Sci-Tech Daresbury becomes Armed Forces-friendly campus

It means that Liverpool City Region’s world-leading science and innovation campus will now support the employment of all veterans in securing roles that match their ability and experience, as well as helping them to access new training, working with the Ministry of Defence’s Career Transition Partnership (CTP).

The commitment also means that Sci-Tech Daresbury will use its network of campus companies and its wider eco-system to establish a tailored employment pathway for armed service leavers as well as support campus companies through facilitating their employment of service spouses and partners this will include advertising vacancies on CTP’s website.

Alongside this, they will promote campus companies to support employees who choose to be members of the Reserve Forces, including by accommodating their training and deployment where possible and offer support to local cadet units through inspirational STEM activities.

On behalf of the JV partners, the covenant was signed by David Parr (Chief Executive, Halton Borough Council and member of the Joint Venture Board), John Leake (Business Development Manager, Sci-Tech Daresbury) and Katharine Robertson (Head of Campus Development, Science and Technology Facilities Council).

The covenant is part of Sci-Tech Daresbury’s emerging Talent and Skills Strategy, which focuses on developing, attracting and retaining the wide range of skills and expertise essential to burnish the campus’ and the city region’s reputation as a hot bed of science and innovation.

At the heart of the strategy is RADAR, an embedded partnership approach, which will support employer-led talent attraction and skills development and add value by enhancing the existing local talent and skills infrastructure. It will also enable a close relationship between employers and talent and skills providers.

David Parr, on behalf of Sci-Tech Daresbury Joint Venture, said: “The Covenant that I, John and Katharine have signed today is very important because it recognises not only the very special services the Armed Forces carry out selflessly, but also the value that serving personnel, veterans and their families contribute to our business and our country. Their contribution should not be allowed to whither once they hang up their uniforms however and it’s vital that we make best use of their expertise and vast experience where they have much to offer in other walks of life.

“This Covenant also aligns closely with Sci-Tech Daresbury’s emerging talent and skills strategy for science, innovation and growth. We already have a deserved reputation for collaboration and we have an ambition to create as many as 10,000 jobs over the next two decades and this covenant will be a key plank of that. By focusing on developing, attracting and retaining the wide range of skills and expertise needed at the campus we can become a global beacon of science and technology, centred on innovation and entrepreneurship.”

The signing took place at Sci-Tech Daresbury’s Innovation Centre. The Armed Forces signatories are Colonel (Retired) Mark Underhill OBE DL, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Smith, Royal Engineers and Major (Retired) Geoff Nuzum, the Regional Employer engagement director for the NW and Isle of Man Reserve Forces’ & Cadets’ Association based at Altcar training camp, near Liverpool.

Major Nuzum said: “On behalf of the Ministry of Defence we are delighted that the Sci-Tech Daresbury Joint Venture partners have signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

“There are a number of benefits to business partnering with Defence such as being able to access highly motivated and qualified Defence people who are seeking employment regionally.

“The partnership between Sci-Tech Daresbury and Defence will continue to grow as we go forward and I am sure will be of mutual benefit to both parties.”