Spalding recruitment agency signs employment pact with Armed Forces

Spalding recruitment agency Encore Personnel has signed a pact with the Armed Forces, committing to supporting ex-service men and women in finding work and thriving in the workplace.

Encore, which supplies more than 3,500 temporary staff each week, employs more than 200 staff and specialises in warehousing, manufacturing, logistics, driving and engineering recruitment.

The business has signed the Armed Forces Covenant, an agreement which states that a business will do all it can to ensure ex-military do not face discrimination.

Inspired by the suggestion of James Simpson, who joined Encore in 2020 after serving five years in the British Army, Encore’s commitment to supporting ex-service men and women is both an internal and external pledge.

James, a business development consultant in Encore’s driving division, said: “As soon as I was settled at Encore, I knew it was a business that really cared about its employees, their wellbeing and future prospects.

“Having served in the forces, I know first-hand how it feels to step out of the routine of military life into the working world. It can be unwelcoming and daunting for some.

“Encore’s senior team have done everything they can to make my transition into civilian work-life enjoyable and rewarding.

“So, I pitched the idea of signing the Armed Forces Covenant to the directors and they were all in positive unison – it was signed straight away.

“It basically means that we will do our utmost as a business to give a fair shot to people who’ve left the forces, be that as candidates for our customers or new recruits to our own teams.”

James added that there was likely to be a large uplift in the number of ex-military looking for work in the coming years as the army scales back its numbers.