HMS Flying Fox Ceremonial Divisions highlights vital role of Royal Navy Reservists and their employers

HMS Flying Fox Ceremonial Divisions highlights vital role of Royal Navy Reservists and their employers

The vital contribution of Royal Navy Reservists and the employers who support them was highlighted at HMS Flying Fox Ceremonial Divisions at the Royal Navy Reserve Centre in Bristol. The annual event brought together Reservists, families, employers and representatives from across the Armed Forces community to celebrate the achievements of HMS Flying Fox personnel and recognise the commitment of those who balance military service with civilian careers.

With the UK’s security environment continuing to evolve, the event provided an opportunity to highlight the increasingly important role played by the Reserve Forces in supporting the UK’s defence capability. Reservists bring specialist skills, professional expertise and experience from across wider society into the Armed Forces, while maintaining their military training and readiness alongside their civilian careers.

The evening also recognised the achievements of individuals and teams across HMS Flying Fox, with a range of awards presented during the Divisions ceremony. These awards recognised contributions ranging from long and dedicated Reserve service to operational efficiency, divisional excellence and recruiting, demonstrating the breadth of skills and commitment within the unit.

Wessex Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (Wessex RFCA) invited a range of employers and organisations to attend the evening, providing an opportunity to see Reserve service first hand and understand the contribution made by their employees who serve. The event demonstrated the value of bringing employers into the Reserve community, giving them the opportunity to meet Reservists, understand their commitments and see the skills, professionalism and dedication that they bring to both military and civilian life.

Among those attending was The David Ellis Charity, which has signed the Armed Forces Covenant and will be receiving their Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Awards.

Julie Ellis, from the charity said: “For us, this was an ideal opportunity to demonstrate our Armed Forces Covenant pledge in action and to carry out meaningful employer engagement, reinforcing our commitment to supporting serving personnel, veterans, reservists, military families, and Cadet Force adult volunteers across Dorset.

“Signing the Covenant has genuinely been a game changer for us as a charity. We are proud advocates of the Covenant and the Employer Recognition Scheme, and we have seen first-hand how it strengthens our work and benefits our beneficiaries. It’s an extremely worthwhile commitment.”

The evening also resulted in a new commitment to the Armed Forces community, with the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) pledging its support by signing the Armed Forces Covenant. The Covenant provides a framework for organisations to recognise the value of supporting members of the Armed Forces community, including Reservists, veterans, military families and Cadet Force adult volunteers.

The event highlighted the important relationship between Reservists, their employers and the wider communities in which they live and work. For Reservists, having an employer that understands and supports their military commitments can make a significant difference to their ability to maintain their service. For employers, supporting Reserve service provides an opportunity to benefit from the skills, leadership, teamwork, resilience and experience that their employees develop through their military careers.

Wessex RFCA works with employers across the South West to build those relationships and encourage organisations to engage meaningfully with the Armed Forces Covenant and Employer Recognition Scheme.

As the Reserve Forces continue to play an important role in the UK’s defence capability, events such as HMS Flying Fox Divisions provide an important opportunity to celebrate those who serve and strengthen the relationships that enable them to do so.

Learn more about the Armed Forces Covenant at Understanding the Armed Forces Covenant in Wessex

Learn more about the Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award at Employer Recognition Scheme – Wessex Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association