CHAMPIONING THE MILITARY COMMUNITY
The People Park Ltd have been selected as a Finalist in the Community Champion category of Female Business Awards but why is this so important to us?
Our founder, Rachel Parkes, shares why…
Those who know me will know just how passionate I am about supporting the military community. We have been part of this very special space for 15 years and since setting up The People Park I have been on a mission to do as much as I can to support the military spouse community.
Some of the challenges that military spouses face are more obvious than others, the frequent moves, the frantic hunt for school places, the childcare juggles when partners are deployed, all can make it more difficult to stay in careers and education.
Then there’s also the other challenges that we sometimes don’t address, the ones that you push to the back of your mind as you plough through removals, changing utility companies and finding yet another new dentist, vet or doctor. The ones that impact on you applying for that dream job, you taking that new opportunity or the plunge into entrepreneurship.
But, with the hugely supportive initiatives that have flourished more recently, the military spouse community is beginning to benefit from a much needed raised awareness of the amazing skillset it can offer.
The Armed Forces Covenant, Recruit for Spouses, Military Coworking Network and MILSPO have long championed increased accessibility to employment and education and with lived experience of this, I wanted the People Park to give back too, and that’s when the mission started.
So, what have we achieved this year?
Offered free training spaces on our Park Beats programme to those within the military community
Provided discounted HR support to organisations within the military community
Actively recruited from within the military community for our freelancers, service providers and colleagues
Provided coaching and mentoring for military spouses and job seekers
Signed the Armed Forces Covenant to confirm our ongoing commitment
We won’t stop there, we’ll continue to innovate, to find ways to support the spouse and veteran community and although it’s only one side of our business (we have lots of lovely clients from various sectors!) it remains one that will stay dear to our hearts, long after the uniform and the boots are packed away.
