How YOUR business can gain Employer Recognition Awards for support to the Armed Forces personnel community through the Corporate Covenant and the importance of Reservists (spare time military personnel) in the defence of the nation. Find out how YOUR business can benefit from having Reservist employees.

1. Supporting Reserves, Cadets, and their Employers across the South West
Jon Beake Regional SaBRE Campaign &
Employer Engagement Director
for Wessex (the South West)

2. & Reserve Service
Corporate Covenant

3. Armed Forces Covenant (May 2011)

4. 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.

5. Armed Forces Covenant (May 2011)
Community Covenant (June 2011)

6. 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.

8. Armed Forces Covenant (May 2011)
Community Covenant (June 2011)
Corporate Covenant (Oct 2013)

9. 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…

10. Supporting Britain’s Reservists and Employers
Information, legislation, guidance and best
practice
www.sabre.mod.uk, wx-empsp@rfca.mod.uk

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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…

16. www.ers.sabre.mod.uk

19. Info & Sign-up docs
in 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.
EMPLOYER
RECOGNITION
SCHEME
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

20. Corporate
Covenant
Supporting Reserves, Cadets, and their Employers across the South West
Jon Beake
01823 250110
wx-empsp@rfca.mod.uk