Heavy Haul Rail has become a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant, a recognised agreement between the industry and the UK Ministry of Defence. The Covenant is a voluntary commitment by organisations and public bodies to ensure that members of the UK’s armed forces community are treated fairly and are not disadvantaged because of their service.
Other signatory rail freight operators include GB Railfreight, Colas Rail and Freightliner, which was a signatory before Heavy Haul Rail was spun out from the company. It was then that Chris Little, a former Royal Air Force engineer with twelve years’ service, moved to the railways, and found his opportunity to carry his skills back into civilian life. “When I left the military about sixteen years ago, we never really had much support,” he said. “Back then, Freightliner gave me the opportunity to prove that my engineering skills and work ethic are just as valuable in the rail industry as they were in the military.
HHR, which signed the Covenant last month, said that signing the Covenant reflected what it is as a business: “Purpose-driven, responsible, and committed to doing the right thing,” said the company statement. “The values shared by the rail freight sector and the Armed Forces: discipline, teamwork, reliability, resilience and accountability, are central to how we operate.”
Benefit employers like HHR
Through this pledge, Heavy Haul Rail has committed to supporting veterans, reservists, cadet force adult volunteers (CFAVs), service spouses, partners and military families. It says it will recognise their skills, experience and perspectives, and help them bring to the workplace. “Our commitments include promoting Armed Forces-friendly employment, supporting Reservists and CFAVs with special leave, engaging with the Career Transition Partnership, and championing Armed Forces events and charities,” said the company.
Defence Relationship Management (DRM) is the branch of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) that interfaces with all UK employers, building working relationships which benefit employers like HHR and the people of the armed forces. “Signing the Armed Forces Covenant is more than a symbolic gesture,” said Neil “Jacko” Jackson, the director of the service. “It is a public statement and commitment recognising the value that serving personnel bring to our Nation, local communities and all of our workplaces.”
Heavy Haul Rail benefits from the unique skills, experience, and perspectives that members of the Armed Forces community offer. Within the highly regulated environment of freight operations, the discipline and training afforded by former military personnel is a commercial asset. “Proud to see we have gotten this important document signed,” said Richard Mannion, the Head of Solution Design at Heavy Haul Rail. “[This is] further deepening our commitment to supporting both our current and future workforce as well as formalising the bond between our military and the railway.”