Armed Forces Covenant Advocacy Event. Lakeside North Harbour – 11/07/23

McAndrew Martin Ltd (MML) is proud to hold the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) Silver Award and we are committed as a business to support the military and veteran communities in any way we can. The AFC is a promise from the nation that those who serve or have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly. It is a written and publicised voluntary pledge from businesses and charitable organisations who wish to demonstrate their concrete support for the armed forces community.

To promote the AFC, Bill McAndrew, Chief Executive at MML, hosted an advocacy event at Lakeside North Harbour on the 11th July 2023, inviting a number of Portsmouth-based companies to attend and understand the benefits of signing the covenant. The benefits are two-fold: firstly, businesses build their reputation as a Forces friendly employer, and secondly, they can tap into the vast experience of Military Service leavers, or employ reservists who will have received excellent leadership and professional military training. Reservists and Service leavers will automatically seek out Forces friendly businesses. From August 2023, MML’s UK-based workforce will contain over 13% of ex-Service leavers from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Army, including family members, mainly fulfilling director and other senior management positions.

It was a pleasure to invite Andrew Gibbs, South East Regional Employer Engagement Director, to brief attendees about the benefits of the AFC for businesses. We were also pleased to welcome Rob Bosshardt and Corinne Day, from the Royal Navy Benevolent Trust (RNBT), Samantha Gosrani from Nviro Ltd, Alyson Roach from BNI Hampshire Ltd, Hamish MacAlister from Holloway Iliffe & Mitchell, and Sam Brower and Tony Hancock from Quattro Foods Ltd.

From left to right:

Ms Corinne Day, Ms Samantha Gosrani, Ms Alyson Roach, Lt Cdr (Retd) Phil Mandley RN, Mr Bill McAndrew, Cdr (Retd) Rob Bosshardt RN, Mr Hamish MacAlister, Mr Andrew Gibbs, Ms Sam Brower, Mr Tony Hancock

In addition, following a MML hosted Charity Dinner held at HMS Nelson Wardroom, it was a privilege to present a donation of £1000.00 to the RNBT.  The RNBT provides financial assistance and support to Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel and their families in times of need, as well as providing residential and nursing care for elderly ex-Service members.

Cdr (Retd) Rob Bosshardt RN (left) Chief Executive at RNBT, receiving the donation from Bill McAndrew, Chief Executive at MML.