When we announced that we'd pledged our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, we said up-front that we were throwing our full weight behind it. Our goal was military engagement,  to review all relevant business aspects of RIFT, ranging from recruitment, employee training and development, retention, and product offerings, to identify and develop opportunities to embed our support for the Military community and deliver real benefits for members of RIFT.

We soon found that the changes we introduced enabled us to embed a strong ethos of support for the Military community, and that embracing a relationship with Regular, Reserves and Adult Cadet Force units exceeded our expectations in terms of employee benefits. Achieving the Defence Employer Recognition Silver Award in the summer 2018 was a significant milestone for us, but we were keen to continue the journey and in particular share our experience in insights into the benefits with other organisations.

RIFT’s strong advocacy for developing a relationship and support for the Military community has been welcomed by many local businesses, and we are proud to see that some have subsequently begun to develop their own relationships, starting with signing the Armed Forces Covenant. RIFT were delighted to be honoured with the Defence Employer Recognition Gold Award in the summer 2020 in recognition of the significant steps we take to raise awareness amongst other organisations and encourage their involvement

 

RIFT Military Engagement Day

As MD Bradley Post puts it:

“RIFT's support for Britain's Armed Forces doesn’t end with the £71 million we've already reclaimed for former and serving MOD personnel, or the £250,000 we’ve donated directly to ABF The Soldiers' Charity with whom we have enjoyed a successful partnership for several years. The contribution the Military makes to the whole of the UK community is commendable, as seen during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the skills and attributes developed by serving members or Veterans would be of very real benefit to any organisation.”

With so many people on our staff coming from military backgrounds or families, signing up to the Armed Forces Covenant was a natural and appropriate step for RIFT – and a reflection of the respect we hold for those who risk their lives defending ours. Working toward the Silver and then Gold status meant taking an even closer look at what we could do to fight for the fair treatment of Service personnel and Veterans. We already go to great lengths to support that goal out in the wider spheres of industry and society, but it's equally essential to make that same difference within our own business.

To find out more about how your organisation might work with the Military, contact the RIFT Military Engagement team, and we will be happy to share ideas.

The RIFT Pledge to support the Armed Forces

RIFT uphold the fundamental principles of the Armed Forces Covenant which are to ensure that no member of the military community faces a disadvantage in terms of services provided, and that special treatment may be given such as in cases involving the injured or family of bereaved.

As a company with a strong relationship with the military and support for what they do, we constantly strive to find ways in which to live up to the spirit of these principles, and to show the community just how much they are valued.

Full details of the RIFT commitment can be read via the updated pledge which was signed by our MD, Bradley Post, in October 2019 during our latest military engagement day.

Bradley Post MD signs the Armed Forces Covenant Pledge

This includes raising awareness and promoting support for the military and their activities both via internal communications and dedicated events for RIFT employees, and via engagement events in which we bring together members of the military community with other local businesses.

In recognition of the skills and admirable qualities possessed by many Service leavers, RIFT has actively created dedicated roles for the employment of veterans, and actively pursue their employment and that of their families by advertising roles within the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) and Forces Family Jobs (FFJ).

RIFT offer specialist services for military tax refunds, and offer flexible working hours and additional leave for existing employees who wish to become involved with the Armed Forces Reserves or Adult Cadet Forces.

Shaun Micallef-Green, RIFT’s Armed forces Liaison Officer, explains:

“As an Armed Forces Veteran, I've been impressed by how hard RIFT works with the military community. Their readiness to create roles specifically for military Veterans is testament to the value they place on their skills. Service leavers often find life outside the military difficult. We're helping to smooth the path for former MOD personnel moving into civilian work. Furthermore, many Service leavers are starting businesses of their own. Again, there's a range of things we can do to ensure those fledgling enterprises grow strong roots.”

Signing up to the Covenant is only one of the steps we're taking, but it's one we're intensely proud of and strongly believe in. If your business is interested in signing up to the covenant or get more involved in the Military community, you can find out more here.

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