I joined the Army Reserve as a Royal Logistics Corps Driver in September 2016 after a previous stint in uniform with the University Officer Training Corps (UOTC) about 10 years previously. At the time I was working as a Line Manager for Tesco in one of their larger stores. I knew the company had an Armed Forces policy, which was one of the reasons I was so keen on joining the Army Reserve.
Over the next several years I was able to make use of the company’s generous Reserve Forces allowance to complete my annual training commitments with 151 Regiment RLC, attending the company’s re-signing of their Armed Forces Covenant pledge and liaising with the Armed Forces Network at the height of COVID19, to work out what options were available, should the need for mobilisation arise. In July 2022, I was mobilised to deploy with 10 Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment as part of Operation TOSCA 37, supporting the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus. Again, the Tesco Armed Forces policy swung into action and I felt fully supported as I deployed for the six-month tour.
Two weeks into that deployment the company restructured my civilian job role and, despite offering me another similar role, I opted to leave after 20 years – by way of redundancy. I was still mobilised with the Army until July 2023 and this provided me with new possibilities on my return to the UK. During post operational tour leave, I began the process of finding a new job, and unlike when I joined Tesco in 2002, I was keen to find out what support the companies I was applying for offered in terms of support for my Reserve career. This seemed to range from a simple, “We understand you need to train, but do it on your own time”, to the full support package I’d previously experienced.
In the interim I was supported by my Army Reserve Squadron in the outreach and Recruit Retention and Mentoring Team (RRMT). By chance, this would lead to me to meeting with Gavin Jones, the Head of KFM’s Logistics Team and Armed Forces Champion. As a veteran himself and having recently steered KFM to achieving Gold status by the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, he was keen to work with the Regiment and Squadron to help build our exposure. After a brief conversation I disappeared off to teach the new recruits that evening, but, having never heard of KFM, decided the following day to look at what sort of roles they offered. Thanking Gavin for his time the previous evening I explained that I was looking for new opportunities and he supported me throughout the application process, introducing me to the Director of their HR Department at an engagement event the Regiment ran a month later. With their support and feedback, I was eventually fortunate enough to be offered a role at KFM as an Inventory Management & Purchasing Lead.
This support continued once I joined the company, with Gavin offering to act as my mentor through my probation period, which helped me in applying for new roles that were available internally within the company. Seeking to actively engage with the company’s commitments under the Armed Forces Covenant, he would also ask me to reach out to my fellow Reservists when new job opportunities came up, so we could increase the number of Reservists KFM employed in the company. For my part I was actively encouraged to talk about my experiences in the Army Reserve and the benefits KFM offered to its employees; this led to me being heavily involved in company communications during Armed Forces Week. I was also able to reach out to my former colleagues in the Tesco Armed Forces Network and we are currently working on building a larger network together.
I’m pleased to say that within six months of joining KFM, they again recognised the value I add to the organisation, by promoting me to Team Leader in their growing portfolio ‘external business’ clients. Overall, I think it’s fairly safe to say that I owe much of my recent opportunities to the willingness of KFM and Gavin to demonstrate their Armed Forces Covenant pledge and really commit to delivering on the promises made by the company to the Armed Forces community. Whilst it was entirely possible for me to have done what I have without it, I can’t help but feel the added support provided by companies willing to take part in the Armed Forces Covenant has made my journey much easier.
– Cpl Beresford Hartwell – Section Commander and Driver, 210 Squadron 151 Royal Logistics Corps