Brunel University London has a deep and longstanding relationship with the UK's Armed Forces and the wider armed forces community, reinforced by the campus sharing the London borough of Hillingdon with 2 major military locations as well as the former RAF Uxbridge. The university's staff and students work closely in a number of different ways to offer support, engagement, recruiting and transition opportunities to the wider Armed Forces community.
Brunel was delighted to sign the Armed Forces Covenant in September 2016 – at the time, the only university in London to do so. As a signatory, Brunel has fully committed to upholding a promise from the nation that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly.
Alongside this, Brunel was awarded the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) Gold Employer Recognition Scheme award in August 2019. The Employer Recognition Scheme encourages employers to support Defence, inspiring and advocating for others to do the same. The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to the Armed Forces community and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.
Amongst many areas of engagement, Brunel currently:
- Works with the Career Transition Partnership (the MoD's official provider of Armed Forces resettlement) and Forces Families Jobs to actively promote relevant job vacancies to Service personnel leaving the Armed Forces and the spouses of Armed Forces personnel
- Maintains an active Armed Forces Network for both staff and students, bringing Reservists and Veterans, students currently serving in the Armed Forces, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and military spouses together to create an informal community
- Celebrates and publicises Armed Forces Day / Reserves Day across campus, whilst also marking Armistice Day and engaging in charitable endeavours to support military charities through the year
- Provides a range of opportunties for wounded, injured and sick military personnel and Veterans to prepare for their competitive endeavours at the Invictus Games or Help for Heroes community sports recovery programme, through free use of our sports facilities and adapted on-campus accommadation
- Advocates for the Armed Forces Covenant and Employer Recognition Scheme with London-based universities, supporting them to apply or enhance their engagement with these activities
- Offers concessionary Sports Centre membership rates for members of the Armed Forces and Veterans
- Accepts the Ministry of Defence's Enhanced Learning Credit (ELC) funding, enabling Armed Force students to use ELCs to partially fund their degree studies
- Supports staff with up to 18 days paid leave in each annual leave year for the purpose of meeting Reserve Forces activities (including Cadet Force Adult Volunteers)
- Promotes opportunities to serve in the Reserve Forces or as a Cadet Force Adult Volunteer during our staff Induction workshops, whilst offering "rent-free" space for the Armed Forces to be present at student careers fairs and Fresher's Fairs
Mike Keighley, Brunel’s Armed Forces Covenant Champion and serving Army Reservist, is the point of contact for any enquiries relating to Brunel's engagement with the Armed Forces community.