To achieve Gold Award status, a company must uphold recruitment policies that are positive to people in and leaving the armed forces, creating opportunities for Service Personnel such as Cadet Instructors, Veterans (including wounded, injured and sick), and military spouses and partners. It must enable Reservists to fulfil their annual training and mobilisation commitments and support their reintegration once back at work.
As a leading defence supplier and an employer of both reservists and ex-Service Personnel, QinetiQ has always been a passionate advocate for supporting our Armed Forces community. They pledged their support to this cause when they first signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2013, and an updated version in 2016, which ensures fairness and equal opportunity for Service and ex-Service Personnel, Reservists and their families.
QinetiQ was last named a Gold Award Winner in the Employment Recognition Scheme back in 2016, but have since built upon their close relationship with the Armed Forces even further and has continued to create Covenant-related initiatives, such as the QinetiQ Veterans and Reserves Network (QVRN). The QVRN helps to Connect, Support and Value those who serve or have served in their nations’ Armed Forces. Additionally, QinetiQ have supported Service Leavers in their career transitions through virtual fairs, training workshops and the recent creation of our ‘Pathway into Project Management’ programme, which allows Service Leaders to bridge the gaps in their skills and knowledge in order to successfully transition into Project Management roles within a corporate setting.
Furthermore, QinetiQ has retained its connections with Service Personnel and delivered virtual support to them throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic. They have also offered 1-2-1 virtual support for Service Leavers who have needed assistance with CV’s and Interviews and moving forward, they hope to move to a hybrid way of supporting all members of the Armed Forces community. All of their recent efforts have led to QinetiQ being named a Gold Award winner in the 2021 Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
Iain Harrison, Director Strategic Engagement – Land said: “This revalidation really reinforces our values here at QinetiQ, whereby we believe no member of the Armed Forces community should face disadvantage at work or in the community compared to other citizens. As QinetiQ expands globally, we pledge to support the Service Personnel who work for us all around the world, and aim to be role models for others to provide the important support in the workplace that our Armed Forces deserve.”
QinetiQ has also chosen armed forces charity, SSAFA, as its corporate charity to extend further the work and support that can be delivered to those in and around the armed forces. Watch the video below to find out more about our partnership.