NEWS

It has provided information and advice about the employment of Reservists including details of Reservists’ training obligations, employers’ legal rights and responsibilities and the potential benefits of employing Reservists.

Defence now has a broader employer engagement agenda; relating to Reservists, Service leavers, military spouses and cadet force adult volunteers and to reflect this, the SaBRE brand has been discontinued. This does not affect the provision of support, advice and guidance to employers, Reservists and Reserve units which continues under the Defence brand.

In keeping with this, information about the Reserve Forces and matters relating to the employment of Defence personnel, previously held on the SaBRE website, has been migrated to the defence relationship management section of the government website

The Armed Forces Covenant

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation to ensure that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly. The Covenant is a national responsibility involving government, local authorities, businesses and charities.

Businesses and charities may sign the Armed Forces Covenant (formerly known as the Corporate Covenant) to confirm publicly that they recognise the value that serving personnel, Regular and Reservists, Veterans and military families contribute to our country. The Covenant encourages them to develop a relationship with members of the Armed Forces community who work in their business or access their products or services.

Over 860 organisations around the UK have now signed the Covenant and 70 are in the East Midlands; those who have signed since our previous newsletter are:

RPS Planning & Development (Newark)               Movements UK Corp Ltd               Hydro Systems UK Ltd

Metcalf Commercial Decorators Ltd                     Masons Chartered Surveyors       TMS Support Solutions Ltd

Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service               John A Stephens Ltd                       Ashfield Homes Ltd

Traffic Labour Supplies (TLS) Ltd                            Lindum Group Ltd                           CE Security

E H Thorne (Beehives) Limited                               Forces Cars Direct Ltd                    A Foot Above Ltd

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Information on the Covenant and a list of UK employers who have signed are on the covenant website.

Defence Employer Recognition Scheme

The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme recognises and rewards UK employers for their support to Defence personnel. The scheme encompasses Bronze, Silver and Gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to Defence and the Armed Forces community, and align their support with the Armed Forces Covenant. In 2015, awards received by East Midlands employers were 18 x Bronze, 11 x Silver and 1 x Gold.

We congratulate M-EC Consulting Development Engineers, of Ibstock Leicestershire, who were the only SME in the UK to receive a Gold award in 2015.

To see a list of all employers who have received awards or to register for a Bronze award, go to the employer recognition scheme website.

For information or queries on any Defence personnel matter, contact:

John Wilson OBE DL: Regional Employer Engagement Director

Email: em-empsp@rfca.mod.uk;      Tele: 0115 924 8627