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Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade

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 Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade 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 Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade 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 Spouses And Partners
  • UK Reservists
  • UK Cadets

We also pledge the following:

  • We provide unpaid leave for the period of any mobilisation, whether voluntary or compulsory. Our Life Assurance and Private Medical Insurance cover remains in place for employees during their mobilisation.

  • Following mobilisation, we offer a return to work meeting to support our employee back into their role at the Chartered Institute, discussing any reasonable adjustments.

  • We will endeavour to accommodate leave requests flexibly when requests are made and acknowledge that these requests made be made at short notice due to deployment or leave granted from the forces.

  • We commit to provide flexibility during times when a partner is relocated because of requirements for their role in the armed forces. This may include changing the normal place of work or contracted hours

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.

Updates to this page

Published 9 July 2026