Mid Yorks team shines bright at Wakefield Council's Military Expo

A member of Trust staff delivering a speech at the Military expo

Last week, representatives from the Trust attended Wakefield Council's Military and Business Expo, held at Wakefield Town Hall on Friday.

This knowledge-sharing event provided the perfect opportunity for attendees to gain a better understanding of the military and the many benefits of partnering with the Armed Forces community from an employment perspective.

At the Trust, we have benefited greatly from developing our relationships with the Armed Forces community. Not only has this led to our Armed Forces Covenant Gold accreditation, but it has also opened doors to a pool of employees, including service leavers, veterans, reservists, cadets, and their families, who bring valuable skills, knowledge, and experience to our workforce.

Ellie Valentine, Associate Director of Workforce and OD, along with Catherine Bramwell-Walsh, Head of Clinical Quality and Effectiveness, delivered passionate speeches about our work with the Armed Forces community. Catherine also spoke about her role as a Reservist and Lieutenant Colonel for 212 Hospital Squadron in Leeds.

Catherine Bramwell Walsh speaking at the military expo

Catherine Bramwell-Walsh speaking at the event (Photo courtesy of Chris Whittham Photography)

Ellie, the Armed Forces Employment Lead at the Trust, said: 'We are incredibly proud of our partnerships with the Armed Forces community. It was an absolute privilege to speak at the event, as it allowed us to showcase the many benefits of employing staff with a military background and share the progress of our journey so far.

Catherine is a fantastic example of how success in a civilian role can go hand in hand with being a Reservist. She brings a wealth of invaluable skills and life experiences to our organisation.”

Local organisations were in attendance, sharing their support for the Armed Forces community, along with Yvette Cooper, Home Secretary and MP for Pontefract, Castleford, and Knottingley; Simon Lightwood, MP for Wakefield and Rothwell; and Ed Anderson, former Chair of Mid Yorks, in his role as the Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire.

$Ed Anderson, Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire; Simon Lightwood, MP for Wakefield and Rothwell; Josie Pritchard, Councillor; Yvette Cooper, Home Secretary and MP for Pontefract, Castleford, and Knottingley pictured at the event$

From left to right - Ed Anderson, Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire; Simon Lightwood, MP for Wakefield and Rothwell; Josie Pritchard, Councillor; Yvette Cooper, Home Secretary and MP for Pontefract, Castleford, and Knottingley. (Photo courtesy of Chris Whittham Photography)

The event was focused on the Armed Forces Covenant, a public pledge to ensure that veterans and reservists are not at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing healthcare or other public or commercial services, and you can find out more about this and how we support the Armed Forces community on our website .