The Ripon Group signed the Armed Forces Covenant this week in support of service leavers who can resettle into roles within the agriculture and turf industries.
At a ceremony held at the National Transition Event at Silverstone Circuit, Ripon added their name to the covenant, which had already been adopted by John Deere itself.
Signatories pledge to ensure that those who serve, or have served, in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly and should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services.
The move complements John Deere’s Military Hiring Programme, which offers service leavers new career opportunities to work on some of the world’s most advanced machinery used by farmers and turf professionals.
Members of the armed forces have been identified as ideal candidates to bring their unique skill sets and experience to technician roles within UK and Ireland dealerships.
Those who enrol in the programme are given free, tailored training and are supported to fill vacancies within the dealership network.
“We are passionate about finding a way to give back to those who have served our country,” says Allan Cochran, John Deere Branch Training Manager.
“The armed forces produce people who are highly skilled, motivated and extremely competent, and many already have the engineering skills needed to become qualified technicians.
“It’s the perfect fit for John Deere – we are able to play our part in supporting those resettling following careers in the armed forces while also attracting a different pool of people into the business.”
"We are incredibly proud to support people transitioning from military service into new careers with us. Service leavers bring exceptional skills, dedication, and technical expertise that align perfectly with the needs of our industry, and our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant reflects our belief that they deserve clear, meaningful pathways into civilian employment. We look forward to supporting them build successful careers with us and through the John Deere Military Hiring Programme," says Phil Gregg, Director at Ripon.
Interested service members and ex-service members can learn more by emailing recruitment@ripon.net.