Three more local employers have made a public declaration of their ongoing commitment to Wolverhampton's Armed Forces.
PLT Training, Flat World Works and Vacuum and Atmosphere Services Limited have become the latest businesses to sign the Armed Forces Covenant, confirming they have Armed Forces-friendly policies in place.
They join PLANit Global, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and the City of Wolverhampton College, all of which signed the Covenant last year.
The six organisations have made various commitments including having positive Human Resources policies in place such as guaranteed interview schemes for veterans and military spouses, supporting local cadet forces or backing initiatives such as Armed Forces Day.
They were supported by the City of Wolverhampton Council and the Black Country Chamber of Commerce as part of a unique partnership arrangement which has been recognised as national best practice. This support included initial contact to ascertain interest, help to draw up draft covenants and links with the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association and the Ministry of Defence to arrange a formal signing ceremony.
Councillor John Reynolds, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for City Economy and chair of the Wolverhampton Armed Forces Covenant Board, said: "In our Armed Forces Community Covenant Action Plan for 2018-19, we set ourselves the target of encouraging six local organisations to sign the Covenant and have Armed Forces-friendly policies in place.
"I am delighted that PLT Training, Flat World Works and Vacuum and Atmosphere Services Limited have joined PLANIt Global, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and the City of Wolverhampton College in doing so, and we will continue to encourage other businesses and organisations large and small to consider becoming signatories.
"Signing the Covenant has many advantages for local businesses, including generating goodwill and enabling them to access a free recruitment service of skilled and committed veterans."
Wolverhampton is a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, a pledge of mutual support between the city and its Armed Forces community, and last year the City of Wolverhampton Council received a prestigious award from the Ministry of Defence in recognition of the support it offers to the military community. It became one of only a handful of local authorities nationwide to receive the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award – the highest recognition for employer support to the Armed Forces.
