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17 East Midlands employers awarded Gold ERS 2020 by Ministry of Defence

The organisations that have achieved the prestigious award are:

Bridgeway Consulting Ltd, Nottinghamshire

Cable Telecommunications Training Services Ltd (CTTS), Lincolnshire  

Consortio Security Limited, Leicestershire

Leicestershire County Council  

NHS Northamptonshire Clinical Commissioning Group

Northamptonshire County Council  

Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust  

Nottingham Forest Community Trust  

Nottinghamshire County Council

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service

One to One Support Services, Derbyshire

RecruitME, Lincolnshire

Rutland County Council

University of Leicester  

UK Veterans Hearing Help, Leicestershire

Wilkin Chapman LLP, Lincolnshire

M-EC Consulting, Leicestershire (5 year Gold Revalidation) 

Under the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, employers support Defence personnel and encourage others to do the same. The Scheme has three levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold for organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support for Defence and the Armed Forces community. To achieve Gold, organisations must demonstrate that they provide ten extra paid days leave for Reserves. They must also have supportive HR policies in place for veterans, Reserves, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, and spouses and partners of those serving in the Armed Forces.

Employers proud to receive award

Mark Lindahl, Director at Bridgeway Consulting, commented: “Bridgeway Consulting Ltd are thrilled to have been awarded the Employers Recognition Scheme Gold Award. As an SME employer of veterans, Reservists, and their families, our commitment to the scheme is of the highest priority. All fulfil vital roles within the business from director level to trainee technicians. The skills and experiences these people bring from the Armed Forces services are unique and difficult to emulate, but are infectious throughout the business, spreading the common ethos and driving our performance time and again. Evidence for our submission was the easy part, it is what we do every day of every week of every year.” 

Councillor Kay Cutts MBE, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “We are delighted that the Secretary of State for Defence has recognised and granted Nottinghamshire County Council a Gold Award within the Defence and Employer Recognition Scheme. This is a highly prestigious and sought after award and it is recognition of our solid support and advocacy for the Armed Forces community.

“We have developed, over the years, a number of supportive HR policies for veterans, Reserves and Cadet Force Adult Volunteer employees and are also proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant. We very much value the skills and expertise our Armed Forces’ colleagues bring to the work of the County Council, and are proud to be one of only four Nottinghamshire organisations to have been awarded this Gold standard this year.”

Record number of awards for East Midlands region

Johnny Mercer, Ministry for Defence People and Veterans commented “The breadth and diversity of the winners this year shows how business support for the Armed Forces continues to grow no matter the sector, company size or location. I am grateful for the positive attitude and flexible policies these organisations have adopted towards the defence community, which is testament to the fantastic contribution our serving personnel, veterans and their families can make to any organisation. I am delighted that so many companies are supporting our people and that, through this scheme, we can give them the public recognition they deserve.”

Cat Suckling, the Ministry of Defence’s Assistant Regional Employer Engagement Director for the East Midlands, said:  

 “I’m thrilled that we can announce a record number of Gold ERS 2020 award winners for the region. I know all of these organisations have worked hard to support Defence objectives and they are all very worthy winners.” 

2020 marks the seventh year of the awards scheme and this year 47% of winners across the UK are either Micro organisations or SMEs.  38% are public organisations. This demonstrates both the growth in numbers and the depth of supportive employers who cover a wide range of sectors and company size. This year’s 127 award winners join a group of 226 winners from previous years bringing the total to 353. Those organisations can share their knowledge and experience on the benefits of employing those from the Armed Forces community. 

To find out more about the ERS and how your organisation could support Defence personnel in the workplace through the Armed Forces Covenant email Cat Suckling at em-enquiries@rfca.mod.uk or call  07864 982 420 or visit the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.