International SOS Assistance UK 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, 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 International SOS Assistance UK 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 International SOS Assistance UK 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
- Flexible Leave For Spouses
- UK Reservists
- Armed Forces Day
- Reserve Forces Day
- Armed Forces Charities
- UK Wounded, Injured And Sick
- Additional Leave For Reservists
We also pledge the following:
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Supporting any mobilisations.
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Working with sector-led employment schemes aimed at the Armed Forces community, for example ‘A Great Place to Work’ and ‘Step Into Health’.
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Considering ways in which remote-working solutions might benefit the mobile nature of the Armed Forces community.
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Engage with any local Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve) presence – for example, local Army units, RAF stations and/or Naval bases.
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Deliver or promote external events for veterans and other members of the Armed Forces community.
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Develop relationships and work collaboratively with other organisations supporting the Covenant and the Armed Forces community in our local area and/or our industry sector.
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Provide ways for our staff to learn about the Armed Forces community.
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Providing pro bono communications and medical support to individuals and groups undertaking military charity initiatives.
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Promote training and further/higher education opportunities for Service leavers, veterans and their families.
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Organise, facilitate, promote and/or take part in remembrance and other ceremonial activities.
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We continue to engage with the wider Armed Forces community through recognised organisations and initiatives, including the British Ex-Forces in Business Awards, where we submit nominations and provide sponsorship to help recognise the achievements of veterans in civilian careers. We have also pledged our support to Troopr, a platform designed to simplify access to employment, wellbeing and community support for the Armed Forces community, and maintain an enhanced organisational profile to support veteran engagement and employment.
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Internally, we support the wellbeing and development of employees from the Armed Forces community through access to online mental health tools, an Employee Assistance Programme, flexible working arrangements and a comprehensive portfolio of learning and development opportunities. These programmes are available to all employees, including veterans and reservists, and are designed to support long-term career development, wellbeing and successful integration into civilian roles.
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Beyond employment practices, we actively support the Armed Forces community through sustained engagement, charitable initiatives and operational support that directly benefits veterans, reservists and their families.
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.