Historical signing at the Horse Guards
Lidl GB became a pioneer in the retail sector by signing the Armed Forces Covenant at the historic Horse Guards.
Colonel Chips Broughton MBE and Joe Kourea, Director of Operations at Lidl GB, formalising the commitment by signing the Armed Forces Covenant. Crown Copyright.
On 6 March 2024, Lidl GB signed the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) at the iconic Horse Guards in London, home to HM The King’s Mounted Bodyguard and the Household Cavalry. The AFC is a pledge from signatories acknowledging and understanding that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy, and society they serve with their lives.
Since establishing itself in 1994, Lidl has experienced continuous growth with more than 31,000 employees, 960 stores and 14 distribution centres in England, Scotland and Wales today. The signing of the AFC is Lidl’s latest move toward recruiting and maintaining more ex-military personnel within their business. The covenant was signed by Lieutenant Colonel Chips Broughton MBE and Joe Kourea, Director of Operations at Lidl.
By signing the AFC, Lidl pledged its support to the Defence community, which is reflected in their internal policies. These include:
- additional support for the employment of veterans and their spouses or partners
- enhancement of Lidl’s reservist policy to better accommodate the needs of serving reservists
- expansion of its ex-Armed Forces focus group, comprising colleagues who have transitioned from military service, to gain insight into how to better support their ex-military personnel
- strengthening external relationships, such as with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP), by actively promoting vacancies on the CTP website and participating in career events
Colonel Chips Broughton MBE added:
The Covenant is instrumental in providing the necessary assistance and recognition to those who have served our country, and I commend Lidl for signing it, highlighting its commitment to supporting ex-military personnel and their families. It is reassuring to see Lidl acknowledge the valuable skills and qualities that those leaving the military possess, while aiding with the transition back to civilian life by ensuring that they have fulfilling and successful careers beyond their service.
Joe Kourea, Director of Operations at Lidl GB, said:
It was an honour to witness our signing ceremony at the esteemed Horse Guards, steeped in military history. We recognise the sacrifices made by those in the Armed Forces and truly believe they should face no disadvantage when leaving the military. As a retailer, we benefit immensely from the skills that colleagues with military experience have developed from their time with the forces. That’s why we’ve pledged our support through the Covenant, and are enhancing our internal policies to welcome the skills and experiences of ex-military personnel into Lidl.
If you would like to sign the AFC as well, get in touch with your Regional Employer Engagement Director who will direct you through the process.