ISS confirms continued support for the Armed Forces Covenant

ISS is proud to confirm renewal of its pledge to the Armed Forces Covenant. At a reception in April 2016 at the RAF Club in London’s Piccadilly, ISS senior management signed the commitment to the continuation of its support of the Armed Forces personnel into the civilian workspace.

The Armed Forces Covenant pledges support to the British Armed Forces to ensure that those who serve or have served and their families are treated fairly.

The event was attended by over 50 guests to include the ISS Board, Ministry of Defence representatives, plus ISS stakeholders ranging from suppliers to clients.

Keynote talks on the benefits of Reserve Service were provided by Defence Minister Mark Lancaster TD MP and Brigadier Mark van der Lande, CBE, Head of Reserves.  Guests also provided examples of their work with both Reservists and ex-forces personnel. Stuart Tootal DSO OBE, Barclays Chief Security Officer, discussed the advantages to business of working with the Veteran Employment Transition Support (VETS) programme.

Philip Leigh, COO, Healthcare Education, Authorities and Defence (HEAD) with ISS provided insight on the breadth of opportunities available via the facilities management industry. He also provided an overview of the benefits subsequently gained by ISS, one of the first organisations to sign the Armed Forces Covenant.

ISS is also a Gold Award winner of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (Defence ERS) in recognition of its work as a member of the VETS pilot partnership. As such, ISS supports the transition of Armed Forces personnel into civilian employment.

Businesses which hold ERS Gold Awards proactively advocate and support the Armed Forces community - both internally to employees and externally to the wider community.

Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans, Mark Lancaster, said:  “ISS’s continued and growing commitment to the Armed Forces is hugely appreciated. We are very grateful for the efforts of businesses like ISS who are always looking to do more for those courageous servicemen and women who serve or have served our country.”

Richard Sykes, CEO ISS UK & Ireland concluded, “The Armed Forces Covenant means that we can bring new skills and talent to our business. In turn, these individuals can impart their knowledge and positive attitudes to the next generation coming into the FM sector."