Social media shout-out

One of the best ways a company can publicly recognise the valuable contributions of Maritime, Army and RAF Reservists is via social media. Using your platform to show appreciation for and champion Reserves can help to spread vital awareness.

Talking about the steps your organisation has taken to create a supportive working environment for Reservists (such as additional leave, mobilisation policies, etc.) can encourage others to follow your example. Make sure you add #ReservesDay to all of your posts. Here are examples from Pall-Ex Group and East Midlands Combined County Authority.

Official Reserves Day logos and other creative assets are available to download here. Stock imagery can also be downloaded here.

Sign the Armed Forces Covenant

If your business has not already done so, signing the Armed Forces Covenant is the most effective first step in showing support for Reservists, Service Leavers, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, and Military Spouses. More than 1,300 have signed in the East Midlands alone.

The Covenant is a pledge, signed by organisations large and small, public and private, to ensure that no member of the Armed Forces, or their families, is ever disadvantaged by their service. Read more about the Covenant and how to sign here.

Spread awareness within your workforce

The defence of the nation relies on the whole of society to play its part. Whether it’s direct or indirect involvement in the military, this support can come in many different forms.

Raising awareness of the Reserve Forces and the military as a whole within your workforce via internal intranets, newsletters, or notice boards can help to improve understanding and support for our Forces.

Encourage Reservists to wear their uniform at work

Where appropriate and safe to do so, wearing a military uniform to work can help raise even more awareness by sharing personal experiences and prompting questions and conversations about the Reserve Forces.

This can be even more powerful when combined with staff events, such as this one organised between the University of Derby and two Derbyshire NHS Trusts.

Share stories from your Reservists’ incredible adventures

If you do have Reservists within your workplace, consider going one step further than simply celebrating Reserves Day by asking them whether they would be happy to share their story on your organisation’s internal and external channels.

With the relevant clearances, sharing their stories from exercises and deployments can be incredibly powerful. Take these, for example: a teacher and a part-time Soldier; a Network Rail Royal Engineer; and from the NHS to humanitarian missions.

Email our communications team at em-comms@rfca.mod.uk for guidance and support.

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter

Stay up to date on the biggest stories concerning the Reserves and the Cadet Forces in our region each month by subscribing to our newsletter. Even better, please encourage your members of staff to subscribe too. Here’s an example of what to expect.

For more guidance and support, please email em-enquiries@rfca.mod.uk.