CityFibre earns Silver Employer Award from the Ministry of Defence

CityFibre, the UK’s largest independent Full Fibre platform, has been recognised by the Ministry of Defence through its Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award thanks to its ongoing commitment to hiring reservists and veterans.

The Armed Forces Covenant was set up to help reservists and veterans of the British armed forces by providing them with a promise that they will not face disadvantage compared to other citizens, and indeed may be worthy of special consideration in some circumstances. CityFibre was one of just 39 London-based organisations to reach the Silver standard this year.

CityFibre achieved the award for the work it had carried out in recruiting reservists and veterans at all levels within the business, as well as a range of initiatives set up within the company, including offering an additional 10 days of paid leave for reservists to carry out training. The transferrable skills and talents of reservists and veterans are being put to good use in supporting CityFibre’s up to £4 billion nationwide Full Fibre network rollout, and CityFibre has an ongoing commitment to attract even more to the business in the coming years.

In the two years since CityFibre pledged its support to the armed forces community via the Armed Forces Covenant, nearly 50 veterans and reservists have joined the company. CityFibre’s nationwide build programme is expected to be substantially completed by 2025 and will target approximately a third of the UK market, including at least 8 million homes, 800,000 businesses, 400,000 public sector sites and 250,000 5G access points.

Greg Mesch, Chief Executive Officer at CityFibre, said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to welcome so many veterans and reservists into the business over the past couple of years. The skills and expertise they have lent this rapidly scaling project are invaluable.

“It is hugely important to us that we continue to welcome more members of this community into our workforce. I look forward to forging even stronger ties to the Armed Forces Covenant and continuing to be an employer of choice for veterans and reservists across the country.”

Minister for Defence People and Veterans, Leo Docherty MP, added: “I would like to thank all the organisations who have proven their support for the Defence community during such unprecedented and challenging times.

“The vast range of those recognised this year demonstrates how employing the Armed Forces community makes a truly positive and beneficial impact for all employers, regardless of size, sector or location.”