Successful AFC REEG championing engagement with the Armed Forces

The Armed Forces Regional Employer Engagement Group (REEG), was held at the 2 Company HQ 3rd Battalion – Army Reserve Centre, Leicester. The 3rd Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment ‘The Steelbacks’, is an Army Reserve Light Infantry Battalion made up of terrific Officers, Soldiers and civilians. The Reserve Officers and Soldiers come from many walks of life and civilian occupations, coming together to make a dynamically capable team.

The REEG is an initiative designed to enhance the relationship between the armed forces and regional employers. This group aims to promote mutual understanding and cooperation between the military and civilian employers, ensuring that the skills and experiences of reservists and veterans are recognised and valued in the civilian workforce.

Acres Engineering Managing Director Luke Parker sits on the East Midlands REEG board contributing to Acres commitment to the Armed Forces. 

Here are the key functions and objectives of the REEG:

1. Promotion of Armed Forces Covenant: The REEG works to promote the Armed Forces Covenant, a pledge that ensures that those who serve or have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly in the community, economy, and society.
2. Employer Support and Engagement: It provides a platform for employers to engage with the armed forces, understand the benefits of employing reservists, veterans, and military families, and access support for doing so.
3. Networking and Information Sharing: The group facilitates networking opportunities for employers and military representatives to share best practices, information, and resources.
4. Training and Development: It offers training and development opportunities for employers to better understand the military environment, the transferable skills of military personnel, and how these skills can benefit their organisations.
5. Recognition and Awards: The REEG may also be involved in recognising and awarding employers who demonstrate exceptional support for the armed forces community through initiatives like the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
6. Addressing Challenges: The group addresses challenges faced by reservists and veterans in the workplace, such as balancing military commitments with civilian employment or transitioning from military to civilian careers.

Acres Engineering is a proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Agreement Gold Award. The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation to ensure that those who serve or have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly and are not disadvantaged compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Here’s a detailed overview of the Armed Forces Covenant Agreement:

 

The Armed Forces Covenant is a pledge that acknowledges and respects the sacrifices made by the armed forces community. It sets out the relationship between the nation, the government, and the armed forces, aiming to ensure that service personnel, veterans, and their families are treated with fairness and respect in the communities they serve.

Key Principles:

1. No Disadvantage: The Covenant ensures that the armed forces community should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services.
2. Special Consideration: In some cases, special consideration is appropriate, especially for those who have given the most, such as the injured and the bereaved.

Objectives: the main objectives of the Armed Forces Covenant include:

• Healthcare: Ensuring the armed forces community receives the same standard of healthcare as the general public, including priority treatment where it is appropriate for service-related conditions.
• Education: Supporting the needs of service children, including admissions, providing additional educational support, and helping with school transitions.
• Housing: Providing support for members of the armed forces community in accessing suitable accommodation, including adjustments for disabled veterans.
• Employment: Encouraging businesses to employ reservists and veterans, and providing support for the spouses and partners of service personnel.
• Financial Assistance: Offering tailored financial services and products, including special considerations for service-related financial difficulties.
• Family Support: Providing support for families, including deployment-related issues, childcare, and community integration.

Commitment by Organisations: various organisations, including local authorities, businesses, and charities, can sign the Armed Forces Covenant, demonstrating their support through specific commitments. These commitments might include:

• Employment Policies: Implementing policies that support the employment of reservists, veterans, and military spouses, such as flexible working arrangements and additional leave for training or deployment.
• Discounts and Services: Offering discounts or special services to the armed forces community, such as reduced fees, special financial products, or dedicated customer service lines.
• Community Support: Engaging in community projects and initiatives that support the armed forces, such as sponsoring local events or providing venues for military-related activities.

Implementation and Support: the Armed Forces Covenant is supported by various initiatives and organisations that help implement its principles:

• Covenant Fund: A government fund that supports projects that strengthen the ties between the armed forces and civilian communities.
• Defence Relationship Management (DRM): An organization that works with businesses and other stakeholders to support the Covenant and promote the employment of reservists and veterans.
• Local Covenant Partnerships: Groups formed by local authorities and other organisations to coordinate support for the armed forces community at a local level.

Monitoring and Recognition: to ensure the effectiveness of the Covenant, monitoring and recognition mechanisms are in place:

• Annual Reports: The government publishes annual reports on the progress of the Armed Forces Covenant, highlighting achievements and identifying areas for improvement.
• Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS): A scheme that awards Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards to employers who demonstrate exceptional support for the armed forces community.

 

Acres have a range of standard products but also support clients with custom machinery and medium-high volume products such as trolleys, stillages etc. 

We have manufactured lots of different tables / workstations / workbenches for various industries.

We also manufacture access platforms, jigs and fixtures and many other types of production support solutions / products. 

Talk to us today about your requirements: [email protected] / 01332695240 / Contact Us Form

Want to know more about Acres Engineering?

Find out more about where we have been and what we have been up to by checking out our latest blog posts.

Take a look at how we support of the Armed Forces, STEM/Schools and Charities. 

As a world leader in our field, we offer a range of information guides sharing best practice with our clients.

We make it easy to engage with us, we are approved on: EcoVadis (external) / JOSCAR (external) / AVETTA (external) / COUPA (external) / SAP ARIBA (external) / DEEPSTREAM (external) ….you can download our BSI / Insurance certificates here. 

Please follow us on social media and like / share: Facebook / LinkedIn / X / Insta

 

Manufactured in the UK from our Headquarters in Derbyshire, England.

European office in Malaga, Spain.