Gateshead-based Access Training has deepened and formalised its support for the armed forces community by signing the Armed Forces Covenant.
The move reflects the company’s pride in employing eight veterans and military family members and its ambition to extend that support to the employers and learners it works with.
The training and apprenticeships provider has pledged to champion fair treatment for serving personnel, veterans and military families, and to widen access to employment and skills opportunities for them, across the North East region.
Managing director, David Armstrong, said: “We recognise the contribution service personnel and their families make to our organisation and our country. Signing the Covenant reinforces our commitment to supporting veterans and ensuring they are treated with respect.”
Access Training’s quality manager, Tracey Malkin, whose father was a sergeant in the RAF and who led the application, said the firm will encourage more applications from veterans, ensuring fair interview access and targeted training to help them transition into civilian careers.
Ethan Roberts, curriculum lead and exRoyal Navy, said: “We recognise the skills, experience and qualities that ex-forces personnel have that can benefit business and we want to help them further enhance those skills and put them to good use in new employment opportunities.”
Stuart Fiddler, trainer at Access Training who is ex-Army, adds: “The education and opportunities we can offer ex-service personnel are incredibly important. In my own experience, I’ve gained a better understanding of how things are conducted in the civilian sector and how I’ve been able to transfer not just my knowledge and experience but also enhance and develop the qualifications I already had.
“I’m undertaking numerous qualifications to build my portfolio, and I’m able to pass on knowledge and experiences from the forces in my delivery. It’s rewarding to see my experience helping others, with learners stating the knowledge and experience I have provided is invaluable.”
Access Training hopes its commitment will inspire more businesses to recognise the skills, strengths and potential of the Armed Forces Community.
Access Training is an award-winning training provider based in Gateshead and has helped thousands of people start and develop careers. It offers apprenticeships at intermediate, advanced and higher levels in a wide range of occupational areas.
For more information, visit the Armed Forces Covenant website at www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk