Apprilis Limited
We, the undersigned, commit to honour the Armed Forces Covenant and support the Armed Forces Community. We recognise the value Serving Personnel, both Regular and Reservists, Veterans and military families contribute to our business and our country.
The Armed Forces Covenant
An enduring covenant between the people of the United Kingdom, Her Majesty’s Government and all those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces of the Crown and their families
The first duty of Government is the defence of the realm. Our Armed Forces fulfil that responsibility on behalf of the Government, sacrificing some civilian freedoms, facing danger and, sometimes, suffering serious injury or death as a result of their duty. Families also play a vital role in supporting the operational effectiveness of our Armed Forces. In return, the whole nation has a moral obligation to the members of the Naval Service, the Army and the Royal Air Force, together with their families. They deserve our respect and support, and fair treatment.
Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.
This obligation involves the whole of society: it includes voluntary and charitable bodies, private organisations, and the actions of individuals in supporting the Armed Forces. Recognising those who have performed military duty unites the country and demonstrates the value of their contribution. This has no greater expression than in upholding this Covenant.
Section 1: Principles of the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant
1.1 We Apprilis Limited will endeavour in our business dealings to uphold the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which are:
- no member of the Armed Forces Community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen;
- and in some circumstances that special treatment may be appropriate especially for the injured or bereaved.
Section 2: Demonstrating our commitment
2.1 Apprilis Limited recognises the value serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families bring to our business. We will seek to uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, by pledging to the following:
- UK Service Veterans And Leavers
- Armed Forces Day
- Reserve Forces Day
- Discounts
- Armed Forces Charities
We also pledge the following:
2.1.1 Promoting the Armed Forces. We will mention our covenant in presentations and events that we participate in or host whenever applicable and relevant to promote the visibility of the Armed Forces members. 2.1.2 Employment support to members of the Armed Forces Community to access high-paying jobs in the digital sector Veterans and members of the Armed Forces may experience a range of barriers that prevent them from entering the civilian job market. They may have gaps in their skill set, and not have the relevant experience or the relevant certification for a specific job opportunity. They may need their CV refreshed or reviewed or they may benefit from interview coaching. To help overcome these barriers to employment, we commit to: o Brokering introductions for service leavers to organisations offering free or low-cost training and support in digital skills, cyber security skills, and project management for digital transformation contracts o Signposting recruits to specific sought-after qualifications in digital transformation work o Confirming eligibility of members of the Armed Forces Community to apply for consultancy work that Apprilis may offer if they meet the minimum requirements advertised for the job o Working with TechVets (Forces Employment Charity) to broaden our recruitment pathways to source candidates and create employment opportunities in the tech sector o Attending TechVets events to signpost service leavers to specific areas of tech and to initiate employment possibilities 2.1.3 Communications, Engagement, and Outreach While we commit to providing opportunities for engagement with Armed Forces members, we are also keen to spread the word to other employers and potential clients about the untapped potential of these individuals in our society. We commit to: o Promoting the Armed Forces Covenant to our customers, supply chains, and the wider public o Supporting/ promoting Armed Forces events, such as Armed Forces Day/Week, the Poppy Appeal, and Remembrance activities through our social media channels and/or on our website. o Using the Covenant and Employer Recognition Scheme logos in our communications and marketing o Appointing an Armed Forces Champion within Apprilis to act as a focal point for organising and promoting support for the Armed Forces Community within our partners ecosystem o Engaging with and fundraising for Armed Forces charities o Signposting members of the Armed Forces Community to available support for digital training o Developing relationships and work collaboratively with other organisations supporting the Covenant and the Armed Forces Community in our locality/region, particularly working with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) and TechVets to start a career pathway for Service Leavers 2.1.4 Commercial We appreciate that there will be veterans and reservists who have decided to set up their businesses at the end of their deployments and may need some support in making these enterprises successful. We can plan our part in supporting these businesses owned by Armed Forces members by committing to: o Offering and/or promote commercial discounts for digital transformation projects for their business including supporting them with cyber security audits o Guarantee to include at least one company owned by a member of the Armed Forces Community who applies in a competition in the shortlist of selected bidders we may compile to procure a contract, provided the company meets the minimum criteria advertised for the services and/or products being bought
2.2 We will publicise these commitments through our literature and/or on our website, setting out how we will seek to honour them and inviting feedback from the Service community and our customers on how we are doing.