Acronyms Sign the Armed Forces Covenant
On Friday 22nd November we were delighted to sign the Armed Forces Covenant at Bickleigh Barracks in Plymouth. Co-signed by Lieutenant Colonel Doug Pennefather, Commanding Officer of 42 Commando Royal Marines, the Armed Forces Covenant marks our on-going commitment to the armed forces community.
Acronyms have always had a connection with the armed forces. As well as being based in Plymouth, a city steeped in military history, Managing Director Dave Smith served in the Royal Navy prior to founding the business. Three other Acronyms employees have also served, representing both the Royal Navy and the British Army in a variety of capacities, across numerous conflicts all over the world.
As such, the armed forces community has always played a role in the success of our company. As well as employees, Acronyms support Team Endeavour a wheelchair rugby team for veterans and have frequently offered those leaving the forces guidance, support and where possible work experience.
The benefits are bilateral. We provide support, assistance and employment. We receive motivated, organised, efficient employees, team-building experiences and we’re also able to give back to the local community in which our staff, suppliers and contacts go about their lives.
With all this in mind, it only felt natural to sign the Armed Forces Covenant. With the help of Natasha Mason, the Armed Forces Co-ordinator at Wolferstans Solicitors, we went about writing our own pledge, of which you can read in full below.
Read: Acronyms’ Armed Forces Covenant – The Full Text.
It was agreed to sign the Armed Forces Covenant at Bickleigh Barracks, where we were proud to have Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Doug Pennefather co-sign the document. After an insightful tour of the barrack’s rich history, courtesy of Colour Sergeant Matthew Wildgoose, we signed the Armed Forces Covenant, with Regimental Sergeant Major Alan Sullivan also in attendance.
Managing Director Dave Smith had the following to say; “Having served myself, today was a very proud moment for me. As a society, I think it’s imperative that we help those that need it most, and time and time again I am hearing about the difficulties facing our veterans. In particular, we have a real difficulty in finding veterans the right employment after service. By taking part in initiatives like the Armed Forces Covenant, business owners and their employees can help make a real difference.”
“It’s not just an opportunity to give back though. The armed forces community have so much to offer, in ways that extend beyond a simple employer-employee relationship and therefore, I’d strongly recommend any business owner takes some time to consider their own pledge and adds their signature to the Armed Forces Covenant.”
More information about the Armed Forces Covenant can be found here.
