Remembrance Week at BEC

This week, the BEC team have been coming together to recognise the contribution of our Armed Forces community.

From supporting the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal to hosting a special Veterans' Lunch, we've been listening to the stories of those who have served and helping others hear them too.

Supporting the Poppy Appeal

BEC team members Andrea and Mark have been out supporting the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, selling poppies at Tesco. 

The Poppy Appeal raises life-saving funds to support serving personnel, veterans and their families. Learn more about what they do here.

Veterans' Lunch

A highlight of the week was our Veterans' Lunch, bringing together veterans, colleagues and members of the local community to hear the stories of those who have been involved in the Armed Forces.

We were delighted to welcome Tom McMullen, who shared his personal experiences and photographs from the Vietnam War, offering a personal insight into his time during the conflict.

We also heard from Keith Atkinson about his inspiring fundraising efforts for prostate cancer awareness. Keith is taking on an incredible 50-mile marathon challenge, and BEC was proud to contribute £500 towards his fundraising.

This lunch was about bringing people together, giving veterans the opportunity to share their stories and helping the wider community better understand their experiences.

Committed beyond Remembrance Week

As a Gold Award holder under the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme, BEC is proud to support serving personnel, veterans, reservists and their families.

Our Armed Forces Champion, Mark, shared what Remembrance Week means to him:

"As BEC’s Armed Forces Ambassador, Remembrance Week is a particularly important time to reflect on the sacrifices made by generations of servicemen and women. 

It is also a reminder that remembrance is about more than looking back. It is about continuing to recognise, respect and support our Armed Forces community today."

Our HR & Executive Assistant, Paula, also reflected on the importance of recognising veterans and creating opportunities to connect:

"Remembrance Week is an important opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who have served our country and to recognise the veterans who continue to make valuable contributions within our communities and workplaces.

From an HR perspective at BEC, hosting a Veterans' Lunch is a meaningful way to bring people together, honour service, and promote inclusion. It creates space for veterans to share their experiences, fosters understanding across generations, and reinforces the values of respect, resilience, and community.

This Remembrance Week, let us take time to remember, reflect, and say thank you to those who have served."

 This Remembrance Week, BEC has come together to remember those who served and sacrificed, while recognising and supporting the veterans and Armed Forces community who continue to make an important contribution today. 

On Remembrance Day, we invite all members of our community to join us in observing a two-minute silence as we pause to remember and pay our respects.