Compass Group signs Armed Forces Covenant
Compass Group has become the 1,000th signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant, pledging to ensure no member of the Armed Forces Community should face disadvantage in the provision of services.
The foodservice provider signed the covenant at a ceremony hosted by secretary of state for defence Michael Fallon on HMS Belfast in London yesterday (4 July).
ESS, the support services provider for defence, offshore and government and part of Compass Group, signed the covenant in 2013. The covenant will now cover those who work in its education; sports, leisure and hospitality; healthcare; and business and industry sectors.
Set out in the covenant are a series of pledges which sees the company agree to:
- Promote to employees that it is an armed forces-friendly organisation
- Seek to support the employment of veterans young and old as well as the wounded, injured and sick by working with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) in order to establish a tailored employment pathway for Service Leavers into Compass Group Business Units
- Strive to support employees who choose to be members of the reserve forces by empowering line managers to provide an additional 10 days' paid leave and support their training and deployment
- Seek to provide service leavers with offshore work placement experience with the intention of assisting them in gaining future employment within Compass Group at the end of their work placement, or when a vacancy becomes available
- Deliver the Armed Forces Employability Pathways (AFEP), which will see a degree of flexibility in granting leave for service spouses and partners during and after deployment
- Actively participate in relevant events e.g. Armed Forces Day
- Maintain the company's working relationships and fundraising initiatives with major forces charities
- Support and engage with service spouses, partners and families by offering flexible employment and career opportunities
Michael Fallon MP, secretary of state for defence, said: "Compass Group's robust commitment to provide service leavers, military spouses, reservists and the wounded, injured and sick with career opportunities and flexible policies is truly appreciated. Support from businesses such as Compass Group is much valued and needed to give servicemen and women a fair chance when they leave the services."
Dennis Hogan, managing director at Compass Group, added: "We recognise the sacrifice made by those who serve, or have served in the armed forces, and also understand the essential support their spouses and families provide. Therefore it is only right that we seek to do what we can for our employees who are part of the armed forces community, by creating a more flexible and understanding work environment in which to operate.
"While we have a great track record of supporting members of the armed forces community through our ESS business, I am delighted to now be widening this out across the company."
Compass teams up with 2nd Chance charity for ‘Secret Kitchen' pop up >>
Compass launches LGBT network >>
Chartwells retains £65m contract with West Sussex County Council >>
Latest video from The Caterer
