Valor Hospitality Europe rolls out veteran support across 17 hotels

Management company, Valor Hospitality Europe, has signed the official Armed Forces Covenant in a pledge to support serving forces' personnel and veterans across its portfolio. Initially trialed at the new Crowne Plaza Plymouth, the initiative was seen as a great success, particularly when CP Plymouth received a Silver recognition from the AFC.
                                 
CP Plymouth, were one of just four Devon companies who achieved Silver at the 2017 awards.  Building on this, Valor has committed to supporting reservists with their two weeks of mandatory training by granting additional leave and topping up salaries to match what they would normally earn. This allows the supporting reservists to have the flexibility and financial support they need to fulfil both roles.

The Government-backed scheme was set up to encourage businesses to recognise the value that serving personnel, veterans and military families contribute to the country, not just during their military careers but also once they return to civilian life.  Valor’s Crowne Plaza Chester, Crowne Plaza Harrogate and Holiday Inn Peterborough already employ five veterans between them, while the Crowne Plaza Plymouth works closely with the Wessex Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association.

Kevin Byrnes, General Manager, Crowne Plaza Plymouth, commented “We were delighted with the silver award we received as part of the Defence Employer Recognition scheme.  Plymouth has such strong connections with the armed forces and we are always keen to support them as much as we can.  Our next step is to build upon our initial success and work towards a Gold award for 2018.”

By signing the covenant, Valor is now linked with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP), to actively promote job vacancies at all 17 hotels in its UK portfolio or within its central team, to all sectors of the Armed Forces.

Moira Laird, HR director at Valor Hospitality Europe, said: “Our relationship with the scheme is in its early stages, but already a number of our team members have spent time at military bases attending executive leader programmes to better understand the teaching techniques and the range of skills offered by our armed forces.

“Over 14,000 experienced individuals leave the armed forces each year, many with skills that can be applied to roles within hospitality. The skills shortage within the industry has been well reported, so it’s fantastic to see initiatives in place to help those with transferable skills access job roles that they might not have previously been aware of and find a new career in hospitality.”