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Hospital Trust in Derby signs Armed Forces Covenant

An event was held on 30 April at the Royal Derby Hospital when John Rivers, the Trust Chairman, signed the Covenant alongside Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Jenkins representing the Ministry of Defence.

The Trust currently employs a number of reservists and military Service leavers as well as spouses of those who have served in the Forces and believes that these individuals each bring a variety of transferable skills and attributes to their work place; in both clinical and non-clinical roles.

According to independent research, members of the Reserves Forces undertake personal development training worth around £8,000 per year.

The Trust recognises that, by employing Reservists, it acquires a portfolio of skills and behaviours that are beneficial to an efficient working environment.

These skills include business and technical qualifications as well as ‘softer’ transferable skills such as leadership, team working, strategy and problem solving, proven in challenging environments.

LtCol Duncan Jenkins shaking hands with John Rivers

Chairman of Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, John Rivers explained: “On behalf of Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, I am honoured to be able to sign this covenant as a statement of the commitment from the Trust to the Armed Forces Community.

“Military personnel, whether from cadet organisations, as reservists, veterans or service spouses and partners, play a huge part in the life of this organisation and the wider community.

“It is right, therefore, that in our role as a corporate citizen, we support such individuals and do what we can to enable such individuals to participate fully, both in the Trust, and also in their military careers.”

The Ministry of Defence’s Regional Employer Engagement Director for the East Midlands, John Wilson, attended the signing. He said: “The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise from the nation that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, will be treated fairly.

“The Covenant is a national responsibility involving government, businesses, local authorities, charities and the public; businesses can enhance their reputation and corporate social responsibility by supporting Defence through the Covenant and I am delighted that the Trust has made this public declaration of support which is important to the military community in Derbyshire.”

Over 2,450 organisations have signed the Armed Forces Covenant across the UK; 235 are in the East Midlands; 41 in Derbyshire.

To find out more about the Armed Forces Covenant visit www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk