John Lewis becomes 10,000th organisation to sign up to Armed Forces Covenant

Retailer, John Lewis, has become the 10,000th signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, pledging to support military personnel and veterans.

The retailer is the latest organisation to confirm its commitment to working with serving Armed Forces personnel and veterans since the Covenant was established in 2011.

Ben Farrell, Director of Operations Planning and Delivery at the John Lewis Partnership, said:

“We’re incredibly proud to sign the Armed Forces Covenant, particularly at such a landmark moment as we become the 10,000th signatory.

“The Partnership has a strong heritage of supporting the armed forces and as a Purpose-driven business that prides itself on inclusiveness, we are committed to ensuring we provide an opportunity to people from all kinds of backgrounds, including those with links to the military.”

The John Lewis Partnership, which operates 34 John Lewis department stores and 332 Waitrose supermarkets nationally, including its Cheadle John Lewis store in Cheshire, became the 10,000th signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant, which invited businesses, local authorities and charitable and community organisations to pledge to treating military personnel and veterans fairly. The milestone follows recent government commitments of funding for veterans mental health, accommodation and childcare support for serving members of the Armed Forces.

Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families, Dr Andrew Murrison said:

“Today [28th March] we welcome John Lewis as the 10,000th signing to the Armed Forces Covenant. The brave men and women of our Armed Forces sacrifice much in the service of their country, so it is only right we ensure that they and their families are supported.

“That is why the Covenant is so important, and by working alongside all the partners and organisations that have signed so far, we can ensure that the UK’s promise to them is upheld.”

Chief of Defence People, Vice Admiral Phil Hally said:

“I’m proud to see our nation has met this historic milestone. The 10,000 organisations which have pledged support to our Armed Forces community span multiple sectors of our society from education, healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, transport, retail and financial services and many more in between. I encourage every business and charity to consider joining them. Together, we can better protect those who protect us, by ensuring fair treatment for all who serve in the Armed Forces and their families.”