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Awarded for supporting the Armed Forces community in the workplace

The ERS encompasses Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to Defence personnel and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.

In Lincolnshire five organisations have been awarded; across Leicestershire and Rutland eight organisations were named; in Derbyshire eight organisations earned Silver Awards; Nottinghamshire had seven and there were five in Northamptonshire.

Employers recently had the chance to get behind the wire and have a proper look around MTMC(i)

One of those awarded is Lincoln City Radio; Presenter Phil Pask said: “The Radio station has supported the Armed Forces for a number of years, in particular we have promoted various cadet force activities in the city and outlying areas. Having a number of volunteers who have served and continue to serve in reserve positions, we are all aware of the importance of helping where we can.”  

Another recipient is Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) who re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant on Reserves Day this year. The Trust recognises the value that Service personnel, both regular and reserve, veterans and cadet force adult volunteers can bring to the civilian workplace. Trust Chair Elaine Baylis QPM explained: “As both an employer and as an organisation which plays an active role in delivering healthcare to military families across the whole county, we are very proud to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and have now been awarded an ERS Silver award.”

In Louth, another award winner was Marsh Medical Practice who ensure they have Defence representation on their patient participation group and have supported military medical personnel to achieve civilian qualifications to enable them to transition successfully in to the civilian working environment.

Dr Carl Deaney, owner of Marsh Medical Practice, explained: “This is another fantastic achievement for the Practice. Marsh Medical Practice is honoured to receive the Armed Forces Covenant Silver award this year. This award recognises our commitment to the ongoing support of the Armed Forces veteran community. Lincolnshire has a strong military history and has a large veteran population. Marsh fully embraces the ethos of the Armed Forces Covenant that our nation should ensure that those who serve or who have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated with fairness and respect.

“Marsh Medical Practice is proud to have military veterans as part of our team and to be able to support our practice population of veterans on a daily basis. We are proud to support those people who have made sacrifices on behalf of the nation and will continue to offer support to our veterans and their families”

Employers outside the RAF Club in Piccadilly on a recent employer engagement visit

Oakham Medical Practice in Rutland are actively recruiting ex-military personnel  for up and coming contracts by reaching out to military charities to help fill these vacancies.

Major (Retd) Ian Razzell, Business and Finance Director at Oakham Medical Practice and Market Overton and Somerby Surgeries in Rutland, said: “Oakham Medical Practice and Market Overton and Somerby Surgeries are delighted to have been selected this year for the ERS Silver award associated with our signature to the Armed Forces Covenant. 

“As Primary Care providers to large numbers of veterans and families of service personnel from Kendrew Barracks in Cottesmore and across the County of Rutland, we recognise the commitment that our service personnel have made and we actively seek to recruit families and veterans into our organisations.  Proudly embracing Doctors, Nurses and a range of other military personnel and families into our team, we remain committed to supporting the Armed Forces and will continue to specifically recognise veterans who register with us as patients.”

One of those awarded in Northamptonshire is Cosworth Group Holdings Ltd; their CEO, Hal Reisiger, explained why they are proud to receive the award: “We are incredibly honoured to receive the MOD ERS Silver Award. For 60 years, Cosworth has been at the forefront of engineering excellence, and it is our people who help drive our success as we venture into new industries and technologies. Cosworth is proud to support the Armed Forces, and we aim to establish ourselves as an employer of choice for the Armed Forces community. We look forward to our continued collaboration with the MOD.”

Also awarded is Northamptonshire County Council, the lead authority in the county in relation to the countywide Civil Military Partnership Board. Leader of the County Council, Cllr Matthew Golby, said: “We’re proud to support the Armed Forces community in Northamptonshire and this award is a testament of the hard work of our dedicated officers who have recently launched the Armed Forces Covenant Northamptonshire website.

“As a part of the local Covenant Partnership we are pleased that some of our partners have also achieved a Silver award.  This is great recognition for those organisations but also for the partnership work and all it has achieved over the last few years.”

