FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
VIVO Defence Services has gained a prestigious gold award from the MOD’s Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, which recognises employers that support the defence and armed forces community and align with the Armed Forces Covenant.
The facilities management company works for the UK military and its partners, on behalf of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, and is committed to providing social value to the communities it serves.
Since embarking on the scheme in 2022, VIVO, a 50/50 joint venture between Equans and Serco has introduced policies to help the armed forces community and was recently ranked 17th in the top 50 list of British Employers of veterans.
These include pledging at least one fifth of new recruits come from a military connection – which it achieved in 12 months. Now more than 11 per cent of its 1,500 strong work force are veterans.
VIVO also operates a guaranteed interview scheme for those with a military connection meeting the essential role criteria and has an Armed Forces Kinship Network providing support for former service personnel at VIVO, giving them a collected voice and mentoring and peer support.
It also partners with the Royal Navy, Army and RAF Benevolent Funds, the Launchpad Veterans Charity and others.
The organisation regularly attends armed forces careers fairs, provides shadowing and secondment opportunities so those transitioning out of military service can get trade experience, offers 12 days’ paid leave for reservists and cadet force volunteers and offers staff two annual volunteering days for social value initiatives. In addition, VIVO sponsors numerous armed forces community initiatives through its social value community fund.
VIVO Defence Services Chief Executive Officer, Jerry Moloney said: “I am really proud that we have received a prestigious gold award three years after starting out and so soon after being ranked among the UK’s top employers of veterans.
“We are totally committed to supporting the armed forces community through the work we do and the social value we provide and gaining this gold award is testament to all the work people across VIVO, including all the veterans that work for us, have contributed to achieve this.”
