Voneus 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 Voneus 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 Voneus 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 Day
- Reserve Forces Day
- Armed Forces Charities
We also pledge the following:
Promoting the Armed Forces: 1) Honour Reserves Day (21st June) and Armed Forces Day (24th June) by allowing individuals to wear their uniform/medals to work. On these days encourage discussion about wider family service within all employees if anyone wanted to. 2) Lay a Voneus wreath at the National Arboretum on days of remembrance 3) Support reservists by offering them additional days of annual paid leave in order to carry out their duties Employment support to members of the Armed Forces Community: 1) Guarantee interviews for ex armed forces who meet the requirements for a position 2) Engage with the CTP (Career Transition Partnership1) and WithYouWithMe2 including employment fairs3 in order to prioritise the recruitment of the armed forces community 3) Highlight 10% of employees are from the armed forces 4) Offer work placements, insight days, mentoring schemes and/or guaranteed interview schemes to Veterans seeking employment Communications, engagement and outreach: 1) Appoint two armed forces champions 2) Highlight the employees who are ex armed forces or currently in the reserves 3) Establish a support network of ex armed forces or current reservists within Voneus 4) Engage with and support local Armed Forces charities, for example supporting fundraising events. 1 Recruitment service is no cost to the organisation due to being government funded 2 https://withyouwithme.com/ - WithYouWithMe, a workforce technology platform which finds employment for military veterans and other overlooked groups through delivering innovative aptitude testing and digital skills training. 3 5) Promote third party organisations for example for support or to aid with the transition to civilian life. o Telecommunications Veterans Network o Veterans Gateway 6) Encourage the support network to attend events/days out arranged outside of working hours Commercial: 1) Work with the MoD and DIO (Defence Infrastructure Organisation) highlighting rural areas that fit Voneus business model especially married quarter estates and army quarter camps with poor internet connections 2) Highlight work already undertaken in partnership with the MoD 3) Highlight the Defence Discount Service4 which provides discounts both online and on the high street for members of the Armed Forces, Veterans and Armed Forces Community. Highlighting it would have no financial impact on the business. Health 1) Take part in and/or promote awareness-raising schemes, such as veteran-friendly accreditation for GP practices and the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance 2) Ensure available dedicated healthcare services for members of the Armed Forces Community, such as Op Courage in England, are signposted and promoted Housing: 1) N/A Education: 1) Continuing support with training including specialised knowledge required to progress within the organisation. 2) Recognise the training and qualifications that are conducted by the armed forces that are applicable to Voneus Civic responsibilities: 1) Organise, facilitate, promote and/or take part in remembrance and other ceremonial activities
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.