St Helens Armed Forces Covenant

St Helens Borough Council is proud to be an employer of staff who are Reservists, Cadet Forces Adult Volunteers, Veterans, and Service People (both serving and past members of the British Armed Forces and their dependant family members). We offer two weeks additional pay to staff who are Reservists and Cadet Forces Adult Volunteers to support their annual training commitments. We would encourage all employers to be proactive in providing whatever support they can to recruit and retain Armed Forces Service People. Please take a look at our Armed Forces and Reservist Employment Policy to see some examples of the possible support your organisation could provide.

Free Employer support available through the Defence Employer Engagement Team

As an employer the Council has benefited greatly from the free support, guidance, and advise available through the North West Defence Employer Engagement Team. We have worked closely with Jan Cox, the Regional Employer Engagement Director (REED) for Merseyside, Cheshire and the Isle of Man, who has supported us on our journey to become a Gold Employer under Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). Being part of the ERS enables us to meet with like minded employers across the North West to learn, share, and develop good Reservist and Armed Forces employment practices. If would like to find out more about how your organisation could support Reservists and other Armed Forces employees please contact Simon Cousins, our Armed Forces Covenant Support Officer - simoncousins@sthelens.gov.uk    

• St Helens Borough Council Armed Forces and Reservist Employment Policy (PDF) [177KB] (opens new window)
• St Helens Jobcentre Plus: support to help current and former armed forces personnel and their families access Jobcentre Plus services
• Forces Family Jobs: official MOD-endorsed, Forces-friendly employers' job hub for reservists, veterans, and their families
• Royal British Legion Industries Lifeworks: free employment training course for Armed Forces veterans
• Former Forces Support: life skills, wellbeing, employment, training and development programmes