Earlier this month, the Chief Fire Officer of Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue affirmed commitment from his service to the Defence community.
The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise of understanding, fairness and respect across society and the economy for those who serve or have served in the UK Armed Forces, as well as their families and the bereaved.
Cambridgeshire joins other fire brigades across the region as a signatory. Huntingdon Fire Station hosted Chief Fire Officer Matthew Warren and other senior officers for the signing, which was witnessed by Lt Col Matt Helsby, Commanding Officer of Cambridge University Officer Training Corps, other representatives of the armed forces and East Anglia RFCA‘s regional employer engagement director.
Assistant Director of Cambrideshire Fire and Rescue John Fagg said: “Signing the Armed Forces Covenant demonstrates the service’s commitment to supporting the forces community, which includes veterans and families of service personnel.
“We will be doing more to promote employment opportunities for service leavers and for partners and children of forces personnel.”
The Covenant also reflects the support offered to employees wanting to be part of UK Reserve Forces. Cambrideshire Fire and Rescue had not prevoiusly offered that opportunity to its operational staff but will now make provision for Reservists.
Employers removing barriers to joining the Reserve Forces is just one of the steps towards a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). Cambrideshire Fire and Rescue now has plans to work towards that accreditation, a process that the RFCA’s Employer Engagement team will be happy to support.
