University of Exeter
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 University of Exeter 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 University of Exeter 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
- UK Service Veterans And Leavers
- UK Service Spouses And Partners
- Flexible Leave For Spouses
- UK Reservists
- UK Cadets
- Armed Forces Day
We also pledge the following:

Publicising our commitments on our website, including the Covenant logo, setting out how we will seek to honour the Armed Forces community and inviting feedback from the Service community and our customers. Embedding the Armed Forces Covenant Advocacy Group within the University’s Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture Committee (WICC) as part of the University’s inclusive people and culture strategy. Providing an Armed Forces Community Staff and Student Network . Supporting academic research and teaching in the defence and security sphere as part of the Exeter Defence, Security and Resilience Network. Involving the Armed Forces Community in our taught programmes to enhance the learning of our student community. Learning through student registration how many UoE students are service children and ensuring the requisite student support and welfare provision to enable normal attainment levels as part of our Success for all commitments. Supporting the Military Education Committee in its oversight of military education, promoting community engagement, a high quality student experience and employability from the University Service Units including supporting their participation in Welcome Week. Supporting the Exeter University Officers Training Corps and the Devon University Royal Navy Unit who provide highly valued life skills and service experience. Working closely with the OTC to ensure training does not impact upon academic commitments and to collaborate in support of student wellbeing. Ensuring trainee teachers on the University Postgraduate Certificate in Education, PGCE, understand the differing experiences of service children in primary secondary schools before they undertake their school placements. Encouraging use of annual Performance and Development Reviews to explore how an employee’s military experience can be applied effectively in their work. Training and mentoring all staff to understand the Covenant through Manager and Mentor training. Including the Covenant in UoE partnership due diligence processes - promoting partners to sign the Covenant. Including the Covenant in the University’s social value procurement measures and advocating for supplier sign up. Offering UoE (Exeter) facilities through Event Exeter at reduced rates for the Armed Forces and Military Charities.

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.