Lewes Training Centre
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-10)

We, the undersigned, commit to honour the Armed Forces Covenant and support the Armed Forces Community. We recognise the value Serving Personnel, both Regular and Reservists, Veterans and military families contribute to our business and our country.

The Armed Forces Covenant

An enduring covenant between the people of the United Kingdom, Her Majesty’s Government and all those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces of the Crown and their families

The first duty of Government is the defence of the realm. Our Armed Forces fulfil that responsibility on behalf of the Government, sacrificing some civilian freedoms, facing danger and, sometimes, suffering serious injury or death as a result of their duty. Families also play a vital role in supporting the operational effectiveness of our Armed Forces. In return, the whole nation has a moral obligation to the members of the Naval Service, the Army and the Royal Air Force, together with their families. They deserve our respect and support, and fair treatment.

Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.

This obligation involves the whole of society: it includes voluntary and charitable bodies, private organisations, and the actions of individuals in supporting the Armed Forces. Recognising those who have performed military duty unites the country and demonstrates the value of their contribution. This has no greater expression than in upholding this Covenant.

Section 1: Principles of the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant

1.1 We Lewes Training Centre will endeavour in our business dealings to uphold the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which are:
- no member of the Armed Forces Community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen;
- and in some circumstances that special treatment may be appropriate especially for the injured or bereaved.
Section 2: Demonstrating our commitment

2.1 Lewes Training Centre recognises the value serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families bring to our business. We will seek to uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, by pledging to the following:
- Armed Forces Friendly
- Armed Forces Day
We also pledge the following:

Employment: We will offer work opportunities where possible through current supply contracts and training courses where spaces exist to fill courses, free of any charge. Will offer work opportunities to veterans and their families, within Lewes Training Centre, by way of direct employment or training. We will offer exhibition days to promote ELCAS training courses to existing and leaving serving personnel, on base or on-line. Communications, Engagement and Outreach: We will offer and promote various training scenarios, including remote and e-learning to serving and ex service personnel. We will always promote and display the Armed Forces Covenant with pride. We will promote and support all Armed Forces events, especially Poppy Day, Remembrance Sunday, and Armed Forces Day, both physically and on-line. We pledge to use the Armed Forces Covenant in all of our communications and actively promote it via our website and social media presence. As all personnel within Lewes Training Centre, and all involved, are all ex-service personnel, we actively recruit exclusively from within the services. We are developing a network of those no longer serving, to assist in employment opportunities where possible. We pledge to continue engaging with any and all armed forces veterans association within our area or further afield where possible. We pledge to engage with all areas of the Armed Services to offer opportunities to begin a new career path or assist in furthering their options and always work together with other organisations that support the covenant. Commercial: We pledge to offer discounts or free training, where possible, to any and all serving or ex serving personnel. We will ensure that all members of the Armed Forces family have access to services and will always abide by equality and diversity. Education: Promote training and further/higher education opportunities for Service leavers, ex-Service personnel, and their families, where possible at no cost and most definitely at discounted rates. As a training organi-sation we will always utilise the skills and training that all service personnel have to offer. We understand the high standards of our armed service personnel and pledge that it should not be wasted. Civic responsibilities: As an organisation we will promote, and where possible, take an active role in Remembrance and any other services activities.

2.2 We will publicise these commitments through our literature and/or on our website, setting out how we will seek to honour them and inviting feedback from the Service community and our customers on how we are doing.