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Building Community Connections: The Armed Forces Covenant in Northern Ireland

Posted By:
RFCA NI – DRM

1st Aug 2024

Northern Ireland has a long-standing tradition of supporting the UK’s Armed Forces, a commitment that continues through Defence Relationship Management (DRM) and the Armed Forces Covenant. These efforts focus on nurturing positive relationships between defence and local businesses, fostering mutual understanding, and creating opportunities for everyone involved.

What is Defence Relationship Management?

Defence Relationship Management  offers advice and support on employing members of the Armed Forces community, and enables organisations to develop a mutually beneficial working relationship with the Ministry of Defence (MOD).. Its main aim is to show how military skills and experiences can benefit civilian workplaces. By helping defence personnel transition into civilian roles and supporting employers of reservists, DRM supports a strong and skilled workforce in Northern Ireland.

Understanding the Armed Forces Covenant

By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, organisations pledge to honour 2 main principles:

  • no member of the armed forces community should face disadvantage at work or in the community compared to other citizens
  • in some circumstances special consideration is appropriate for those who have given most, such as the injured or bereaved

Many businesses and organisations in Northern Ireland have embraced the Armed Forces Covenant, showing their support.

NI Business Example: Kinsetsu

Kinsetsu combines innovative software with intelligent sensors to track critical assets in real-time, providing operational insights, reducing overheads, and ensuring task completion. Motivated by their positive interactions with the Royal Navy, RAF, and Army over the past five years, Kinsetsu signed the Armed Forces Covenant to give back to the forces community. They support veterans through mentoring, work placements, and employment opportunities and offer additional paid leave for Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers. This commitment aligns with their corporate values of community support and charitable action.

They have successfully hosted a Cadet work placement and collaborated with the RAF to brief their workforce on Reserve roles and RAF Digital opportunities. Their employees and the Armed Forces community have welcomed this initiative, recognising its alignment with Kinsetsu’s values. Excited to share their commitment on social media and their website, Kinsetsu hopes to inspire other small businesses to support the Armed Forces Covenant. They advise businesses to find the best ways to support the Armed Forces Community, highlighting the successful 2023 Career Transition Partnership event as an example of effective collaboration.

The Benefits of Employing Reservists and Veterans

Reservists and veterans are key players both in our local community and on an international stage. Hiring reservists can bring numerous benefits to your business:

  1. Enhanced Skills and Experience: Reservists receive top-notch training in leadership, problem-solving, and teamwork. They bring a focused and disciplined approach to their civilian jobs, boosting productivity and efficiency.
  2. Leadership and Management: Military leadership training translates well to management roles, helping build stronger teams and better decision-making.
  3. Diverse Perspectives: Reservists’ experiences in various environments allow them to offer innovative solutions to business challenges.

Employing veterans also comes with financial incentives. The government offers National Insurance Contributions relief for employers hiring veterans. This relief can be claimed for up to 12 months from the veteran’s start date, providing significant savings for businesses. For more information, visit National Insurance Contributions relief.

Financial Support for Employers during Mobilisation

The government recognises the crucial role employers play in supporting reservists. To ease potential burdens, several avenues of financial support are in place if a reservist you employ is mobilised:

  • Employers do not pay their salary or pension contributions while they’re away—the Ministry of Defence covers these costs.
  • Financial support is available to cover costs associated with hiring temporary replacements, advertising, training, overtime, and other expenses during a reservist’s mobilisation.
  • Additional incentives are provided for micro, small, and medium-sized businesses.

Reservists Supporting Global Efforts

Reservists from Northern Ireland are making a significant impact globally. Recently, they have been training Ukrainian recruits as part of the UK’s largest military training effort since WWII. This initiative has successfully trained 30,000 Ukrainian recruits, showcasing the versatility and importance of reservists in both civilian and military roles.

Reservists also participate in humanitarian missions like disaster relief in hurricane-hit regions, counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean, and peacekeeping in South Sudan. These experiences enhance their problem-solving abilities and resilience, benefiting your organisation with their advanced skills and global perspective.

Cadet Force Adult Volunteers

Becoming an adult instructor for the cadet forces is another fantastic way to support the community. These volunteers play a vital role in mentoring and guiding young cadets, helping them develop essential life skills. Adult instructors receive training in leadership, instructional techniques, and adventure training, which not only benefits the cadets but also enriches the instructors’ personal and professional lives. Engaging with the cadet forces can also enhance a company’s community profile and demonstrate a commitment to youth development.

Bringing Defence Relationship Management and the Armed Forces Covenant into Northern Ireland’s business world creates a strong partnership. Understanding the benefits of hiring reservists and veterans can help Northern Irish businesses build a more dynamic, skilled, and resilient workforce. By signing the Armed Forces Covenant and engaging with Defence Relationship Management, our business community can continue to lead by example, driving forward a prosperous and inclusive future.

To learn more about the Armed Forces Covenant, visit armedforcescovenant.gov.uk or contact Darren Niven, our Regional Employer Engagement Director for Northern Ireland, at ni-reed@rfca.org.uk.