June 25 2020

WARWICKSHIRE MEANS BUSINESS

Increased support for armed forced personnel from WCC

Warwickshire County Council has increased the support available to staff-members who are current or future employees of the Armed Forces.

The Council, which signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2012, is improving its status as an Armed Forces-friendly organisation as part of its wider People Vision.

The following improvements are now in place:

  • Up to 10 days’ paid leave per year for the annual camp or other training specific to their Reserve or Adult Cadet Instructor role
  •  Up to 10 days’ unpaid leave in total within a three-year period, and each successive three-year period thereafter, for additional specialist training to enhance their role or for progression within the Reserve or Cadet Forces.
  • The Council will give an interview under its Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS), where the essential criteria for a post are met, to external candidates who are: 
    • Serving Armed Forces personnel during the 12 weeks prior to their discharge date from the Armed Forces;
    • Ex-Armed Forces personnel within three years of their discharge date; or
    • Where the Armed Forces were their last long-term employer.

The Council will offer two-four weeks' unpaid work experience placements for those who are leaving the Armed Forces, and welcome interest from those who are Wounded, Injured, or Sick (WIS).

The increased support comes after it was estimated that 7,000 veterans in Warwickshire, who are of working age, are twice as likely to be unemployed compared to their civilian contemporaries (The Royal British Legion, A UK Household Survey of the ex-Service community). The Legion’s Household Survey also reported that veterans who have served for fewer than three years are less likely to be in full time work compared to the average for all veterans.

Female veterans are also significantly less likely to be in employment and there is a higher chance that they will be economically inactive in comparison to the statistics for the female population in general (Office for National Statistics (ONS) 2012 Skills and Employment Survey).

Considering these statistics, WCC is determined to reduce the current employment disadvantages for members of the Armed Forces community in Warwickshire.

"We are proud to be leading the way in the public sector in Warwickshire by being an Armed Forces-friendly employer," said Warwickshire County Council leader Cllr Izzi Seccombe.

"We want members of our Armed Forces community to be at the heart of the Council by recognising the huge breadth of transferable skills they acquire through their role in the Regulars, Reserves or as Cadet Force Instructors.

"We hope that, through the changes and support available, members of the Armed Forces community can have the opportunity to make a real impact working here."

Katie Jane Brown, an armed forces reservist who works at WCC as a Planned Works Delivery Technician said: “I have worked with the Army Cadets for the last five years supporting and delivering training camps because I am passionate about helping younger generations. In the past, I have used nearly half of my annual leave to support these camps and attend training courses.

“The new changes in place will make a huge difference in supporting me in my role in the Army Cadets.”

For more information about support for the Armed Forces Covenant community, please visit  https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/armedforces

 

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