Lidl has become the first discounter to sign the Armed Forces Covenant, highlighting its commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community.
A ceremony was held on Wednesday 6th March at Horse Guards in London, home to HM The King’s Mounted Bodyguard and the Household Cavalry, making Lidl the first retailer to ever be given access to the iconic location for the signing of the Covenant. Facilitated by Lieutenant Colonel Chips Broughton MBE, the event was attended by a number of colleagues with military connections.
The Covenant embodies a promise to uphold fairness and respect for those who have served in the Armed Forces, as well as their families, in all aspects of society. The move underscores Lidl’s dedication to recognising the invaluable contributions of service personnel, veterans, reservists, and military families.
Understanding the wealth of transferrable skills possessed by those leaving the Armed Forces, Lidl has reaffirmed its commitment through the enhancement of internal policies to help recruit and maintain ex-military personnel within the business, including:
- Additional support for the employment of veterans and their spouses or partners
- Enhancement of Lidl’s reservist policy to better accommodate the needs of serving reservists
- Expansion of Lidl’s ex-armed forces focus group, comprising of colleagues who’ve transitioned from military service, to gain deeper insights into how the business can better support them
- Strengthening of external relationships, such as that with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP), by actively promoting vacancies on the CTP website, as well as participation in careers events.
Joe Kourea, director of operations at Lidl GB, said: “It was an honour to witness our signing ceremony at the esteemed Horse Guards, steeped in military history. We recognise the sacrifices made by those in the Armed Forces and truly believe they should face no disadvantage when leaving the military. As a retailer, we benefit immensely from the skills that colleagues with military experience have gained from their time with the forces. That’s why we’ve pledged our support through the Covenant and are enhancing our internal policies to welcome the skills and experiences of ex-military personnel into Lidl.”
Colonel Chips Broughton MBE added: “The Armed Forces Covenant is instrumental in providing support and recognition to those who have sacrificed so much in the service of their country. Lidl signing the Covenant highlights its commitment to supporting the Armed Forces Community.
“It is reassuring to see Lidl acknowledge the valuable skills and qualities that those leaving the military possess, supporting their transition to civilian life and continuing to provide opportunities to build fulfilling and successful careers.”
This latest step from the discounter serves as a testament to the company’s dedication to inclusivity and diversity, and comes after a £37 million investment into colleague pay at the start of the year, with hourly-paid colleagues receiving the highest rates in the sector.
