AFC0059

Written evidence submitted by Amey.

About us

Amey is the leading UK provider of full lifecycle engineering, operations and decarbonisation solutions for transport infrastructure and complex facilities. We have delivered expert infrastructure services for more than 100 years, employ 11,000 people across all areas of our business, and reach every corner of the UK with our engineering expertise.

We deliver essential facilities management, asset management and decarbonisation solutions for the education, defence, health, and prison estates. Our data-driven approach means that we can optimise and enhance the most complex and challenging environments.

We combine the construction, maintenance, and operation of assets with leading edge design and digital services that provide innovative and deliverable solutions to some of the most pressing infrastructure challenges facing the UK.

Amey’s experience of the Armed Forces Covenant

We are very proud to have successfully secured a renewed five-year revalidation under the MOD's Gold Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). Initially awarded in 2018, the revalidation acknowledges Amey’s long-term commitment to the military community and highlights our sustained support to implementing forces-friendly initiatives into our business.

Amey partners with the Forces Transition Group, Forces Families Jobs, and the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) to provide employment opportunities to service leavers. We collaborate closely with BuildForce, an industry-led programme connecting veterans and service leavers to opportunities in the construction sector.

Our service leaver mentors are fully trained to provide guidance, support, and assistance with CV writing, mock interviews, and work experience placements, with the goal of offering suitable employment positions within Amey and its extensive supply chain.

Amey have an internal CV board made up of veterans from the Armed Forces Network that will review all service leavers CV’s, this helps our hiring managers and resourcing teams gain a better understanding about the service leavers experience.

Amey grants Reserves ten days of paid leave annually for training purposes, reinforcing our dedication to recruiting and supporting members of the Army, Royal Naval, Royal Marines, and Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

One of the key programmes introduced by Amey is the "Service to Success" service leaver and reservist employment initiative. This programme proactively engages with military personnel during their resettlement period, offering tailored support and training to facilitate a seamless transition into civilian careers. The initiative includes personalised skills assessments, intensive insights into our roles and business units, mentorship, and mental health workshops followed by structured work experience with a guaranteed interview on completion. By initiating contact early, Amey ensures that participants are well-prepared for integration into its workforce.

As members of the gold association, we have also supported and attended covenant events to share best practice with other industry leaders.

Proposed enhancements to the Armed Forces Covenant

We would welcome more opportunities for signatories to share best practice whether this is through face-to-face forums or digitally. Similarly for those employers that have committed even further than the standards required for the Gold Award, we would recommend activity to raise the profile of best practice by recognising particularly good examples of the Armed Forces Covenant in action.

We also believe that more could be done to effectively sign post those who are leaving the military (and their spouses) to organisations that are Covenant signatories.

We would welcome the Committee’s examination of explicitly including the Armed Forces Covenant in the Government’s Social Value Model. This would help embed high standards in this area into public procurement.

24th January 2025