Atkins launches programme to support its Armed Forces personnel
Above:
Seated (left to right): Julian Brazier TD MP, Minister for Reserves, co-signs the company’s new Armed Forces Covenant pledges with Atkins UK & Europe CEO Nick Roberts.
Standing (left to right): Sarah Kerr, Atkins Army Reservist, Allan Cook, Atkins Chairman, Tony Scott, Atkins Naval Reservist, Chris Jones, Atkins Armed Forces Champion and RAF Reservist, Air Commodore Warren ‘Bunny’ James CBE, MoD Head of Training, Education, Skills, Recruiting & Resettlement, Oz Rhodes, Atkins Naval Reservist and George Rawlins, Atkins Army Reservist.
This announcement follows last month’s news that Atkins had been recognised by the Armed Forces Covenant for its commitment to the Armed Forces community, with a coveted Gold Defence Employer Recognition Scheme award from the MoD.
The company’s ‘Partnering with the Armed Forces’ programme was announced at its inaugural annual Reservist conference in London on 9 December. The event was attended by thirty of its Reservist staff, senior management from across Atkins and a number of guests including Julian Brazier TD MP, the Minister for Reserves.
Chris Jones, Atkins’ Armed Forces Champion, explained: “It’s been a year since Atkins signed the Armed Forces Covenant and were awarded one of the first Silver Defence Employer Recognition Scheme awards. Over the last twelve months we have worked hard to cultivate and engage with our community of Reservist staff and explore and develop partnerships across MoD, the Armed Forces and Defence.
“As part of this work, our UK Senior Leadership Team approved the creation of Atkins’ Partnering with the Armed Forces initiative - a dedicated programme of work to better coordinate our company-wide engagement and advocacy activities.”
This new programme encompasses a number of project streams including Armed Forces advocacy, improved HR support for Reservists and ex-Service personnel, recruitment of Service leavers, graduate and personal development and the UK Defence enterprise skills agenda.
As part of its increased commitment, Atkins has also reinforced its Armed Forces Covenant pledges, which were co-signed by the Minister for Reserves alongside Atkins’ UK and Europe CEO Nick Roberts.
These reinforced pledges include increasing the amount of paid time away from work Atkins offers its Reservist staff for annual training purposes from five to 10 days. The company has also committed to developing a partnership with Recovery Career Services and considering wounded, injured and sick veterans for any appropriate employment opportunities.
Atkins will also support the creation of an inclusive Armed Forces network, comprising both Reservists and service leavers, to help offer support to its employees and their families, as well as to help identify key skills of use to the business. It will also introduce its graduates to the benefits of Reserve service and seek to provide soft skills development and stretch experiences for them, and other staff, through interaction with Armed Forces Reserves units.
Julian Brazier TD MP, Minister for Reserves said: “As we publish the fourth Armed Forces Covenant annual report, it is worth taking a moment to recognise how far we have come thanks to ardent supporters, like Atkins, in delivering fair treatment for the Armed Forces community. Atkins has made the commitment to understand what Reservists and ex-Service personnel need from their employer, and more importantly delivered an initiative that looks set to enable all concerned to succeed. I am particularly struck by the links between this world-class engineering business and the Royal Engineers.”
Chris Jones added: “Fundamentally, our Partnering with the Armed Forces programme represents a commitment at the highest levels of the company of resources, money, time and people to actively advance the reinforced pledges made under the Armed Forces Covenant.”