Member Article

Gentoo gets award for supporting the military

Gentoo Group has received a special award for their continued support and commitment to the Defence and Armed Forces Community.

The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme recognises and rewards UK employers for their support and commitment towards Defence.

Bronze Award holders promote an ‘Armed Forces friendly’ position to support the Defence and take a positive stance towards existing or prospective employees, who are members of the Armed Forces Community.

As part of their commitment, Gentoo has established a ‘Gentoo Armed Forces Veterans Group’, made up of employees who have either served in the Armed Forces, have a family member who is serving or has served, or are currently of have been in the Reserves. The group will help Gentoo in taking this agenda forward within the organisation and the communities in which it works.

Gavin Houghton, Reservist and Gentoo’s Programme Manager for Work and Learning, said “At Gentoo, we are encouraged to bring our whole selves to work, and for me that means being supported in my role in the Royal Air Force (as Officer Commanding 1338 (Seaham) Squadron Royal Air Force Air Cadets). I am proud to work for a company who has been recognised for their commitment to the Armed Forces agenda.”

Gary McLafferty, the NE Employer Engagement Director for Defence Relationship Management at North of England Reserve Forces’ and Cadets Association stated: “We are really pleased that Gentoo Group has been recognised for the support it provides for the Armed Forces Community. They are now one of only 26 organisations in the North East who have this award from the Ministry of Defence and we look forward to working closely with them in the future.”

With more than 26,000 force veterans in Sunderland, Gentoo Group is already a signatory on Sunderland’s Community Covenant which recognises a community commitment to current and ex-service personnel.

Peter Walls, Chief Executive of Gentoo Group said: “Across the UK there are thousands of men and women returning home after serving their country, and often putting their lives on the line. In my recent role as HRH Ambassador for the North East, improving services for returning service personnel is a high priority.

“I want to talk to people on their own terms, where they feel comfortable – but I really want to learn about the experiences they’ve had, what works, what doesn’t and how services can be improved.”

If you’d like to discuss your experiences with Peter, please call 0191 525 6068 or email him on HRHAmbassador@gentoogroup.com

Gentoo Group’s whole ethos is about believing nothing is impossible and finding new ways to challenge conventions, Gentoo aims to make society a better place to live and to make a real difference to the way people live their life. To find out more about Gentoo, visit gentoogroup.com for more information or follow @gentoogroup on Twitter.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Emily Morris .