National construction equipment hire and services provider Speedy, has committed to creating equal opportunities for ex-servicemen and women and their families after signing the Armed Forces Covenant, a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.
Under the agreement, the leading hire firm has pledged to establish a tailored employment pathway for veterans by working with not-for-profit service Career Transition Partnership, and by recognising military skills and qualifications in interview processes.
The company, which already has a number of ex-service personnel in their ranks, is aiming to increase the number of employees from armed forces backgrounds. Having signed the Armed Forces Covenant it’s received the Bronze Award in the Employee Recognition Scheme, which evidences the tangible support an organisation offers to its armed forces community, with the company now progressing through silver towards its gold standard.
The covenant was signed at the firm’s national support centre in Tamworth, where HR director Ellie Armour was joined by co-signatory Colonel Paul Gilby alongside veteran colleagues from across the company.
Speedy joins other major employers in the construction industry including some of the UKs largest contractors in signing the covenant, signalling to ex-service men and women that they are armed forces friendly organisations at a time when almost one in five (17%) veterans in work say that finding the right job is very difficult*.
The business has also committed to support its employees with family in the armed forces by upholding several principles that include sympathetically reviewing requests for leave surrounding partners’ overseas deployment and providing paid leave for employees who’s loved ones are lost or injured in the line of duty.
Ellie Armour, HR director at Speedy, said: “Signing this covenant formalises the respect we have for those that come from armed forces backgrounds and underlines our commitment to supporting them in developing their future careers.
“Our veteran colleagues enrich our business with the training and skills they developed while serving their country, from project management to driving heavy goods vehicles, and we recognise our duty as a major employer to give back to armed forces communities nationwide.”
Richard Crane, veteran and Area manager at Lloyds British a Speedy company, said: “Speedy and Lloyds British recognise the transferable skills that service personnel bring with them to the company, demonstrating great awareness of the nuances that come from service life – from communicating in military-speak to understanding personal circumstances that can impact individuals. It’s fantastic to see such a renewed focus on how the company can best support its veterans sparked by the signing of this covenant.”
Colonel Paul Gilby, co-signatory and Ministry of Defence representative, said: “Construction services and the armed forces share many complimentary skill sets. It’s excellent to have Speedy’s support with the covenant. The company shows clear intent to help veterans across the country to build successful careers as they transition away from the military.”
