L - R: Maxine Antoniou of Aberdeen Standard Investments, Jack Ransom, 98-year-old former employee and WW2 veteran and Commanding Officer 5 Military Intelligence Battalion
Now in its fifth year, the Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Awards recognises businesses that have shown outstanding support for the military community and the Armed Forces Covenant. The 50 winners have been recognised for a number of initiatives, including support for those transitioning to a career outside the armed forces and providing flexibility for reservists.
The Standard Life Aberdeen (SLA) Armed Forces Network is for everyone who has an affinity with the armed forces community, including veterans, reservists, cadets, spouses, family members and friends.
Our commitments range from practical activities to support members of the military community, and their families, who work for us – or who want to work for us - through to collaborating with military charities and government to help those outside our business who need our support. We value greatly the contribution that people who have been in the Armed Forces make to our business.
A key element of the Armed Forces Covenant is the importance of providing support to reservists and the flexibility of leave for spouses. We have taken steps to ensure this commitment has been met with both tailored policies for reservists and support for spouses and partners of armed forces personnel.
Felicity Chisholm, finance reporting manager and lieutenant, Royal Navy Reserve commented:
“In return for two weeks paid special leave, Standard Life Aberdeen reaps the benefits that reservists bring to the organisation. The rigorous training develops key attributes that are invaluable to employers, such as teamwork, self-confidence, leadership and meticulous organisation. Through training exercises, reservists gain experience in dealing with a diverse range of people from all ranks, nationalities and cultures, and through serving on operations they develop ingenuity, determination and the ability to improvise in unfamiliar or challenging circumstances.”
A number of community based initiatives have also taken place. The SLA Armed Forces Network provided input to the Business in the Community Toolkit to help create a fairer society and a more sustainable future. Strong links have also been forged with Poppyscotland, raising money and drawing attention to its important cause.
Each year we hold a remembrance service at our memorial in our office in George Street, Edinburgh and this year, along with 150 other Scottish landmarks, we will light the building red as part of Poppyscotland’s commemoration of Armistice Day.