We Can All Talk the Talk. But Sometimes You've Got to Put Your Boots On and March to Your Own Orders.

Well, I've only gone and done it!

We have officially received the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Bronze Award 2026, recognising our commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community.

And I won't lie, seeing our little business name on a Ministry of Defence certificate is a rather special feeling.

Not because it's another award to add to the collection. Not because it's something shiny to put on the website.

But because of who has recognised us and what that recognition represents.

We can all talk the talk…

I've said it before, and I'll probably say it another hundred times. Being Forces Friendly should mean something.

It's very easy to say you support the Armed Forces. It's easy to sign a pledge, share a photograph on Armed Forces Day or put a Union Flag on your website. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with any of those things. But I've always believed that support should go further than words.

We can all talk the talk. But sometimes you've got to put your boots on and march to your own orders.

Because a commitment is only worth something if you're prepared to stand behind it. And for me, that's what this recognition represents.

This one is personal

Anyone who knows me knows that the Armed Forces community isn't simply a sector I happen to work with. It's my community.

My husband, Ash, served ten years in the British Army. Military life has shaped our family, our experiences and, in many ways, the person I am today.

I've seen the sacrifices, the uncertainty, the pride, the frustrations and the extraordinary strength of the families who stand behind those who serve.

So when I started building my business, I knew I wanted our business to stand for something beyond conveyancing. I wanted it to reflect the values I believe in. Loyalty. Commitment. Looking after your own. And understanding that sometimes doing the right thing matters more than doing the easy thing. Those aren't particularly complicated principles. But they're principles worth standing by.

Recognition from the Ministry of Defence

Over the years, I've been fortunate enough to receive some wonderful professional recognition. And I'm proud of every single award. But this one feels different. This recognition comes from the Ministry of Defence, an organisation that has been part of our family's world for so many years.

To have my business recognised through the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme is something I genuinely value. Because it represents a public commitment to a community that has given so much, often without expecting anything in return. And while Bronze is the first level of the scheme, it's an important milestone.

It says we've made that commitment. Now it's our responsibility to keep demonstrating what those words mean.

A commitment isn't a campaign

Supporting the Armed Forces community isn't something I want us to do for a month, a marketing campaign or an awards application. It's something I want woven into the business. Not because someone has told us to do it. Not because there's a certificate at the end. But because we believe in it.

And I think that's something every business, regardless of its size, can take away from the Armed Forces Covenant. You don't have to be a huge organisation. You don't have to have hundreds of employees or a dedicated military engagement department. But if you're going to make a commitment, mean it.

And if you say you're going to support a community, be prepared to show up for them.

So, what's next?

Well, naturally, I've already started looking at Silver. Because apparently receiving a certificate and enjoying the moment for five minutes is beyond my capabilities.

But in all seriousness, Bronze isn't the destination. It's a starting point.

An opportunity to keep learning, keep improving and keep challenging ourselves to do more.

I want my business to be the kind of business that doesn't simply display its Armed Forces Covenant commitment. I want people to recognise that commitment through our actions, long before they ever notice the badge. And if our little business can encourage another employer to make a meaningful commitment to the Armed Forces community, then all the better.

Boots on. Eyes forward.

I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved. Proud of our team, proud of the business we're building and enormously grateful to everyone who has supported us along the way. But most of all, I'm proud that something so deeply personal to me has become part of what this business stands for.

So thank you to the Ministry of Defence for this recognition. It means more than you probably realise. And to the Armed Forces community, thank you for allowing us to be a small part of your world.

We can talk the talk. But we'll keep putting our boots on and marching to our own orders.

Because there's still plenty of ground to cover.

Bronze achieved. Silver in our sights.

And wherever life and service take you… We've got your 6. 

Joanne Bowmer

Founder, JB Property Law Ltd

Consultant Partner, Carbon Law Partners