Echo Fire & Medical 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, His 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 Echo Fire & Medical 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 Echo Fire & Medical 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
- Flexible Leave For Spouses
- UK Reservists
- UK Cadets
- Armed Forces Day
- Reserve Forces Day
- Additional Leave For Reservists
We also pledge the following:
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As an established provider of emergency ambulance services, specialist healthcare, clinical education and emergency response services, we recognise the close relationship between the Armed Forces and civilian emergency services, including the valuable skills, experience and professional values shared across these sectors.
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We already benefit from the experience and contribution of former Armed Forces personnel within our workforce and are committed to strengthening our support for the wider Armed Forces community through the following pledges.
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We will ensure that military service does not create unfair disadvantage within our recruitment and selection processes and will consider relevant military experience when assessing suitability for employment, career progression and professional development, subject to applicable professional and regulatory requirements.
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We will support serving personnel and those leaving the Armed Forces in their transition into civilian employment, particularly within ambulance services, healthcare, emergency response, education and training. We will seek to provide accessible career pathways, professional guidance and appropriate development opportunities, recognising that individuals transitioning from military service may possess valuable experience while requiring additional civilian qualifications, familiarisation or clinical exposure to fulfil particular roles.
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Support attendance at recognised military training and development activities. We will also seek to accommodate military commitments through reasonable flexibility in working patterns, shift arrangements and leave scheduling, enabling employees to maintain and develop rewarding civilian careers alongside their Reserve service.
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We will seek to support serving Armed Forces healthcare personnel, including Reservists, by providing opportunities for supervised clinical placements, observational experience and practical professional development within our ambulance and healthcare services. These opportunities will aim to broaden exposure to civilian patient care, enhance clinical confidence and develop relevant assessment, treatment and emergency response skills. Through this commitment, we aspire to contribute to the professional development of military healthcare personnel, strengthening the knowledge and experience they can subsequently apply when caring for their Armed Forces colleagues. All opportunities will be subject to appropriate clinical governance, supervision, competency requirements and operational capacity.
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We will actively seek opportunities to participate in Armed Forces careers fairs, military resettlement events, recruitment activities and employment engagement programmes. We will engage with organisations including the Ministry of Defence Career Transition Partnership, Forces Families Jobs and other appropriate military employment networks to promote suitable opportunities within Echo Fire and Medical. Through these activities, we aim to increase awareness of civilian healthcare and emergency service careers, provide practical career guidance and support individuals considering employment or professional development following military service.
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As a provider of clinical education and professional training, we will explore opportunities to support the Armed Forces community through relevant educational activities, skills development and access to appropriate training programmes. This may include career familiarisation, clinical development, first aid education, emergency response training and guidance on civilian qualifications and professional pathways. We will seek to recognise relevant prior military learning and experience wherever appropriate, supporting individuals to develop their capabilities and pursue further professional opportunities.
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We will actively recognise and promote the contribution of the Armed Forces community through appropriate organisational communications, engagement activities and participation in national commemorative and awareness initiatives. This includes supporting the Poppy Appeal and Remembrance activities, alongside opportunities to celebrate the achievements and contributions of serving personnel, veterans and Reservists within our workforce and wider communities.
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We will seek to develop positive relationships with Armed Forces organisations, Reserve units, Cadet Forces, military charities and relevant community partners to identify opportunities for meaningful collaboration. Where appropriate, we will explore ways in which our organisational expertise, clinical capabilities, educational resources and emergency service experience can contribute to initiatives supporting the welfare, development and career opportunities of the Armed Forces community.
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We will promote awareness of the Armed Forces Covenant throughout our organisation and ensure that relevant managers and employees understand our commitments to supporting veterans, Reservists, serving personnel and military families. We will seek to incorporate appropriate provisions within our employment policies, recruitment arrangements and workforce management practices, providing a clear framework through which our commitments can be understood, implemented and maintained.
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We will publicise our support for the Armed Forces Covenant through appropriate internal communications, recruitment materials, organisational literature, our website and other relevant channels. We will promote Echo Fire and Medical as an Armed Forces friendly employer and training provider, encouraging feedback from employees, members of the Armed Forces com.
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.