Equinor signs UK Armed Forces Covenant
Equinor has signed the UK Armed Forces Covenant, which is a voluntary pledge to support the welfare, employment and professional development of the armed forces community and their families.
Following the signing of the pledge on Tuesday 2 July at the Ministry of Defence, Equinor joins more than 10,000 organisations across a range of sectors that have committed themselves to providing fair treatment for veterans, serving personnel, reservists and their families.
There are several transferable skills between the armed forces and the energy sector, particularly in the oil and gas and offshore wind industries. This is something which Equinor recognises, and the company employs a number of ex-services personnel. Currently around 50% of Equinor’s staff on the Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) for the Dudgeon and Sheringham Shoal windfarms are ex-armed forces.
The signing of the covenant will ensure that Equinor continues to support these employees, as well as members of the reserve forces, those who work with cadets, and those who have spouses, partners or families in the military. It will also ensure that these groups have fair access to employment at Equinor.
Equinor has developed initiatives which will help people as they transition from the military, including supporting professional development. As a company, Equinor is committed to flexible working, and this will be enhanced for members of the reserves so they can meet their commitments for training. Equinor will also attend career events to ensure veterans are aware of existing opportunities in the sector.
UK Country Manager, Alex Grant, signed the Armed Forces Covenant at the Ministry of Defence. Speaking about signing the pledge he said: “I was immensely proud to sign the Armed Forces Covenant on behalf of Equinor UK. This formalises our commitment to providing employment opportunities to veterans, and I am sure this will have a positive impact on our current and future workforce.
“At Equinor, we are committed to building a diverse workforce and supporting employment in the communities we work in. We want to enable all our employees to meet their full potential, and make sure that we attract and retain the best talent to the business, and initiatives such as the Armed Forces Covenant are vital to ensuring we do this.”
Scott Larke is a senior analyst for operations and maintenance in Equinor’s renewables business, who joined Equinor after spending 25 years in the Royal Air Force. He joined the forces when he finished school and held the role of Sergeant in the engineering fleet planning team for the Tornados before he joined Equinor 13 years ago to work on its Sheringham Shoal offshore wind development.
Speaking about the Armed Forces Covenant, he said: “I am very proud to work for a company which is committed to providing opportunities to people with an armed forces connection, including veterans and reservists, and to supporting them and their families.
“When I first moved into the renewables sector, I discovered that many of the skills I had developed in my time in the RAF were required in my new role, including my engineering experience and ability to problem solve. I think the signing of the covenant shows that Equinor values the unique work and life skills that are developed during a military career. And I hope that it ensures that members of the armed forces community can embrace the opportunities which a move into the energy sector brings.”