Re-signing of the Armed Forces Covenant
Veolia has strengthened its commitment to our Armed Forces by re-signing the Armed Forces Covenant. This equates to more days leave for Reservists, more role security for those returning from active duty and more time to deal with deployment or urgent matters for those with close relatives in the Forces.
With over 400 members of current and ex-military in its ranks, Veolia, the UK’s leading resource management company is the employer of choice for those who have or are serving.
Veolia already has a strong association with the British forces as it collects, treats and processes the waste and water for UK defence at home and abroad, helping the Ministry of Defence meet its environmental and sustainability targets. From Lossiemouth to Tidworth, Gibraltar to Syria, Cyprus to the Falkland Islands, Veolia supplies clean water, removes hazardous material and collects waste and recycling. The focus on preserving resources, supporting local communities and creating jobs is exemplified in the work Veolia does with UK defence. Through the renewed pledges in this Covenant, Veolia reaffirms the steadfast relationship it has with the military.
Key additions to Veolia’s Armed Forces Covenant include:
- Allowing any of our employees who decides to join the armed forces a period of unpaid leave during their basic training. This provides the option and security to return to their previous role in Veolia
- Supporting our Reservists by giving them an additional 10 days leave to attend annual training
- Treating Reservists' period of mobilisation as unpaid special leave with continuity of employment and related benefits preserved throughout the period of service
- Offering employees with a spouse, son, daughter or parent on active duty or a call to active duty in the Regular or Reserve Forces additional reasonable time to deal with urgent and deployment related matters
Reinforcing its support to the Armed Forces, Veolia has also partnered with the leading veteran's mental health charity, Combat Stress. For almost a century, Combat Stress has helped former servicemen and women deal with trauma-related mental health problems and Veolia is encouraging its employees to fundraise at least £100,000 to this worthy cause over the next two years.
Our business is intimately connected to the Armed Forces; either through the services we provide to garrisons and bases around the world, or through the high numbers of ex-military and current Reservists we employ. The pledges in this Covenant, alongside partnering a cause like Combat Stress, reflects the dedication we have to the British military and is our way of thanking those who have risked their lives and continue to do so for our country.
Rear Admiral John Weale OBE said:
By re-signing the Armed Forces Covenant, Veolia has made a public declaration of support towards our Armed Forces community, recognising the core values and skills that military personnel can contribute. By developing initiatives such as allowing employees who decide to join the armed forces periods of additional leave to attend annual training and unpaid special leave during mobilisation, with benefits preserved, Veolia is demonstrating its commitment to, and support of, the Armed Forces community.
Robert Marsh, Director Income Generation for Combat Stress said:
We are extremely proud that Veolia has chosen Combat Stress as a charity partner. It’s important that we continue to raise awareness and funds for the charity to ensure we can support every veteran that needs our help. This partnership with Veolia will give us a great opportunity to do just that.
The signing ceremony which took place at 210 Pentonville Road, London on Wednesday 21st November was undertaken by Rear Admiral John Weale OBE and Veolia’s Executive Vice-President, Gavin Graveson.
As a longstanding employer for many ex-servicemen and women, Veolia has benefited from the skills that reservists, veterans and military families bring to the business. Under the agreement Veolia will provide a wide range of additional support by developing a mutually beneficial strategic relationship which promotes that they are an armed forces-friendly organisation.