Gleneagles, the iconic hotel and sporting estate in Auchterarder, Scotland, has become the latest organisation to sign the UK Armed Forces Covenant.
The Covenant is a commitment to support the UK’s servicemen and women wherever and however an organisation can, ensuring no member of the Armed Forces should suffer a disadvantage because of their service.
The luxury hotel and golfing destination joins more than 4,500 UK signatories to the Covenant.
Joint Managing Director Conor O’Leary signed the document at the Perthshire hotel, one of Scotland’s finest five-star establishments. It was co-signed on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) by Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Mackinnon, commanding officer of 7th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (7 SCOTS).
Gleneagles’ commitment to honouring the Covenant includes pledges to:
- Promote the fact it is an Armed Forces-friendly organisation.
- Seek to support the employment of veterans young and old.
- Strive to support the employment of Service spouses and partners.
- Endeavour to offer a degree of flexibility in granting leave for Service spouses and partners before, during and after a partner’s deployment.
- Seek to support employees who choose to be members of the Reserve Forces, including by accommodating their training and deployment where possible.
- Offer support to local cadet units, where possible.
- Aim to actively participate in Armed Forces Day.
As well as signing the Covenant on March 3, Gleneagles received the 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 the signatories – by the organisation’s Regional Employer Engagement Director Roy McLellan.
Roy said: “I am delighted that Gleneagles has formally pledged its commitment to the Armed Forces community by signing the Covenant. By demonstrating its support, it is helping to provide employment and opportunity for servicemen and women, regular, retired and reserve in the Perthshire community.”
Conor O’Leary, Gleneagles’ Joint Managing Director, said: “The signing of this Covenant reflects our ambition to attract the finest new talent to our team, as well as our commitment to provide outstanding professional development opportunities for individuals at all career stages.
“Roles within the Armed Forces require many of the key attributes, like team work, discipline and attention to detail, demanded by a successful career at Gleneagles – where we offer a wide range of employment opportunities, not just in traditional hospitality roles but also across a broad spectrum of support functions in the hotel and estate, including security, maintenance and grounds.
“In pledging our commitment to this scheme, we look forward to elevating the profile of the many exciting and rewarding career paths available at Gleneagles while paying due recognition to the valuable skills and experience that veterans can bring to other team settings.”
Find out more about the Armed Forces Covenant HERE.
