VIVO Defence gains gold award for supporting UK armed forces

Image courtesy VIVO Defence

The Facilities Management company works for the UK military and its partners, on behalf of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and is committed to providing social value to the communities it serves. 

The Employer Recognition Scheme recognises employers that support the defence and armed forces community and align with the Armed Forces Covenant.

Since starting in 2022, VIVO has introduced policies to help the armed forces community and was recently ranked 17th in the top 50 list of British Employers of veterans. 

These include pledging at least one fifth of new recruits come from a military connection – which it achieved in 12 months. Now more than 11% of its 1,500 strong work force are veterans.

VIVO also operates a guaranteed interview scheme for those with a military connection meeting the essential role criteria and has an Armed Forces Kinship Network providing support for former service personnel at VIVO, giving them a collected voice and mentoring and peer support.

It also partners with the Royal Navy, Army and RAF Benevolent Funds, the Launchpad Veterans Charity and others.

The organisation regularly attends armed forces careers fairs, provides shadowing and secondment opportunities so those transitioning out of military service can get trade experience, offers 12 days’ paid leave for reservists and cadet force volunteers and offers staff two annual volunteering days for social value initiatives. In addition, VIVO sponsors numerous armed forces community initiatives through its social value community fund.

Examples include a recent Three Peaks Challenge and a D-Day Normandy cycle ride to raise money for armed forces charities and, in partnership with the RAF Benevolent Fund, fully funding for more than 70 RAF veterans to attend five-day friendship breaks at activity centres with like-minded former military personnel. This is geared towards helping combat social isolation 

VIVO also recently refurbished facilities for veterans at Altcar Training Camp, near Formby, Merseyside, which was delivered through its volunteering and social value activity.

VIVO Defence Services Chief Executive Officer Jerry Moloney said: "I am really proud that we have received a prestigious gold award three years after starting out and so soon after being ranked among the UK’s top employers of veterans.

“We are totally committed to supporting the armed forces community through the work we do and the social value we provide and gaining this gold award is testament to all the work people across VIVO, including all the veterans that work for us, have contributed to achieve this.”