FINNING has been awarded the gold award from The Armed Forces Covenant in recognition of the firm’s support for veterans and the armed forces community in the UK.
The award honours employers that provide a fair and equal chance for prospective employees from military backgrounds. Finning currently employs 35-40 military veterans across its UK and Ireland operations.
The Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) represents the highest level of recognition for the commitment to the armed forces community and it is the second time that Finning UK & Ireland has received the accolade.
Chris Clarke, technical capability lead at Finning UK & Ireland, is one veteran who made the transition from military to civilian life. He said, “When I worked as part of the recruitment team at Finning, I not only got to work closely with new recruits but also provided support to anyone in the armed forces who was looking to pursue a civilian career. My first-hand experience of making this transition certainly helped with the role, and I am proud to work for a company that acknowledges the importance and transferability of the skills gained in military service.”
Chris joined the army in 1999 where he worked as a Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer. He developed skills repairing armoured vehicles and, on leaving the army in 2007, utilised these talents in plant and HGV companies before joining Finning in 2012 as an engineer.
As part of its commitment, Finning has also pledged to help support the employment of veterans by establishing links with a career transition partner to attract ex-military talent into their business.
Lynne Smith, general manager, people & culture at Finning UK & Ireland, added, “We are dedicated to supporting veterans such as Chris and recognise they bring invaluable skills and experiences, making them a tremendous asset in engineering careers. The expertise gained through military service is highly transferable, and we are proud to see a growing number of former military personnel thriving in their careers with us.
“We are immensely proud of re-qualifying for the Gold Award from The Armed Forces Covenant. Recognising our commitment to the armed forces, this award demonstrates that our culture and practices ensure fairness, inclusion, and opportunity for service personnel, veterans, and their families.”
