Highland Council has signed the Armed Forces Covenant, a commitment to support the UK’s servicemen and women wherever and however it can.
The council joins more than 3,000 UK organisations to have now signed the pledge.
Convener of the Highland Council, Councillor Bill Lobban, signed the document at the Town House in Inverness. The signing was attended by Shaun Calvin, Veterans Scotland; Major Alex Rose, 7 Scots; Jim Wilson, Veterans Scotland; Captain Peter Marshall, PSAO C Company 7 Scots; Major MRM Gibson, Area Section North Royal Regiment Scotland and Cllr Roddy Balfour Armed Forces and Veterans’ Champion.
The Council’s commitment to honouring the Covenant includes pledges to:
- Promoting the fact it is an armed forces-friendly organisation.
- Seeking to support the employment of veterans young and old and working with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP), in order to establish a tailored employment pathway for Service Leavers.
- Striving to support the employment of Service spouses and partners.
- Endeavouring to offer a degree of flexibility in granting leave for Service spouses and partners before, during and after a partner’s deployment.
- Aiming to actively participate in Armed Forces Day.
- Seeking to support employees who choose to be members of the Reserve forces, including by accommodating their training and deployment where possible.
As well as signing the Covenant, Highland Council received a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Bronze Award. The ERS awards encourage employers to support defence and inspire others to do the same. The prestigious Bronze, Silver and Gold awards are for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the Armed Forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.
The Covenant signing was organised by Highland Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association and attended – along with signatories – by the organisation’s Regional Employer Engagement Director Roy McLellan.
Roy said: “I am delighted The Highland Council has formally pledged its commitment to the Armed Forces community by signing the Armed Forces Covenant. The council and HRFCA have engaged with each other since 2012 and their continued support is greatly appreciated. We look forward to working with them via our Employer Recognition Scheme and thank them for the opportunities they are providing to our forces and ex-forces personnel.”
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