Leading UK timber and panel importer Premier Forest Products has become one of the first private companies in Wales to sign up the armed forces corporate covenant, pledging the company’s support for the armed forces community.
The corporate covenant is a voluntary pledge made by businesses, designed to allow organisations to express their support, and commit to ways in which they can provide it. All Corporate Covenants have to be approved and registered with the MOD Armed Forces Covenant Team.
Terry Edgell, Director and co-founder of Premier, said: “Signing up to the corporate covenant was an easy decision for us. As well as showing our appreciation for the hard work the men and women of the armed forces do, it also gives us access to a highly disciplined, well trained pool of staff that would be an asset to any business.”
Baroness Randerson, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales, said: “Following the brilliant success of Meet the Forces day in Cardiff Bay, it’s particularly timely for me to be thanking Premier Forest Products on having signed up to the Corporate Covenant. I look forward to many more Welsh businesses signing up in due course.”
As well as signing the corporate covenant, Premier Forest Products has joined forces with the charity, Hire a Hero, which supports service leavers through their transition into civilian life. The organisation will help Premier Forest and potential candidates to find suitable roles and where appropriate, training.
Terry added: “Wherever possible we intend to help by employing ex-servicemen and women and we felt that simply signing up to the corporate covenant was a good start but there was more we could be doing. Hire a Hero will be instrumental in helping us find the right people for our business and we look forward to developing a good working relationship with them.
“I would certainly urge other businesses to consider signing up the corporate covenant and getting involved with Hire a Hero, so far our experiences of both have been entirely positive.”
CEO of Hire a Hero, Gerry Hill MBE QGM + Bar, said: “The take up of the corporate covenant in Wales is very low compared to in England and we’re really pleased that a company of Premier ForestProducts’s size and reputation has signed up.
“For many service leavers civilian life can be a confusing, chaotic place; our charity, through our network of businesses, mentors and volunteers provides a consistent source of support to service leavers.”
Hire a Hero is a charity that supports service leavers through the transition into civilian life. They work in partnership with public, private and third sector organisations to provide a network of support and to signpost service leavers to the most appropriate resources as required. Essential to the Hire a Hero way of working is the individualised support provided and the connection maintained through the transition period. Hire a Hero helps service leavers to make better informed choices as well as connecting them with businesses for potential employment.