Darwin Contract Management 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 Darwin Contract Management 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 Darwin Contract Management 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:
- Armed Forces Friendly
- UK Service Veterans And Leavers
- UK Service Spouses And Partners
- UK Reservists
- Armed Forces Day
- Discounts
We also pledge the following:
- Promoting existing staff accommodation opportunities, where available and
appropriate, to support relocation into employment.
Communications, Engagement and Outreach
- Communicating Darwin Escapes’ commitment to the Armed Forces Community to colleagues across the business.
- Promoting the Armed Forces Covenant and Employer Recognition Scheme internally and externally.
- Exploring opportunities to establish an internal Armed Forces employee network and ambassador programme as the initiative develops.
- Seeking feedback from Armed Forces colleagues, candidates and employees to continually improve the programme.
Commercial
- Ensuring members of the Armed Forces Community are not unfairly disadvantaged in accessing employment opportunities with Darwin Escapes.
Education and Learning
- Supporting learning, development and career progression opportunities for members of the Armed Forces Community.
- Encouraging progression into supervisory, management and leadership roles across the business.
- Exploring opportunities to support qualification conversion where military
experience aligns with Darwin roles and business needs.
Additional Commitments
- Working towards Bronze Employer Recognition Scheme accreditation and
establishing the foundations required for future progression to Silver accreditation. - Reviewing and developing policies and support mechanisms for Reservists, Veterans
and Military Spouses/Partners as the programme evolves. - Considering how existing relocation opportunities and staff accommodation at
selected locations may support Service Leavers and other members of the Armed
Forces Community transitioning into civilian employment.
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.