Salute our forces

Wednesday 24 June is Reserves Day, an opportunity for Royal Mail and the country to recognise our reservists, those who give up their spare time to serve in the Reserve Forces.

Royal Mail actively supports employees who are reservists for the UK Armed Forces. Our association with reservists stretches back into our 500-year history.

We currently have around 200 military reservists – one of the largest groups in the country – who combine working for us with protecting their country at home and overseas, balancing their civilian life with a military career to ensure that should their country require them, they would be ready to serve as part of the military.

In 2015, Royal Mail signed the Armed Forces Covenant to support the armed forces community in the UK. This marks our recognition of the value that serving regular and reservist personnel, veterans and military families contribute to the business and to the UK.

Last November, Royal Mail was awarded the Ministry of Defence’s highest badge of honour – the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award. The highly coveted award represents the highest badge of honour available to businesses that employ and support those who serve, veterans, and their families.

We are one of 100 companies to have been recognised for our long-term commitment to the Armed Forces. The ERS Scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Reserve Forces make up approximately one sixth of our Armed Forces personnel and as such are integral to protecting the nation’s security at home and overseas, particularly providing capability in specialist areas such as medical and cyber.

Unite (CMA) representative, Basil Hirniak, said: ‘Today we have the opportunity to jointly recognise, appreciate and celebrate with our Reserve Forces work colleagues, their dedication, loyalty and sacrifice in their service to their employer, their queen and their country.

‘It is so important to understand the benefits that their Reserve Forces service and training brings with them into the workplace and today is the day that we can show them our gratitude. Thank You!’

Armed Forces Day 2020

Armed Forces Day (AFW) takes place every year on the last Saturday of June and is a chance to show your support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from our very own Royal Mail reservists to currently serving troops, Service families, veterans and cadets.

This year, AFW will take place on Saturday 27 June. Although celebrations will look a little different due to the ongoing covid-19 restrictions, you can still thank your forces heroes in a different way. Normally, on AFW, we give thanks to the men and women of our Armed Forces by celebrating with national events around the country. This year, however, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the main event planned for Scarborough has been cancelled.

So, if you are serving, take a moment to pat yourself on the back for all the hard work you have done over the past 12 months. And if you are not serving, join with us as we say a big well done and thank you to our Armed Forces throughout the week.

Click here to find out how you can still show your support on Saturday 27 June.