Supporting Reserves, Cadets, and their Employers across the South West

Jon Beake Regional SaBRE Campaign & Employer Engagement Director

for Wessex (the South West)

& Reserve Service

Corporate Covenant

Armed Forces Covenant (May 2011)

The Armed Forces Covenant

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.

Armed Forces Covenant (May 2011)

Community Covenant (June 2011)

The Community Covenant

Community covenants complement, at a local level, the armed forces covenant, which outlines the moral obligation between the nation, the government and the armed forces.

The aim of the community covenant is 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.

Armed Forces Covenant (May 2011)

Community Covenant (June 2011) Corporate Covenant (Oct 2013)

The Corporate Covenant

The Corporate Covenant is a voluntary pledge from businesses & charities who wish to demonstrate their support for the Armed Forces community:• Promoting business as armed forces friendly• Supporting employment of veterans (CTP)• Support of Wounded/injured/sick (Career Recovery)• Support Reservist employees• Support employment of Service spouses• Supporting local Cadet units and Adult Instructors• Offering discounts to Armed Forces Community• Encouraging employees to support Service charities• Other…

Supporting Britain’s Reservists and EmployersInformation, legislation, guidance and best

practicewww.sabre.mod.uk, wx-empsp@rfca.mod.uk

What will it cost?

• Practically nothing;• Training is normally undertaken in an individual’s

spare time• Training can be flexed around an individual’s

working pattern and even peak seasons

Yes but I’ll lose them for Operations?

• Only if you agree;• Opportunities for mobilisation (call-up) for

operations will be available 1 in 3-5 years.• Mobilisations can vary between 3–12 months• Fantastic to way to enhance and further develop

skills alongside ‘Regulars’, often in testing environments

• Employers have the right to apply for exemption or deferral but Reservists are required to gain agreement in any case!

• They’ll only be compulsorily called-up in cases of dire national emergency

How Can You Support Reservists

• A policy of non-discrimination• Have a company point of contact• Have a written policy of support• Release employees for the continuous training

period; ideally through an additional allowance• Develop a Corporate Covenant and use the

branding

What’s in it for me?

Transferable skills:• Ability to learn• Pro-activity• Working under

pressure• Planning and organising• Problem-solving• Team working• Leadership

• Practical skills:• Weapons and parade

drill develop attention to detail, precision, coordination and accuracy.

• Personal qualities• Reliability, integrity and

confidence• Special/Trade Training

and…

www.ers.sabre.mod.uk

Info & Sign-up docsin your delegate pack

What is a Corporate Covenant?

A Corporate Covenant is a voluntary pledge from businesses and charities that wish to publically demonstrate their support for the Armed Forces community.

A Corporate Covenant can be adopted by a business or charity of any size, and from any industry, whether you are an employer of a member of the Armed Forces community or simply wish to publically acknowledge your support for the Armed Forces.

What does a Corporate Covenant contain?

All Corporate Covenants include a core statement of commitments that those adopting the scheme sign up to. These are:

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 and or bereaved

Each organisation will also be encouraged to offer additional support in a way most appropriate to their circumstances. The Corporate Covenant document includes a menu of example pledges that you might wish to include. Many organisations will already recognise their own good practices in these examples. You can find the document and the example pledges at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/corporate-covenant-pledge. If you would like any help in creating a Corporate Covenant, please contact us at the address on the covering letter.

How does the Corporate Covenant fit with the Employer Recognition Scheme?

The Employer Recognition Scheme uses a tiered approach for Awards. It encompasses Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards for employer organisations which pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to the Defence Community, and align their values and activities with the Corporate Covenant:

The Bronze Award recognises employers who state their intent to support Defence and will be listed on our website of publically supportive employers.

The Silver Award recognises employers who actively demonstrate support and employ at least one member of the Defence community, be that a Reservist, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, Service Leaver or military spouse. The key requirements at this level is to back that employment with a formal process or policy, whether that’s a positive HR policy or recruitment process. Silver Award winners will be recognised at Regional events.

The Gold Award recognises those employers who qualify at the Silver level but are also advocates of Defence, as evidenced by the public pledges made in their Corporate Covenant. Gold Award winners will be recognised at a National event.

You can find the Corporate Covenant pledges of all the organisations who have already signed up at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/armed-forces-corporate-covenant-signed-pledges. The initial Gold Award winners can be found at https://ers.sabre.mod.uk/Gold-Holders.

We would like to nominate your organisation for an Employer Recognition Scheme Award. To assist us with your registration please complete ALL missing details below and return to Wessex RFCA, Mount House, Mount Street, Taunton, TA1 3QE. Nominated Organisation Registered Company Name

Web site

Address Postcode Point of Contact Job Title

Phone Number

E-mail address

Registered Industry Sector (Please insert letter code from list overleaf)

Number of Employees:

At site In whole Company

0-9 0-9 10-49 10-49 50-249 50-249 250-500 250-500 500+ 500+

How does this Company intend to/already support defence? (Delete as appropriate) An armed forces-friendly organisation Yes / No Support of UK Service Veterans and Leavers Yes / No Support of UK Service spouses and partners Yes / No Support of UK Reservists Yes / No Promoting Armed Forces Day and Uniform to Work Day Yes / No Encouraging employee volunteering to support Armed Forces charities Yes / No Support of UK Cadets Yes / No Support of UK wounded, injured and sick Service personnel Yes / No Corporate Covenant & Web listing (Delete as appropriate) I have signed the Corporate Covenant Yes I am prepared to sign the Corporate Covenant Yes I would like to appear on the supportive employer listing Yes / No What support is already demonstrated for Reservists? (Delete as appropriate) Offers additional or flexible leave to facilitate Reserve Forces training Yes / No Has previously released a Reservist for mobilisation Yes / No Includes detail of its support for Reserve Forces in its personnel/HR policy Yes / No Currently employs Reservists Yes / No

By submitting your information you may be contacted about Defence news and initiatives. If you wish to opt out from wider defence communications please

write to us at Wessex RFCA, Mount House, Mount Street, Taunton, TA1 3QE

Corporate Covenant

Supporting Reserves, Cadets, and their Employers across the South West

Jon Beake 01823 250110

wx-empsp@rfca.mod.uk