ARMED forces reservists in the workplace can make businesses stronger in the long term, an outgoing official in charge of a special reservists support body has said.

Gerry Blythe, who heads up SaBRE, the Ministry of Defence’s representative to employers, is stepping down in April, bringing an end to an association with the armed forces that began more than 40 years ago.

Mr Blythe, originally from Yorkshire but who has spent four decades in Wales, is retiring – and he claims that employees return to the workforce more committed and better equipped after service.