KIRKLEES Council has pledged to give more support to reservists who it employs.
Reservists are people who are part of a reserve military force – Army, Navy or Air Force – who are classed as civilians and have careers outside the military.
They often go on courses to maintain skills and training and so present a challenge for employers.
Kirklees Council’s pledge means the authority has agreed it will release employees for reserve forces training.
It has also pledged to offer flexible leave for training and to have a policy of non-discrimination towards reservists.
The pledge is part of a campaign being run by Supporting Britain’s Reservists and Employers – or SaBRE – which is a Ministry of Defence initiative to foster a good relationship between reservists and employers.
The campaign argues that the intensive training that reservists undergo leads to a wide range of skills and qualities.
SaBRE says many of these skills translate directly into greater effectiveness in the workplace and employers get the benefits from this.
Clr Mehboob Khan, leader of Kirklees Council, said the authority recognised reservists’ contributions.
