To celebrate Reserves Day (22 June 2022), the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has announced that it has launched a new package of support for its employees who serve in the British Reserve Forces, to help with employee wellbeing and to help its drive to recruit and retain the best talent.
Julie Lilley, CEO of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “As well as recognising the valuable contribution Reservists make both to our Armed Forces and in supporting the SME community, this is an added way we hope to recruit and keep the best talent at a time when the UK faces recruitment challenges. Employees who are trained by the Reserve Forces bring additional skills which can be beneficial to our business. These include logistics, teamwork and leadership.”
Lt. Col. Ren Kapur MBE, FSB’s armed forces champion, said: "As FSB’s Armed Forces Champion and an Army Reservist with the General Service Corps, I am privileged to work closely with FSB and its team. To mark Reservists Day 2022, FSB has put forward another policy to value its employees who serve our country. I am proud of the initiatives we have achieved together and look forward to many others both for the Armed Forces and society as a whole. I urge businesses across the country - that employ Reservists - to emulate what FSB and other organisations are doing for our military community.”
The improved FSB package of support includes paid release to attend Reserve Forces training events that take place on normal working days, and for mobilisation for Reservist duties. Reservist employees also have access to specific health and wellbeing support through employment with FSB.
Based on FSB research (2018), an estimated 2 per cent of SMEs had employed at least one Reservist in their business. There are currently around 31,000 people in the British Reserve Forces. Reservists are typically committed to 24-40 days training a year. Training commitments vary but tend to take place one evening per week, over various weekends throughout the year and one two-week training period, known as ‘annual camp’. Mobilisation can take place at short notice and for unspecified periods of time, anywhere in the world.
FSB is a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, committing to supporting the Armed Forces Community and to recognising the value serving personnel, both Regular and Reservists, Veterans and military families contribute to our businesses and to our country.
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As the UK’s largest business support group, FSB is the voice of the UK’s small businesses and the self-employed. Established over 40 years ago to help its members succeed in business, FSB is a non-profit making and non-party political organisation that’s led by its members, for its members. As the UK’s leading business campaigner, FSB is focused on delivering change which supports smaller businesses to grow and succeed.
FSB offers members a wide range of vital business services, including access to finance, business banking, legal advice and support along with a powerful voice in Government. Each year FSB also runs the UK’s Celebrating Small Business Awards. More information is available at www.fsb.org.uk. You can follow us on twitter @fsb_policy and on Instagram @fsb_uk.