UK rail maintenance company MTMS has increased the amount of leave it gives to staff who are serving with the Armed Forces to free them up to serve King and country.
The company, based in Moira, Leicestershire, has pledged to give 15 days’ paid leave for any reservists working at the firm, six days’ paid leave for cadet force adult volunteers and two days’ leave for any spouses of serving personnel.
MTMS made the promise when it hosted an Armed Forces Covenant event at its headquarters this week, where three UK firms signed up to the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, a Government-backed incentive which encourages firms to support veterans, reservists and local cadets.
Introduced by the company’s group strategic lead Bruce Spencer, himself a former British Army officer, the event was also attended by other local companies who have attained gold Covenant status, underlining their commitment to offering the highest possible level of support to former and serving personnel.
MTMS, which is a silver covenant holder and is looking to achieve its gold status, invited Lieutenant Colonel David Dawber, representing the British Army, to carry out the signing duties with covenant newcomers The Little Kitchen & Bathroom Company and Collier Plant, both from Swadlincote, and Hertech Electrical Solutions, based in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Also present at the event was Kirstie Lawrence, employer engagement director for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme for the East Midlands and representatives from gold covenant-holding companies Acres Engineering from Melbourne, Derbyshire, Nottingham-based business networking firm Ku-Ku Connect and Leicestershire-based ADM Shine Technologies.
Malcolm Prentice, chairman of MTMS, said: “We are strong advocates of the Covenant scheme and it was a privilege to host an event where companies joined us in showing their support for members of our Armed Forces.
“We understand how working commitments can hinder those reservists who want to serve their country which is why we have pledged today to give them the paid leave they need to do their duty and keep us all safe.”
Lt Col Dawber said: “I would like to thank all the companies who attended for the support they provide to the various military communities through signing the Covenant. It is really very valuable for serving personnel.”
MTMS currently services and maintains rolling stock and rail depot specialist equipment and carries out routine infrastructure tasks at more than a half of rail depots across the UK, serving such familiar names in mainline rail as First MTR South-Western Railway, Govia ThamesLink Railway, Arriva and Siemens.
For more information visit www.mtms.co.uk
