Commendation for reservist
27th June 2017

VEKA employee Mark Schofield, who serves in the Army Reserve has been commended for his Distinguished Service as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.

The reserve chef was among a select group of 15 from a company of around 250 to receive the certificate from Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Royce. The award came just before Army Reserves Day, June 21st, which highlights and recognises the invaluable contribution made by reservists, and sees them wearing Armed Forces uniform at their ‘regular’ places of work.

During Mark’s recent tour of Cyprus – his third – representatives of The Veka UK Group joined other employers invited by the Army to learn about reservists’ military work and how it complements their ‘everyday’ roles. Operations Director Paul Armstrong attended the four-day trip for The Veka UK Group, which has held ‘Investors in People’ status since 1994, and proudly supports its staff with training and other opportunities.

Mark has worked for both the Army Reserve and Veka for around 23 years, now serving as a chef in the 4th Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment after 12 years as an infantryman.

Austerity measures have seen regular Army numbers reduced from 104,000 to 82,000 in recent years, offset by an increase in reservist capability. It’s planned that there will be a total of 30,000 reservists by 2019 (currently there are around 24,000), with larger employers such as The Veka UK Group needed to support their staff in taking up such roles, and offering jobs to retired service people.