SUEZ Veterans mark Remembrance Day with trip to British Normandy Memorial

Three representatives from SUEZ recycling and recovery UK’s 280 strong veterans’ network travelled to the British Normandy Memorial last week to pay their respects and lay a wreath on behalf of their colleagues.

Recipient of a gold award in the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme, SUEZ works to actively support veterans and the wider armed forces community, with its veterans’ network formed to provide tailored support for veterans, reservists, and employees with family members in the armed forces.

SUEZ staff mark Remembrance Day every year and, recognising its significance for employees with connections to the armed forces community, this year the company organised for representatives from its veterans’ network to travel to the British Normandy Memorial, which opened in 2019.

Dave Shaw, Veteran of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Fleet Manager and Co-Chair of SUEZ veterans network was joined by colleagues Paul Kinnaird, Veteran of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and Assistant Maintenance Manager for SUEZ; and Andy Paterson, Veteran of the Royal Engineers Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Contract Compliance Manager for SUEZ, for the trip on 02 November. Paul and Andy were winners of SUEZ veterans’ network ‘military miles’ competition which challenged members of the network to run or cycle the 240 mile distance from the National Memorial Arboretum in Burton-on-Trent to the British Normandy Memorial.

A film of the trip has been made as part of SUEZ’s Remembrance Day activities.

SUEZ’s veterans’ network is open to the company’s armed forces community, it welcomes and supports new joiners who have served or still serve in the reserve forces in some capacity, and offers tailored training and peer support. The network also advises on how SUEZ can develop its hiring practices and policies to support veterans, as part of the company’s drive to promote a culture that values diversity and fosters inclusion.

Dr Tracey Leghorn, Chief Business Services Officer for SUEZ recycling and recovery UK and Co-Chair of the company’s veterans network said: “Remembrance Day is a time to remember all those who have fought for our freedoms in conflicts around the world, it has a particular poignancy for our armed forces community at SUEZ and their families. I had no hesitation in supporting the request of our veterans in wishing to pay their respects by laying a wreath on behalf of their SUEZ colleagues at the British Normandy Memorial.”

Dave Shaw, Veteran of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Fleet Manager for SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, and Co-Chair of the company’s veterans network said: “It was a real honour to represent our veterans and SUEZ in laying a wreath at the magnificent British Normandy Memorial. Our armed forces have made many sacrifices and continue to do so, and this was a way to support them and show our respects to the fallen.”