Business Engage Profiles Not-for-profit company encourages businesses to pledge support to the Armed Forces

Cat Suckling is the Regional Employer Engagement Director for Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull.

Having worked in the role in different regions since 2016, Cat explained: “It is a new and exciting challenge to be able to focus solely on Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull. It means that I will be able to direct more time and attention to the businesses in the area who are just beginning or continuing their relationships with Defence.

“At networking events, people are often surprised that the Ministry of Defence is actively seeking to work with civilian businesses in order to deliver mutuallybeneficial objectives, but once they understand the engagement journey, they are enthusiastic about getting started and reaping the rewards.

companies are understanding the vital support they can provide to their employees, and seeing the valuable skills that members of the Armed Forces community can bring to the workforce.

“All types of organisations – private, public or voluntary - are encouraged to sign the Covenant, and we have organisations ranging from SMEs to large international corporations as signatories across the UK.

“Once businesses have signed the Armed Forces Covenant, they are then able to climb through the levels of the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). Bronze, Silver and Gold awards formally recognise employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the Armed Forces community.”

A Birmingham-based not-for-profit organisation, West Midland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association, is looking to increase its connections and activities with businesses in the Coventry and Warwickshire region.

Working with local employers they have a dedicated Employer Engagement team, with three Regional Employer Engagement Directors working on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

The Association’s Regional Employer Engagement Directors, as part of a network of colleagues across the UK, develop partnerships with organisations to help them understand the value of signing the Armed Forces Covenant and building mutuallybeneficial relationships with Defence.

The Covenant is a voluntary pledge of key principles in which the Armed Forces community should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services.

“Organisations begin their journey of partnering with Defence by signing the Armed Forces Covenant. It covers aspects such as the support of Reservist and Cadet Force Adult Volunteer training through flexible HR policies, employment opportunities for service leavers and veterans, and promoting the support of the Armed Forces community to staff, service users and supply chains.

“To date, 191 Covenants have been signed in the Coventry and Warwickshire region, which is an incredibly positive sign that

In addition to the benefits of recruiting talented individuals through free recruitment, employers who have signed the Covenant can benefit from training and development partnerships with local units, access military training and development courses, be invited to on-base insight and networking events and high-status events such as VIP access to the Cosford Air Show and Trooping the Colour.

To get in touch with Cat, please email wm-reed3@rfca.mod.uk.

For more information, visit www.wmrfca.org