Landmarc Support Services has re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant and been rewarded with a revalidation of its Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award.
The Covenant, which was first signed by Landmarc in 2014, recognises the value and significant benefits serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families bring to the business.
In a ceremony held at The Army Flying Museum in Hampshire, Landmarc Managing Director, Mark Neill, was joined by Army Flying Museum Chief Executive Lucy Johnson and Colonel John Cummings and Rachael Brannagan from the Wessex Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (RFCA), to reaffirm its pledge.
Landmarc’s support and commitment to the armed forces was also rewarded with a revalidation of its Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award, the highest accolade available. This establishes the business as one of the UK’s leading supporters of the armed forces and recognises the company’s continued drive in employing and supporting veterans and the wider military community.
Mark Neill, Managing Director of Landmarc, said: “Signing the Armed Forces Covenant is more than just a document – it’s a pledge on behalf of Landmarc to treat service leavers, veterans and their families fairly; with respect and recognition of the very special loyalty and service that they have given to their country.
“I would appeal to any organisation to consider signing the Armed Forces Covenant in support of our military communities and to understand the value that service leavers, reservists and their families can bring to an organisation, including unique management and leadership skills.”
More than 25 per cent of Landmarc’s workforce is comprised of veterans, reservists and other members of the military community, who bring a specialist mix of niche skills and expertise gained from their time in the armed forces.
By re-signing the Armed Forces Covenant it means that Landmarc continues to support the key principles of the scheme. These are:
- To recognise the unique obligations of, and sacrifices made by, the armed forces.
- To remove disadvantages arising for service people due to their membership, or former membership, of the armed forces.
- To ensure special provision for service people is considered. This includes serving and former armed forces personnel or their families and those who may have been injured or bereaved in service.
Neill continued: “We work hard to make Landmarc a good employer for personnel as they leave the forces, providing a very familiar environment with an organisation that understands the unique challenges of career transition.
“Achieving the ERS Gold Award is pivotal in helping our teams understand that all the effort we put into helping career transition for veterans – and creating Landmarc to be a forces friendly employer – is a worthwhile thing to do. Getting this recognition is hugely important to the business and to our people.”
By November 2023, more than 1,100 companies head-quartered in the South-West had developed their own covenants, publicly demonstrating their support to the armed forces community.
Wessex RFCA is responsible for the delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant in the South-West region.
Rachael Brannagan, Head of Engagement at the Wessex Reserve Forces & Cadets Association added: “Landmarc is an excellent example of an organisation providing support to the defence community, which includes veterans, reservists and their families, and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
“Having a supportive environment in the workplace with organisations such as Landmarc is really important, particularly reservists, those who are going through transition or spouses and partners who depend on flexible working arrangements. Landmarc does this incredibly well and is an admirable advocate of the Armed Forces Covenant and all that it stands for.”
