More than 100 of the UK’s largest employers – together employing about two-and-a-half million people – have publicly pledged support for the Reserve Forces and backed a campaign to get other businesses to follow suit.
The companies have signed a statement of support, recognising the “courage and commitment” shown by reservists – civilians who train for their military role in the evenings, weekends and for a two-week period each year.
The campaign aims to secure similar pledges of support from other British employers in both the public and private sectors.
In recent years, more than 13,000 reservists have been mobilised for full-time service in Iraq or Afghanistan, leaving behind their families and employers for months at a time.
BT chairman Sir Christopher Bland launched the campaign in Basra, where he was visiting BT staff mobilised with the Territorial Army.
“These men and women serve alongside their colleagues in the Regular Forces with courage and dedication, often at considerable personal sacrifice,” he said. “They are a vital part of the nation’s Armed Forces and deserve the support of their employers every step of the way.”
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The full list of companies has been published in a series of newspaper advertisements and on www.sabre.mod.uk. This website will be updated to provide a permanent resource for reservists to access information about their current or future employers.
