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United Kingdom

Standard Chartered signs Armed Forces Covenant

on 11 Nov 2020

London, Standard Chartered Bank has signed the UK Armed Forces Covenant demonstrating its commitment to treat fairly those who serve, or have served in the military, and their families.

This news comes on an important day, Remembrance Day, as we pay our respects in honour of the courage and sacrifice of those who served their country and acknowledge our responsibility to work for the peace they fought hard to achieve.

By becoming a signatory, the Bank publicly pledges to various commitments[1], which include promoting the skills and experience that veterans and reserves provide to civilian employers, supporting their employment, and offering flexibility in requirements relating to Service, such as leave for reserves and Service spouses and partners before, during and after a partner’s deployment.

Clare Francis, CEO UK, Head of CCIB Client Coverage Europe and regional representative of the Global D&I Council, Standard Chartered Bank, says: “We are very proud to sign the Covenant to show the Bank’s commitment to a Service-friendly culture and to support our employees, who remain active in addition to their day job, or have served in the Armed Forces with their families. 

“We recognise that celebrating our diversity and valuing the different experiences and skills each one of us brings means we can create an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive and fulfil their potential.”

Air Vice-Marshal Ranald Munro, Commandant General Royal Auxiliary Air Force, said: “I am delighted to welcome Standard Chartered Bank to join the growing ranks of 5,000 plus employers who have now signed the Armed Forces Covenant.”

Today’s announcement follows Standard Chartered’s recent signing of the Business in the Community’s (BITC) Race at Work Charter[2], an initiative, in partnership with the UK government, designed to improve outcomes for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) employees in the UK.

— ENDS —

[1] Please see Notes to Editors for full details.

2 Website: https://www.sc.com/en/media/press-release/standard-chartered-bank-reaffirms-its-commitment-to-racial-equality-by-signing-up-to-the-race-at-work-charter/

For further information please contact:

Claire Newell

Senior Communications Manager, Standard Chartered Bank

claire.newell@sc.com

+44 (0)207 885 8857

Notes to Editors

Principles of the Armed Forces Covenant

We Standard Chartered Bank UK will endeavour in our business dealings to uphold the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which are:

  1. No member of the Armed Forces Community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen.
  2. In some circumstances special treatment may be appropriate especially for the injured or bereaved.

Standard Chartered Bank UK recognises the value serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families bring to our business. We will seek to uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, by:

  1. Promoting the fact that we are an Armed Forces-friendly organisation through raising awareness that we are a signatory to the Covenant and communicating supporting policies;
  2. Promoting the diverse range of skills and experience that veterans and reserves have and how this can benefit Standard Chartered Bank;
  3. Seeking to support the employment of veterans;
  4. Striving to support the employment of Service spouses and partners;
  5. Endeavouring to offer a degree of flexibility in granting leave for Service spouses and partners before, during and after a partner’s deployment;
  6. Seeking to support our employees who choose to be members of the reserve forces, including by accommodating their training and deployment where possible, providing 10 additional paid leave of absence per year for reserve forces annual training and employment protection for employees mobilised into the Armed Forces;
  7. Offering support to our local cadet units, either in our local community or in local schools, where possible, by providing three days paid volunteering leave;
  8. Aiming to actively participate in Armed Forces Day, through local events with supporting communications;
  9. Collaborating with other organisations to share best practice in order to enhance support provided to Service Leavers and veterans;
  10. Providing mental health and wellbeing support and benefits to all Service leavers, veterans, Service spouses and partners and children through our Employee Assistance Programme.

We will publicise these commitments during recruitment, on our employee intranet and other platforms where appropriate, setting out how we will seek to honour them and inviting feedback from the Service community and our customers on how we are doing.

About Standard Chartered

We are a leading international banking group, with a presence in 60 of the world’s most dynamic markets and serving clients in a further 85. Our purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, and our heritage and values are expressed in our brand promise, Here for good. Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges. For more stories and expert opinions please visit Insights at sc.com. Follow Standard Chartered on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

About the Armed Forces Covenant

For further information please visit: https://www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/