MEMBER NEWS


L-R: Dave Hornsey, Career Transition Partnership Regional Employer Relations Manager; Lt General Richard Nugee CB CVO CBE, Chief of Defence People; Col Murray Colville TD DL, Vice Lord-Lieutenant for Leicestershire; Col John Wilson, Regional Employer Engagement Director, East Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association


East Midlands universities unite in support for Armed Forces


The nine universities of the East Midlands celebrated the updating of their Armed Forces Covenants in a joint ceremony held recently at the University of Leicester. Also in attendance were Chamber strategic partners the University of Derby, Nottingham Trent University, De Montfort University and Loughborough University and Chamber patron the University of Nottingham. The revised agreements include new, clear-cut promises to support Armed Forces personnel. The event also marked the


achievement of 500 Armed Forces Covenant signatories in the region by East Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (East Midlands RFCA). The ceremony was attended by


Chief of Defence People (CDP), Lieutenant General Richard Nugee CB CVO CBE, who commented: “I am delighted to see these institutions from the East Midlands higher education sector reaffirming their Armed Forces Covenant commitments. In particular, the commitment to encourage students to become Reservists, and paid leave for existing Reservists to undertake their annual training commitments, is very welcome and sets a potent example for peer organisations in the education sector.” The universities are uniquely placed to support the education


6 business network March 2020


and training of the Armed Forces community. As a group, the universities have committed to collaborate in research to the benefit of the Armed Forces in areas such as social care, sports science and the justice system. They will also consider how they


can improve and facilitate access to higher education for service leavers, Reserves and military families. Some further specific pledges


include appointing an Armed Forces Champion and registering with the Career Transition Partnership to establish a specific pathway to employment for service leavers. The universities also plan to provide work placement opportunities and supporting the accreditation of military training. The support will extend to


helping service spouses and partners to find jobs, through initiatives such as registering with the Forces Families Jobs Employment platform. There are also currently over 250


Officer Cadet students in the Officer Training Corps across the East Midlands universities, and this will continue to be supported. The ceremony was particularly significant to Chamber patron the University of Leicester, as Professor Nishan Canagarajah, President and Vice Chancellor, explained: “I am proud to re-sign the Armed Forces Covenant. It is appropriate that the signing ceremony took place in our


‘I am proud to re-sign the Armed Forces Covenant. It is appropriate that the signing ceremony took place in our Fielding Johnson Building which served as a military hospital during the Great War’


Fielding Johnson Building, which served as a military hospital during the Great War. “The University of Leicester was


founded as a living memorial to the sacrifices of local people during that conflict. Our commitment to all those who serve, or have served, in the Armed Forces is part of that legacy.” John Wilson OBE DL, Director of


Employer Engagement at East Midlands RFCA, added: “We are


really thrilled to have this significant group re-signing take place, demonstrating the friendly and supportive dialogue between all the East Midlands universities. “The Armed Forces Covenant is


there to ensure that Armed Forces personnel are not disadvantaged by the commitment they make to their defence careers, and respected bodies such as the universities can lead by example and best practice.”


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