A Carlisle law firm has joined the ranks of businesses and organisations in the city that have signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant.

Wragg Mark-Bell solicitors, whose operations director is himself a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserves, has signed the covenant, which is a pledge to offer support and benefits to both serving and former members of the armed forces and their families.

Lt Col Nick Kennon, who led the move to sign the Carlisle-based law firm up to the covenant, has recently taken command of the 4th Battalion of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment.

Nick has been an army reservist for more than 20 years. “We are proud to become signatories to the government’s Armed Forces Covenant," he said.

“Businesses like ours can provide vital support to veterans, members of the armed forces and their families - it’s an opportunity to help them in return for the service they give to society.

The pledge from the firm includes a guaranteed interview for spouses and partners of service personnel if they meet the job criteria, and flexible leave to help families of servicemen and women and reservists deal with deployments or training.

Wragg Mark-Bell will also offer discounts to members of the armed forces, veterans and their families.

Nick said any business can benefit greatly from hiring former service personnel, or reservists.

“They come with first-class training and many transferable skills such as teamwork, problem solving, leadership and a positive can-do approach,” he said.

In Cumbria, there are 22 signatories to the covenant, including the county council and all the district councils, the University of Cumbria, Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, BAE Systems, Eddie Stobart, GSK and Siemens.

Nick added: “I’d love to see more Cumbrian businesses signing the covenant to show we are a county which supports our armed services - and to bring the skills and experience of forces people to strengthen our workforce.”

Nick, 47, joined the Army Reserves at the age of 26 and has served around the world including, in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Last year he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and took charge of the 4th Battalion of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, known as 4 LANCS, which is the regiment’s Army Reserve battalion located across the north west of England.