NP Aerospace awarded Armed Forces Covenant Silver Award

Image courtesy NP Aerospace

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise from the nation to those who serve and their families. The silver award recognises companies that ensure the value of the Armed Forces is championed through employment of veterans, adult cadets and military spouses and through support for charities and organisations that raise funds for veterans.

NP Aerospace not only has a proud history of protecting the UK Armed Forces having delivered the Osprey body armour plate, Mk7 combat helmet and Mastiff vehicle, it recognises the value veterans, reservists, adult cadets, and their families bring to the industry through its recruitment policies and procedures. The company has a strong veteran employee contingent from engineers and project managers through to Board Directors and also supports veteran charities such as Team Forces, Support Our Paras and The Felix Fund.

James Kempston, CEO, NP Aerospace, commented: “Achieving the Silver ERS award provides recognition of our position as a Forces Friendly employer and furthers our mission to protect the lives of our Armed Forces, and our commitment is to continue this support for many years to come.”

The official UK Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award ceremony will take place at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on 21st September 2022.

NP Aerospace veteran employees shared what it means to them to work for a defence company:

Anthony Gernon - ILS Engineer, NP Aerospace
Previous role: WO2 AQMS Vehicles REME
Served: January 1996 – January 2019 (23 Years)
Tours: Bosnia, Kosovo, Falklands, Afghanistan
What it means to be working in a defence company: “Using the knowledge of military vehicles I gained in the REME I can have a positive effect on the suitability of the equipment in the hands of the user.”

Peter Hardisty - Director Special Projects, NP Aerospace
Previous Role: Royal Artillery Officer
Served: August 1982 – August 1999 (17 years)
Tours: Regimental Duty - UK, Germany, MoD - including tours to Northern Ireland, Gulf War 1 and UNFICYP
What it means to be working in a defence company: “NP Aerospace is an entrepreneurial, creative, technically challenging and exciting place to work.”

Phillip Smith - Senior Project Manager, NP Aerospace
Previous Role: Sergeant, Artificer Vehicles
Served: September 1999 to December 2012 (13 years)
Tours: Iraq (2003)
What it means to be working in a defence company: “It is extremely fulfilling to have the opportunity to make a contribution to the safety, survivability and effectiveness of our Armed Forces through the work I carry out at NP Aerospace.”

Barry Hall - ILS Engineer, NP Aerospace
Previous role: Warrant Officer Class 2 (Artificer Quartermaster Sergeant) – Vehicles Artificer – Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
Served: September 1991 – December 2014 (23 years)
Tours – Operation GRAPPLE 7/ RESOLUTE 1 (Bosnia 1995-96); Operation TELIC 3 (Iraq 2003-04); Operation HERRICK 10 (Afghanistan 2009)
What it means to be working in a defence company: “Being able to maintain a connection with the military through my work, whilst delivering benefits to those currently serving, gives me job satisfaction that would be hard to match in other industries.”

Doug Stewart – Business Director, NP Aerospace
Previous Role: Chief Petty Officer Air Engineering Mechanic – Royal Navy – Fleet Air Arm
Served: 1976-1998 (22 years) – Plus 15 Years Voluntary Reserve Service, Royal Navy Air Branch
Tours: Falklands War 1982  
What it means to be working in a defence company: “I am extremely proud of my Military Career, and equally proud and privileged to have had the chance to make some small contribution in support of our Armed Forces for the past 24 years in the defence Industry.”

John Hutchinson - ILS Manager, NP Aerospace
Previous Role: Warrant Officer (Vehicles) – REME
Served: 1986-2009 (23 years)
Tours: Gulf War 1, Gulf War 2, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia UN, Bosnia SFOR  
What it means to be working in a defence company: “I am pleased to be able to support the hard-working UK Forces whilst retired from military life.”

Steve Green - Senior Project Manager, NP Aerospace
Previous Role: Royal Navy Warrant Officer Engineering Technician (WO ET SM) Submariner
Served: February 1980 to September 2008 (28 Years)
Tours: Numerous Royal Navy Operational Deployments
What it means to be working in a defence company: “Working as a civilian supporting the military is constantly challenging but keeps me involved with supporting the front line and is very rewarding.”