Northampton 10 November 2023: Travis Perkins plc, the UK’s largest distributor of building materials, has re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant to support armed forces personnel, and honoured 89 former colleagues who served in World War II, in a ceremony at the company’s head office in Northampton.
The Group, which employs around 20,000 colleagues UK-wide, including over 1,000 in the Northampton area, has a long history of supporting armed forces personnel with training and employment opportunities as they transition to civilian life.
The company first signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant in 2017, and marked the re-signing of this with a memorial service and the unveiling of a memorial plaque that honours the former colleagues, who were conscripted in World War II.
Major General Tim Hyams CB OBE and Member of Parliament for Northampton South, Andrew Lewer MBE, joined in the service and a two minute silence with guests from the Ministry Of Defense, the Royal British Legion, the ABF The Soldiers Charity and cadet forces of the Navy, Army and Air Force to mark the occasion.
The ceremony was hosted by Nick Roberts, CEO of Travis Perkins plc. “As a business at the heart of our communities, we have employed hundreds of service leavers and recognise the great value they bring to our business. This re-signing of the covenant is an affirmation of our commitment to ensuring the Group continues to be an armed forces-friendly organisation which celebrates our ex-forces, reservist and cadet forces colleagues, and supports them with training and great career opportunities,” he said.
“Today’s unveiling of the memorial plaque of those nearly 100 colleagues who fought for our country in World War II was also a great reminder of our proud heritage, and a great opportunity for us who work here today to acknowledge their sacrifice and be thankful for their bravery,” he continued.
The ceremony was also attended by many of the Group’s colleagues and members of the Armed Forces Community, where 60+ current colleagues who are reservists, or who have previously served in the armed forces, meet to support each other and work collaboratively to improve awareness internally and externally of the talent and value veterans can bring to the Group’s businesses.
ENDS
Contact:
Travis Perkins plc
[email protected]
Tel: 01604 592307
High resolution photographs are available here
Former colleagues featured on the plaque:
J Earley: In 2018 Jack Earley celebrated his 100th birthday. He was born in Rugby, and served in the Army during the Second World War and is a Dunkirk veteran. He spent his whole working life with Travis & Arnold (now Travis Perkins). For more information, click here.
B Bates: Bernard married his wife in October 1939, six weeks after the start of the second world war. Within two years of the honeymoon, Bernard was called up to serve in the RAF and spent time in Burma. In 1946, Bernard resumed his job as Timber manager with Travis & Arnold (now Travis Perkins); the company he had joined when he left school in 1927. For more information, click here
About Travis Perkins plc
Travis Perkins plc is a leading partner to the construction industry and the UK’s leading distributor of building materials to trade customers. The Group operates market leading businesses, including Travis Perkins Builders’ Merchants, Toolstation and a number of specialists in the civils market (Keyline), heating and ventilation (BSS) and drylining and insulation (CCF), and many more. With annual revenues of £5bn, the Group employs nearly 20,000 colleagues across the UK, but also in France and Benelux through Toolstation. The company has a proud heritage that spans over 200 years. For more information, please visit www.travisperkinsplc.co.uk
