Thales has proudly reaffirmed its support to the Armed Forces Community by re-signing the Armed Forces Covenant. As a long-standing supporter and Gold Award holder of the Ministry of Defence's Employer Recognition Scheme, this renewed commitment reflects our continued dedication to both the individuals and families connected to the UK's military services.

A Legacy of Support and Partnership

For over a decade, Thales in the UK has embedded its Armed Forces Covenant within its core values, ensuring that military personnel, veterans, reservists, and their families are provided with meaningful career opportunities, support networks, and pathways to success in the civilian workforce. With at least 10% of our UK workforce comprising members of the Armed Forces Community, we deeply value their training, experience, and the unique perspectives they bring.

Our CEO, Phil Siveter, stated,

Thales in the UK remains deeply committed to supporting the Armed Forces Community. The re-signing of our Covenant not only renews our foundational promises but strengthens them with new initiatives that reflect the evolving needs of veterans, reservists, and service families within our business.

Refreshed Promises for the Future

The revitalised Covenant introduces new commitments to broaden our support. We have expanded our definition of the Armed Forces Community to include service families, recognising their crucial role in the overall support ecosystem. Our policies now offer greater flexibility in leave for family members during deployment, as well as enhanced volunteering opportunities.

All UK employees are entitled to 24 hours of volunteering leave annually, with an additional two weeks granted to reservists and, under our new commitment, to Adult Cadet Force Volunteers as well. This initiative further extends our dedication to supporting current and future Armed Forces generations.

Building Careers and Second Chances

Thales remains at the forefront of offering meaningful employment opportunities to those transitioning out of military service. Through partnerships with the Career Transition Partnership and Forces Families Jobs, we provide tailored entry routes into the company. Already exceeding our recruitment targets, we are proud to have hosted multiple military insight days and recruited over 70 service leavers this year alone. Our ongoing aim is to expand this further and bring more than 100 new Armed Forces Community members into Thales each year.

A Commitment to Communities

In addition to career support, Thales  also focuses on social value by engaging with military charities and contributing to local communities. Our latest efforts include supporting the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the Royal British Legion through our "Volunteering as an Act of Remembrance" initiative, enabling employees to make a lasting impact in preserving our shared heritage.

As Thales continues to grow and innovate, we remain steadfast in our commitment to the Armed Forces Community. This re-signing marks not only a reaffirmation of our promises but also a deepening of our resolve to ensure that those who have served are supported in every possible way.

For more information, please refer to our full Armed Forces Covenant below.