Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce has become the first Chamber in the UK to sign the Armed Forces Covenant along with all members of its board and their associated companies.
In doing so the Chamber and board members have made a commitment to support the country’s servicemen and servicewomen to ensure no member of the Armed Forces should suffer any disadvantage as a result of their service.
Dunbartonshire Chamber has been working closely with the Highland Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association over a number of years hosting a series of awareness events and engaging with local businesses to promote the transferable skills and experience that the armed forces have to offer.
Chamber Chief Executive Damon Scott said: “We are proud to be the first Chamber and board in the UK to sign the Armed Forces Covenant.
“The wide variety of skills members of the Armed Forces community bring to a workforce makes them an invaluable asset. By partnering with Defence we are aiming to raise awareness of their value to the business community.”
The signing by Chief Executive, Damon Scott, and board members Stewart Rennie (Rennie McInnes LLP); Russell Sim (Sim Property Management Ltd); Nick Allan (Nick Allan and Associates Ltd); Erik Archer (Archer Associates); and Philip Briscoe (European Circuits Ltd) – took place at The Dunbartonshire Chamber’s offices in Clydebank. The documents were co-signed on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) by Lieutenant Colonel Mattachew Sheldrick, the Commanding Officer of 7 SCOTS.
Damon added: “In recognising the value serving personnel, both Regular and Reservists, Veterans and military families contribute to business and the country, the Chamber has pledged to: Promote the fact it is an Armed Forces-friendly organisation, to seek to support the employment of veterans, to strive to support the employment of Service spouses and partners, to seek to support employees who choose to be members of the Reserve Forces, to endeavour to offer a degree of flexibility in granting deployment leave for Service spouses, to offer support to local cadet units and to actively participate in Armed Forces Day.”
In addition each of the board members’ companies have committed to their own individual pledges.
The Covenant signing was organised by Highland Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association.
Their Regional Employer Engagement Director Ron Macgregor said: “We are delighted the Dunbartonshire Chamber and board has signed the Covenant.
Their involvement will help raise the profile of Regular and Reserve forces across the country, and we very much look forward to working together with them in support of the Armed Forces community.”
If you would like to join Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce or would like to find out more about the benefits of chamber membership call
+44 (0)141 280 0272, email hello@dunbartonshirechamber.co.uk or visit the website at www.dunbartonshirechamber.co.uk
