Airport group HIAL becomes first in Scotland to sign Armed Forces Covenant

29th January 2016

Regional airport operator HIAL has become the latest high profile organisation to sign the Armed Forces Covenant, and the first airport group in Scotland to do so.

The Armed Forces Covenant, which covers all branches of the armed forces, was introduced in 2011. More than 700 charities, public sector organisations and businesses have since signed the Corporate Covenant as a public demonstration of their support for the armed forces community.

HIAL has pledged to support the Covenant by offering greater flexibility for employees who serve as Reservists in the Armed Forces so that they can be released for training or deployment.

Grenville Johnston, Chair of HIAL, said: We are proud to become the first airport operator in Scotland to sign the Armed Forces Covenant. A number of employees at HIAL are reservists in the armed forces. We know the pressure this places on them and their families and by signing the Covenant, we make a pledge to them, and to the others in our Armed Forces, to honour their service and to treat them with respect.

Dai John, Highland Reserve Forces and Cadets Associations Director of Engagement, said: HIAL is the twentieth organisation in the HRFCA area of responsibility to have signed the Covenant, with more anticipated to follow suit. We are delighted to be working with such a forward-leaning champion of the Armed Forces community and look forward to continuing our ever-closer relationship.

He added: Organisations such as HIAL can benefit significantly from membership of the Covenant scheme as it offers an opportunity to build a reputation for being forces-friendly at a time when public support for the Armed Forces is unprecedented.

PHOTO (left to right): Mark Stuart, HIAL Director of Operations; Dai John, Director of Engagement for Highland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (HRFCA); Grenville Johnston, Chair of HIAL; Terry Cowan, Assistant Chief Executive HRFCA; Ron McGregor, Regional Employer Engagement Director of HRFCA.