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Many employers are citing growing skills shortages particularly with economic uncertainties on the horizon and talent dearth’s as a result of Britain’s fast-approaching departure from the EU.
This is backed by the stats. 2019 research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that three quarters of survey respondents cited it as increasingly difficult to fill vacancies within the first quarter of this year. Additionally, a 2018 report from the Financial Times cited five UK sectors grappling with acute labour shortages, including the hospitality, construction and information and technology sectors. Therefore, the need for employers to unlock untapped talent pools is all the more crucial. Employers are increasingly recognising the untapped talent resting in ex-military and active reservists.
To help employers understand and acknowledge those who serve or have served in the armed forces and to ensure that both them and their families are treated with respect, the Armed Forces Covenant was set up. The support system focusses on new several areas to ensure that the community is given equal access to products and services like any other citizen. This includes financial assistance, education and family wellbeing and starting a new career.
With workplaces putting an increasing importance on equal opportunity – from the recruitment stage right through to onboarding and internal employee experience – it is unsurprising that the pledge is starting to gain traction among employers. Earlier this year, Ricoh UK was one of the most recent firms to announce that it had signed the Armed Forces Covenant.
