Armed Forces Covenant
I'm delighted to see our commitment to our valued Armed Forces recognised through this gold award. Our Armed Forces are a force for good in a changing world, and the University’s support for service people is a significant part of our ambition to help secure a fairer, safer and more inclusive society for all. We are a proud signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant and remain committed to supporting service people who are part of our University and region. We recognise the skills, knowledge and experience that veterans, reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers bring to our organisation, whether as colleagues or students. We also recognise the sacrifices made by service families while supporting their loved ones through military service.
Professor Lisa Roberts,
President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Exeter
In recognition of the value that serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families bring, the University of Exeter has pledged their support to the Armed Forces community by signing the Armed Forces Covenant.
The Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) is a promise to ensure those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy and society they serve with their lives. The AFC relies on the people, communities, and businesses of the UK to actively support it in order to make a difference.
The signing between the University of Exeter and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 23 September 2019 demonstrates the University’s commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community.
The principles in the agreement outline that no members of the Armed Forces Community should face a disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen and in some circumstances special treatment may be appropriate especially for the injured or bereaved.
The Covenant also outlines the ways in which the University will demonstrate its commitment to the Armed Forces community. Some of these include; supporting employees who are members of the Reserve Forces, offering flexible annual leave for partners of service personnel and promoting careers in the Armed Forces as part of the University’s student employability initiatives.
If you are a member of the reserve forces, a veteran, or a partner of someone in the regular/reserve forces or veteran, please email armedforcescovenant@exeter.ac.uk who can discuss the Covenant with you and see how they can support you.
It was an absolute privilege to sign the Armed Forces Covenant with the University of Exeter yesterday. In signing the Covenant, the University has formally recognised the contribution of serving regular and reserve personnel, veterans and their service families make to the city of Exeter and the surrounding region. The Armed Forces continue to enjoy tremendous support in Exeter from the public we serve and I hope that the pledge from such a prestigious institution will inspire other organisations and businesses in Devon to sign the Armed Forces Covenant too.
Brigadier Jock Fraser Royal Marines, Naval Regional Commander