Veolia UK re-signs Armed Forces Covenant, and retains Gold status in the Defence Employers Recognition Scheme

• Veolia has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to the Armed Forces by re-signing the Armed Forces Covenant recognising and supporting those who perform military duty and the value of their contribution.

• Veolia employs more than 300 ex-service personnel and promotes the employment of service leavers, veterans, members of the Reserve Forces and Cadet Force and supporting service spouses and partners. 

• As the first company in the environmental services industry to achieve Gold standard, Veolia is recognised as an exemplar, gaining the standard for a further five years.

The UK’s leading resource management company, Veolia, has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to the Armed Forces by re-signing the Corporate Covenant. The signing ceremony, which took place at the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall on Thursday 5 December, was attended by Gavin Graveson, Veolia UK and Ireland Chief Executive Officer, Vice Admiral Hally, Chief of Defence People and Mike Green, Defence Infrastructure Organisation Chief Executive. By upholding the Covenant, the company recognises those who perform military duty and the value of their contribution.

For the last five years Veolia has held Gold status in the Defence Employers Recognition Scheme (ERS). As the first company in the environmental services industry to achieve Gold standard, the ceremony also recognised Veolia’s recent re-validating at Gold status on the ERS for a further five years. 

Veolia is a longstanding employer for more than 300 ex-service men and women and provides a wide range of additional support, working through a dedicated Armed Forces Champion. This includes promoting the employment of service leavers and veterans, supporting employees who work with the Reserve or Cadet Forces, and service spouses and partners before, during and after a partner’s deployment. The company also offers employment opportunities for regular and reserve forces working with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) and enables serving members of the regular or reserve forces to gain practical experience relevant to their deployable roles. 

Veolia has a strong association with the British forces as it manages the waste, water and energy for UK defence at home and abroad, which helps the Ministry of Defence meet its environmental and sustainability targets. Covering sites spanning from Lossiemouth to Tidworth, Gibraltar and Cyprus to the Falkland Islands, Veolia supports local military communities and creates jobs. Last year 62 new employees joined Veolia as ex-service members or reservists.

Gavin Graveson, Veolia Senior Executive Vice President Northern Europe said:

“By renewing the Armed Forces Covenant we are demonstrating our strong commitment for the men and women serving in the Royal Navy, the Army, and the Royal Air Force. By furthering their onward careers using the valuable skills they bring to our business, and supporting current military personnel and those wishing to serve, we are strengthening our position as a Forces friendly employer.

“Our business is intimately connected to the Armed Forces; either through the services we provide to garrisons and bases around the world, or through the high numbers of ex-military and current Reservists we employ, and the pledges in this Covenant reflect our continuing dedication.”