To mark Armed Forces Week, Compass Group UK & Ireland has hosted 14 organisations representing sectors such as facilities management, education and charity - to discuss what more they can do to support the Armed Forces community, including veterans, reservists, spouses and dependants.
The event, hosted at Compass’ HQ in Chertsey, gave participants the opportunity to share ideas, best practice and policies on how to continue to move the dial in supporting people associated with the Armed Forces – in particular spouses. Camilla Howard, Chair of Compass’ Armed Forces Community organised and led the conversation, with the aim of establishing a more formal network together going forward.
Camilla Howard, Chair of Compass’ Armed Forces Community added: “This event is taking our commitments to the next level. We’re now working closely with likeminded organisations, to share the work we’re all doing to see how we can better collaborate.
“Our roundtable event was the first step in us joining together and creating a wider network of organisations to support those linked to the Armed Forces. What was particularly insightful was thinking about how we can retain talent including spouses, especially if a partner is posted to a new location. We have over 1,000 people in our business who are either veterans, reservists, Cadet Force Volunteers or are part of an Armed Forces family - so it’s really important that as an employer, we do all that we can to support these colleagues and their families.”
Compass signed the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme in 2016, securing gold status in 2018 – which was revalidated this year.
Compass’ pledges include:
- Spouses – a specific policy that enhances support through the commitment to endeavour to redeploy military spouses to an alternative role internally on notification of posting and providing an additional leave day to support pre-post deployments.
- Military Families – introduction of military family days – working in partnership with clients providing families with days out at high profile venues.
- Recruitment of veterans – enhancing support for those leaving the military, through access to webinars, guidance and work placements.
- Ongoing support to its reservists through the provision of 10 days leave to support with training.
- Widening partnerships with key military charities and recruitment partners – Forces Families Jobs, Career Transition Partnership, Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, Naval Families Federation, The White Ensign and SSAFA.
