IED Training Solutions Ltd has become the latest organisation to sign the UK Armed Forces Covenant.
In so doing, the firm made a commitment to support the country’s servicemen and women wherever and however it can, and to ensure that no member of the Armed Forces should suffer any disadvantage as a result of their service.
The signing – by IED Director Paul Barrett – took place at RM Condor, Arbroath, which is home to 45 Commando Royal Marines. The document was co-signed on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) by 45 Commanding Officer Lt-Col Tony Turner.
IED Training Solutions provides real life training and support services nationally, with clients spanning a large variety of industry sectors, including healthcare, transport, local authorities, energy, construction and security.
Ex-Royal Marine Paul co-founded IED Training in 2015, with fellow Royal Marine veteran Ian Clark.
Paul served as an elite Mountain Leader in the Royal Marines for 21 years. In 2008, he was injured after stepping on an enemy landmine during a tour of Afghanistan. He has returned to full health following a six-year journey of courage, grit and determination.
During his return to independent life, he has become an acclaimed motivational speaker, scaled Ben Nevis and raised significant amounts for charity.
Paul said: “Being one of our nation’s wounded, injured in 2008 by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), it is my opinion that, were it not for the Royal Marines, I would not have had the courage, confidence, values or positive mindset to succeed in the life that lay ahead.
“Injury or no injury, helping others has always been a priority for me, and central to that ethos is teamwork; this is borne out by the fact that the team I helped to create for operations in bringing peace to Afghanistan, was also the team that saved my life and helped me understand that we all require help sometimes. IED Training Solutions has taken these values and real life lessons and uses them to inform its training courses.
“To have Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Tony Turner and RSM WO1 Dave Young present this award in the 45 Commando Woodlands Garden, under the names of the men who paid the ultimate sacrifice, was a huge honour, and Ian and I will always maintain our promise.”
As well as signing the Covenant, IED Training Solutions received a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Bronze Award.
The ERS awards encourage employers to support defence and inspire others to do the same. The prestigious Bronze, Silver and Gold awards are for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the Armed Forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.
The Covenant signing at RM Condor was organised by Highland Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association and attended – along with the signatories – by the organisation’s Regional Employer Engagement Director Ron Macgregor, fellow IED Training Solutions Director Ian Clark and 45 RSM Dave Young.
IED Training Solutions Limited
IED Training Solutions is an ISO 9001 certificated North-East consultancy providing critical and practical training and support in a range of areas including health and safety, risk management, leadership skills, modern day security, corporate resilience and trauma management.
