Armed Forces Friendly Business

There are many ways businesses can support the Armed Forces Community, including:

  • Signing the Armed Forces Covenant
  • Promote offers/discounts to the Armed Forces Community – The Defence Discount Service
  • Be a Forces-Friendly Employer

Sign The Armed Forces Covenant

Signing The Armed Forces Covenant means that your business is supporting your employees as reservists and veterans.

Employers can choose specific promises or pledges to support their employees from within the Armed Forces Community.

For example, you can pledge to:

  • Promote the fact you are an Armed Forces-friendly organisation
  • Support the employment of veterans and service leavers
  • Offer flexibility in leave for service spouses/partners before, during and after deployment
  • Support reservist employees, allowing leave for training and deployment
  • Offer discounts to members of the Armed Forces Community.

Join the Defence Discount Service

The Defence Discount Service is the only official discount service for the Armed Forces. If you currently offer discounts for members of the Armed Forces community, or would like to, you can promote this for free on their website.

To sign up to the Defence Discount Service, please add your business on the Defence Discount website.

Become a Forces-Friendly Employer

Reservists and veterans bring a variety of transferable skills and qualities to workplaces, developed throughout their military careers. Being flexible to the unique situations of the wider Armed Forces Community ensures fair treatment to all who are involved, including the spouses and partners, and cadet force adult volunteers.

Find out more and sign up at The Armed Forces Covenant website.

HMRC benefits for employers

Employers who hire former members of the UK regular armed forces during the first year of their civilian employment will be eligible for a zero-rate of secondary National Insurance contributions for up to 12 months.

Guidance is available for employers wishing to take advantage of the National Insurance holiday for employers of veterans. The guidance explains the qualifying rules and claims process for both the 2021 - 2022 and 2022 - 2023 tax years. Employers are encouraged to study this guidance to see if they can claim the relief.

Find out more on the government’s website.

Defence Employer Recognition Scheme

The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme encourages employers to support defence and inspire others to do the same. The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community. Visit www.gov.uk find out more.

Forces Family Jobs

Employers that have signed the Armed Forces Covenant will have free access to a pool of talented potential employees and post job vacancies. Find out more at the Forces Families Jobs website.