Show your support for the armed forces community

We want businesses to show their support to the armed forces community.

Ways you can get involved

Become a forces friendly employer

The Armed Forces Covenant supports those who serve.

You can sign the covenant if you're a business, charity or other public sector organisation. Your business can be of any size and you can make your own promises on how you'll offer support.

Find out more about being a forces friendly employer

Benefits of employing veterans

Veterans will have a varied set of skills that could enhance your business in lots of different ways. Employing a veteran can also impact your team in a positive way.

Examples of skills and characteristics veterans will possess and bring to your organisation include:

  • Calmness under pressure and sound judgement
  • Problem solving and organisational skills
  • Teamwork and dedication
  • Professionalism and a strong work ethic
  • Integrity and loyalty
  • Goal oriented and multi skilled
  • Ability to work to tight deadlines
  • Leadership, communication, and strategic thinking
  • Resourcefulness, resilience, and adaptability

Armed Forces Covenant Grants

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust funds projects that deliver against and have an impact on specific priorities.

The Trust manages various grant programmes, each with its own eligibility criteria, application process and programme guidance. Find out more and check funding eligibility and criteria for current programmes.

Employer Recognition Scheme

The Employer Recognition Scheme awards those who have given support to the armed forces community. It includes bronze, silver and gold awards

Barnsley Council have achieved a gold award as part of this scheme.

How to promote the armed forces community

  • You can show your support to the armed forces community by signing the Armed Forces Covenant. Then using the Covenant logo on your materials.
  • The Military Human provide training to help people to understand military culture and transition from the forces. The sessions are for front line staff in the council, community, health and social care, and other professions.

Armed forces eLearning

Our eLearning course tells you all about the covenant. It covers how it can be honoured and used in our community. It can also help you apply the principles of the covenant at a local level. It includes a list of useful resources and the support for veterans. 

You can complete the eLearning on POD. If you've not used POD before you'll need to ask for a new account to be set up for you. You can do this by emailing us at pod@barnsley.gov.uk.

When you've got your login details go to POD and select 'external partners login'. When you've logged in, search 'armed forces' to find the course.

You can decide how you want to support the armed forces community.