Bluestone GTR Ltd
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 Bluestone GTR Ltd 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 Bluestone GTR Ltd 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:
- Armed Forces Friendly
- UK Service Veterans And Leavers
- UK Service Spouses And Partners
- UK Reservists
- Armed Forces Charities
We also pledge the following:
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Employment support to members of the Armed Forces Community: We are committed to providing fair and equal employment opportunities to veterans, re-servists, service leavers and military family members. Bluestone GTR Ltd recognises the valuable skills, discipline, leadership and work ethic developed through military service and will support applications from members of the Armed Forces community across our security and cleaning operations. We will support reservists with reasonable flexibility to attend training and mobilisation commitments where operationally possible.
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Communications, engagement and outreach: Bluestone GTR Ltd will engage with local Armed Forces organisations, charities and com-munity groups to strengthen relationships and identify opportunities to support the Armed Forces community. We will communicate our commitment to employees, customers and stakeholders and encourage an inclusive workplace culture that values military experience and service.
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Commercial: Where possible and appropriate, Bluestone GTR Ltd will seek to work with organisations and suppliers that also demonstrate support for the Armed Forces Covenant. We will ensure that no member of the Armed Forces community is disadvantaged when accessing our services or engaging with our business.
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Health: We recognise that some veterans and service personnel may face physical or mental health challenges linked to their service. Bluestone GTR Ltd will promote employee wellbeing and encourage staff to access appropriate support services where needed. We are committed to creating a supportive and respectful working environment for all employees.
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Housing: We understand that members of the Armed Forces community may face challenges relating to relocation and housing due to service commitments. Where possible, Bluestone GTR Ltd will take a supportive and understanding approach when dealing with employees experiencing housing or relocation difficulties linked to military service.
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Education: Bluestone GTR Ltd supports lifelong learning and professional development. We will encourage training, upskilling and career progression opportunities for veterans, reservists and military family members employed within our organisation. We also recognise the value of transferable military qualifications and experience.
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Civic responsibilities: Bluestone GTR Ltd will support employees who choose to volunteer with cadet organisations, Armed Forces charities or community initiatives connected to the Armed Forces community. We recognise the importance of civic responsibility and community contribution and will encourage positive engagement wherever practical.
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Any additional commitment the organisation wishes to make. Bluestone GTR Ltd is committed to maintaining a workplace culture based on equality, respect and inclusion. We will ensure that members of the Armed Forces community are treated fairly and are not disadvantaged in recruitment, employment or career development. We will regularly review our commitments under the Armed Forces Covenant to ensure continuous improvement and ongoing support for the Armed Forces community.
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.