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Record 31 employers in East Midlands win Silver Employer Recognition Scheme Awards

31 organisations across the East Midlands, from public bodies to small businesses, have won a prestigious Silver Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) 2020 award from the Ministry of Defence.

The ERS Awards recognise employers who have actively demonstrated their support for the Armed Forces community through implementing practical policies in the workplace. The organisations that have achieved the prestigious award are:

Acres Engineering Ltd, Derbyshire
Aggregate Industries Limited, Leicestershire
Anderson Green Ltd, Nottinghamshire
Bishop Grosseteste University, Leicestershire
Casterton College, Rutland
Cotgrave Town Council, Nottinghamshire
E W Solutions Limited, Nottinghamshire
Forces Solutions Limited, Leicestershire
Garrison Security Management Limited, Nottinghamshire
The International Security Agency, Derbyshire
KestrelQAS Ltd, Derbyshire
Lincoln College
Lincolnshire Police
Manor Leas Junior Academy, Lincolnshire
North East Derbyshire District Council
North West Leicestershire District Council
Nottingham Trent University
Oadby & Wigston Borough Council
Pall-Ex UK Limited, Leicestershire
Phoenix Heroes CIC, Leicestershire
PW Defence Ltd, Derbyshire
Quill International Group Limited, Derbyshire
Reorg Installations Ltd, Nottinghamshire
Shorterm Group, Derbyshire
SRC UK Limited, Lincolnshire
Stanley Black & Decker, Northamptonshire
The William Alvey School, Lincolnshire
Wright Logistics Services Ltd, Northamptonshire

The following companies achieved a 5 year re-validation of Silver:
Permabond Laminates Ltd, Nottinghamshire
AGOTS Limited, Lincolnshire
East Midlands Central Station Ltd, Nottinghamshire

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 Silver, organisations must proactively demonstrate that the Armed Forces community are not unfairly disadvantaged as part of their recruitment policies. They must also actively ensure their workforce is aware of their positive policies towards Defence people issues for veterans, Reserves, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, and spouses and partners of those serving in the Armed Forces.

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.”

Employer support to the Armed Forces community is vital

Guy Edwards, Chief Executive Officer at Aggregate Industries, said:

“At Aggregate Industries we are delighted with our achievement as an Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award winner and we will continue our efforts to further improve our performance. We pledge to treat all those who serve or who have served in the Armed Forces, and their families fairly and we are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant. Those brave men and women have done their duty for this great nation so it is now our duty to make sure they are given the opportunity to bring their invaluable skills and expertise to our organisation.”

Kim Quigley, Director of Student Wellbeing at Casterton College, Rutland, said:

“We are absolutely delighted and honoured to receive the ERS Silver 2020 Award, it is a positive achievement for the school in the current climate.”

Gary Stockton, Chief Executive Officer, Phoenix Heroes, commented:

“The Phoenix Heroes team have worked extremely hard over the last two years and we are all so pleased to receive this achievement. We are dedicated and passionate to continue our support to veterans and their families, and immensely proud in doing so.”

Johnny Mercer, Minister for Defence People and Veterans said:

“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 adapted 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.”

Bishop Grosseteste sign the Armed Forces Covenant

Find out how your organisation can benefit from the Armed Forces Covenant

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

“I am delighted that we can announce a record number of Silver ERS 2020 award winners for the East Midlands. 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 winners across the UK come from Micro organisations or SMEs right up to large 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. In addition to these Silver Award winners, the East Midlands also had 17 Gold ERS Award winners this year.

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-areed@rfca.mod.uk or call 07864 982 420.

Watch out for more insight to our Silver winners in September.