Fifteen Herefordshire businesses signed the armed forces covenant today at NMITE’s sixth annual Military to Business Showcase. The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly.
Today’s event featured keynote speeches by the Veterans Minister and former Marine Al Carns MP, and by the Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, James Cartlidge. The event aims to connect the military and veteran community with potential civilian employers and educational opportunities. The event hosted over 60 company stands showcasing opportunities available to them in the area from training, support and employment and received over 250 attendees.
Over the last six years, NMITE has been working closely with the Armed Forces community in Hereford and further afield, to develop lifelong learning programmes and provide support through partners, providing access to new avenues of employment and skill enhancement.
Al Carns DSO OBE MC MP, Minister for Veterans and People, and MP for Birmingham Selly Oak said: “This government is committed to renewing the nation’s contract with those who serve and have served as part of our Plan for Change: leaving well is a vital part of that and I am delighted to see the work that NMITE is doing to give veterans the best opportunities.
“We’ve extended the Government’s resettlement scheme to enable veterans and their families to further maximise their potential and take their careers to the next level.
“This is about delivering a clear, easily accessible offering for veterans. From the time they join, to the time they leave service and beyond, veterans will be empowered to succeed, whether that be in protection of our nation, or through meaningful careers which maintain and develop their skills.”
James Cartlidge, Shadow Secretary of State for Defence said; “It was a great pleasure for me to visit Hereford today for this year’s well attended event, which proves the huge demand for this fantastic initiative and the value it is creating for veterans and businesses alike.
“It’s so important that we support those who serve after they have left the forces. As such, I was impressed to learn, since the inaugural event in 2019, just how many veterans are now in fulfilling civilian careers with local businesses reaping the benefits of their military knowhow.”
The fifteen businesses signing the Armed Forces Covenant today are:
You Endless Travel
Tritanium
Hereford Military Festival
Marches Fundraising Company
Vinco Sales Ltd
Healthwatch Hereford
Whitecross High School
CJP Broadcasting Service Solutions
Be Secure Protection Services
RS4 Group
Morgan Technical Ceramics
Border Office Supplies & Systems Ltd
Simple Design Works
Denco Fluid Systems
Emerallt Guidance Solutions
Verity Gough, Principal Consultant in Cybersecurity at North Tower Consulting, comments; “With 22 years of service in the Royal Signals, I rose from Signaller to Captain, adapting through the evolution of military communications and digital warfare. Today I am a leader in the cyber sector, proving that veterans can successfully transition from military service into the tech and cybersecurity world, one of the UK’s fastest-growing industries.”
Hereford-based recruitment firm, RWB Global is an active supporter of the Armed Forces Covenant and regularly works with service leavers, supporting them in their search for fulfilling employment after service. “We have enjoyed attending the NMITE M2B Showcase since the first event six years ago and have seen it flourish;’ comments Mel Nash, Director at RWB Global. “The number and diversity of prospective employers has grown and as a direct result of this event, we have successfully engaged with and placed high calibre service leavers into a variety of long-term roles.“