognition within companies

• Regional Events

• www.sabre.mod.uk

• Communication and Consultation

• input into policies – e.g. changes to financial benefits

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Employment of Veterans

• Benefits:

• Pool of skills and experience

• Communication, organisation, leadership, management, teamwork

• How to access them:

• Career Transition Partnership - https://www.ctp.org.uk/

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Support for Wounded, Injured and Sick

• Recovery Career Services - https://www.recoverycareerservices.org.uk/

• Commercial partnerships:

• Vocational opportunities – training, work placements, coaching

• Benefits:

• Possible recruitment, diversify workforce, develop staff, CSR

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Support of Reserve Forces

• Benefits:

• Transferable skills

• High value training

• Reputation - CSR

• How to provide support:

• Flexibility for training and mobilisation

• Host/attend events and activities

• Employer Notification Letters

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Support employment of Spouses and Partners

• Benefits to employment:

• Additional employment opportunities

• Adaptability, resilience, resourcefulness

• Examples of support

• Flexibility for leave around mobilisation

• Flexible working arrangements

• Support with transition

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Support of local Cadet Units

• Cadet Forces Structure:

• 131,000 Cadets, 28,000 adult volunteers

• Aims:

• Provide challenging activities and develop skills and discipline

• Benefits:

• Community engagement, staff motivation and commitment

• Develop leadership skills, interpersonal and organisational skills

• Employee qualifications and diversification

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Discounts to the Armed Forces Community

• Defence Discount Service (DDS) https://www.defencediscountservice.co.uk/

• 88,000 consumers across the country.

• Recent examples of discounts to the Armed Forces Community include:

• a telecoms operator offering discounted packages for mobile, landline and broadband

• a rail operator offering a discount via the Armed Forces Railcard

• a motoring assistance organisation offering discounts on breakdown services.

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Other commitments

• Recommend a customised and achievable pledge

• Recent examples of extra commitments include:

• A building society supports the Forces ‘Help to Buy’ scheme to help more personnel into a home of their own

• A national supermarket chain working with Armed Forces charities to develop and/or sell products which raise money for their causes

• Football teams offering special match days for the Armed Forces Community

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Who can sign the Corporate Covenant?

• UK businesses

• Charities

• Professional Bodies

• Public Sector Bodies

• E.g. NHS Trusts, Police Forces or Fire Brigades

• Local Authorities

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How do I sign up or refresh my pledge?

• Armed Forces Corporate Covenant website:

• https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/fulfilling-the-commitments-of-the-armed-forces-covenant/supporting-pages/corporate-covenant

• For further details or assistance with pledges, you can contact the Corporate Covenant Team at CorporateCovenant@rfca.mod.uk

Or Jon, directly, on wx-empsp@rfca.mod.uk, 01823 250110 or 07946 349322

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17 Defence Relationship Management

Q&A

27 November 2014