Employers being told about the types of training the Army does at MTMC

Elsewhere in the county, Arturius International were awarded, Stuart Ball, the CEO, commented: “Arturius International is thrilled to have received the coveted Employer Recognition Scheme Silver award for 2018 from the MOD.  As a company that positively recruits its talented individuals from the Services wherever possible, this award underlines the important role that former Servicemen and women contribute to making British businesses successful. Arturius is proud to support the Armed Forces community.  We look forward to working towards achieving a Gold award in the near future.” 

One of the Derbyshire-based organisations to be awarded was Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust who currently employ reservists, Service leavers, Cadet Force adult volunteers and military spouses, as well as appointing an internal Reservist Champion earlier this year.

Chris Sands, Acting Chief Executive for Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted to be among the recipients of the 2018 Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Awards. It’s almost a year now since we became the first NHS body in Derbyshire to sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant and this award demonstrates our ongoing commitment to that pledge. These are brave, dedicated and skilled NHS staff who give up their spare time to serve their country – we couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Another organisation to be awarded was Pattonair who have pledged their support for Defence by signing the Armed Forces Covenant and publicly declared that they actively recruit and support those who are a part of or have previously served in the Armed Forces.

Wayne Hollinshead CEO at Pattonair, said: “We are extremely proud to support the Armed Forces at Pattonair, gaining silver recognition clearly shows our commitment to supporting ex-military, reservists and cadets in our community to return to work.  We have a reservist policy and support the various awareness events every year and look forward to continuing our support as a Silver Award holder.”

Another awardee was Consorito Security in Castle Donington who as a business encourage the recruitment of ex-Service personnel for all contracts when conditions allow. They also have a flexible approach to working patterns to allow their employees who are serving as reservists to have time to complete their military duties.

Atendees had the chance to speak to serving soldiers about the training they do and skills they develop

Earl Knight, CEO at Consorito Security, commented:  “We at Consorito Security are proud to be recognised as an MOD ERS Silver Award winner. With many of our employees coming from a military background we understand reservists and veterans bring a variety of transferable skills and qualities to the civilian workplace, developed throughout their military careers. Companies of all shapes and sizes should consider signing the Covenant as there are proven business benefits of hiring veterans.”

The University of Derby were also commended for their work in developing courses that provide opportunities for service leavers to reskill and enter the healthcare profession. They have also been very active in their support of Armed Forces Week and organised multiple events this year to engage with the Armed Forces Community.

Dr Paula Holt, Dean of the College of Health and Social Care at the University said: “We are delighted to be recognised with a Silver Award in the MOD Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme. The award recognises the efforts of employers who have both elevated their commitments under the Armed Forces Covenant and provided actual benefit to the Armed Forces Community. The University of Derby is proud of its strong and growing relationship with the Armed Forces, from the support we provide veterans across a range of areas from mental health to resettlement, to the engagement we have promoted at our two Armed Forces Day events in June.”

John Wilson, the MOD’s Employer Engagement Director in the East Midlands, said: “The ERS was launched to recognise and reward employers who support Defence People objectives and encourage others to exhibit the same behaviours.

“Each of those awarded employ at least one member of the Armed Forces community whether that be a veteran, reservist, cadet force adult volunteer or a Service spouse and each act as an advocate for promoting the benefits that these individuals can bring to the civilian workplace.”  

Commenting on the announcement of the 2018 Employer Recognition Scheme Silver awards, Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans, the Rt Hon Tobias Ellwood MP said: “I am delighted to congratulate the recipients of this year’s Employer Recognition Scheme Silver awards.

“A Silver Award recognises the fantastic efforts of employers throughout the UK who have both elevated their commitments under the Armed Forces Covenant and provided actual benefit to the Armed Forces community.  The winners should all be proud of the life-changing impact and fresh opportunities they are providing to our Reservists, veterans, wounded injured and sick and their families. We’ve seen a record number of winners this year, which shows that the Armed Forces family talent pool is also providing tangible business benefit.”