Exeter accountancy firm's defence award
Exeter-based accountancy firm Simpkins Edwards has received the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Bronze Award for its support of the defence community, in particular the firm’s Partner Jean-Paul Quertier, currently second in command with 6th Battalion the Rifles.
The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme was launched last year by the Prime Minister at a reception at No.10 and operated by the MoD through its Regional SaBRE Campaign Directors in the autonomous Reserve Forces’ & Cadets’ Associations. SaBRE (Supporting Britain’s Reservists and Employers) is a Ministry of Defence information campaign set up in 2002 to support the relationship between Reservists’ employers and Defence. To qualify for the bronze award, Simpkins Edwards is adopting the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant (a voluntary pledge that any business can tailor to demonstrate they are an Armed Forces Friendly organisation) promising to take a positive stance to current and future employees who are members of the armed force community.
Jean-Paul Quertier, a chartered tax adviser, has been with Simpkins Edwards since 2007, becoming a Partner in 2008. He joined the Army Reserve (then the Territorial Army) over 23 years ago and has since had two one-year attachments to the regular Army, serving as a Lieutenant in Bosnia with the Welsh Guards in 2002 and then in Afghanistan as a Captain with the Gurkhas in 2004. He has risen through the ranks to become second in command of the 6th Battalion The Rifles (known as 6 Rifles), whose principal mission is to train and prepare its 520 part-time soldiers for front line operations, most recently in southern Afghanistan. 6 Rifles worked in all of the main operating bases and got involved in exactly the same demanding roles as their full time counter-parts such as routine security patrols, training the Afghan National Security Forces, intelligence gathering, assisting with the provision of logistics supplies for the battle group, and close combat with the enemy. Since completing the combat mission in Afghanistan the Battalion is focusing on individual and team skills to be able to support and work alongside the Regular Army in whatever the next challenge is.
“I’m really pleased that Simpkins Edwards has been recognised with this award,” said Jean-Paul Quertier. “I am passionate about being a Reservist and it’s rewarding to be with an employer that views it as an asset, recognising the wealth of transferrable skills such as leadership, organisation and communication that my armed forces training and experience brings to my role as partner and tax advisor.”
“Simpkins Edwards’ resounding success in gaining an Award in this scheme demonstrates their high levels of employer support towards Defence personnel, including Reservists, Armed Forces Veterans and their families, and Cadets. We value Simpkins Edwards’ commitment and are delighted that they are leading the way in their profession regionally and keen to work with other businesses to build further support for mutual benefit,” added Jon Beake, Regional SaBRE Director, Wessex Reserve Forces’ & Cadets’ Association.
Simpkins Edwards is currently working towards a silver award, for which it must have it Corporate Covenant published and demonstrate its proactive HR policies in support of the Armed Forces community as well as flexibility towards the training and mobilisation commitments of Reservists. It already offers a range of flexible options to support Jean-Paul’s Reservist duties, including the option of extra unpaid leave and support in attending training courses and other out-of-office commitments.
