Major East Midlands employers and businesses from strategically important sectors have been recognised for their strong commitments to Armed Forces personnel.
Blaby District Council, Chesterfield Royal Hospital, Defence contractor Maiar and North Kesteven District Council have achieved the Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme for 2026 – the Ministry of Defence’s highest honour for employers.
Together, this year’s regional winners employ in excess of 1,000 staff, roles that are now certified as Defence-friendly because of policies that support Reservists, Cadet Volunteers, Service-Leavers, Military Spouses and the wider Armed Forces Community.
Overall, tens of thousands of job roles in the East Midlands are certified as Defence-friendly as a result of the commitments made through the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
Nationally, 162 employers across the UK have been recognised with the Gold Award this year.
Welcomed and supported
Calvin Bailey MBE MP, Minister for Veterans and People, said: “For a Veteran starting a new chapter, or a Reservist balancing two demanding roles, having an employer in your corner makes an enormous difference.
“These 162 organisations have gone out of their way to make veterans, Reservists and Military Families feel genuinely welcome and supported. I’m incredibly proud to recognise them today, and I hope their example inspires many more.”
Mark Simpson, Defence Relationship Manager for Lincolnshire, North Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, said: “Congratulations to this year’s cohort of Gold Award recipients from the East Midlands.
“Achieving the Gold Award is no easy feat. Organisations have to progress from simply pledging support for our Defence Community to evidencing how they live and breathe those commitments, with real-world examples.
“We’re grateful for the commitments made by each of this year’s winners. All of them are either major regional employers or from sectors that are strategically important to Defence.”
Extraordinary supporters
The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme shines a spotlight on Defence-friendly employers, with organisations making greater commitments of support as they work through the Bronze, Silver and Gold Award tiers.
The Gold Award is reserved for the most extraordinary Armed Forces supporters who demonstrate strong support for Military colleagues – such as 10 additional days paid leave for Reservists to fulfil their training and flexible leave for Military Spouses – and encourage others to adopt these approaches too.
To achieve Gold Award status, employers must demonstrate that they:
- Provide at least 10 additional days of paid leave for Reservists each year.
- Have supportive HR policies for Reservists, Service Families, Veterans and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
- Actively promote the Armed Forces Covenant and encourage others to support Defence.
- Have a long-term, proactive commitment that exceeds the scheme’s baseline requirements.
The scheme is a well-established platform for employers to show how they are playing their part in the Government’s whole-of-society approach to national defence and resilience.
The Employer Recognition Scheme is also used as a badge of honour to promote a company’s Forces-friendly credentials and attract Service personnel with sought-after skills and qualities.
Recipients will be formally presented with their Gold Award at a national ceremony later in the year.
Photo: East Midlands recipients of the Gold Award are celebrated at a ceremony hosted by Toyota in 2025.
Read more: Reserves and resilience in the spotlight at the biggest Regional Engagement with Defence to date
