When he transferred to Derbyshire Constabulary in 2022, Simon Blatchly made it his mission to recruit more Reservists and Service-Leavers.
The Deputy Chief Constable (DCC) knew from previous experience of working alongside Armed Forces personnel that they develop valuable skills through their rigorous military training and how beneficial those qualities are to policing.
What began as a project to renew their Silver Award status in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme has taken on a life of its own.
A thriving Armed Forces Family Network has been established, galvanising their military community. A raft of best practice HR initiatives has been rolled out.
And following approval from the Secretary of State for Defence, Derbyshire Constabulary was recently granted the highest honour for Forces-friendly employers – the Gold Award – for its exemplary work.
DCC Blatchly said: “The biggest change from Silver to Gold has come about through our Armed Forces Family Network.
“I thoroughly enjoyed going along to the first meeting – the banter going back and forth between them was incredible.
“There was a real feeling of togetherness to achieve the Silver Award and then great enthusiasm to look at the Gold criteria – that kick-started it all.”
An attractive Force
The Gold Award represents the crème de la crème of businesses and organisations that not only demonstrate their support for Defence, but also advocate for others to follow their lead.
Before applying for the top gong, employers must first have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and then achieved the Bronze and Silver Award, each requiring an increased commitment to support Defence.
The introduction of new policies at Derbyshire Constabulary to achieve the Gold Award means that Reservists and Cadet Volunteers are now given an additional 10 days of paid annual leave, and Military Spouses can take three extra days of paid leave before their partner’s deployment. They have also supported Reserve mobilisations.
All Service-Leavers looking to join the police force will also benefit from mentoring during their recruitment journey.
Additionally, in a drive to raise awareness of the opportunities for travel, adventure and further professional development in the Reserve Forces, the Armed Forces Family Network has collaborated with military units on recruitment events.
DCC Blatchly added: “I’m really pleased with the Gold Award. I know it means an awful lot to our Reservists and ex-Service Personnel as well because it shows they’re valued and seems to have lifted morale.
“We only have a small number of Reservists, but I know they do feel more supported now with the additional leave for their training.
“I genuinely believe they come back with increased skills, so I think it’s a win-win.
“Hopefully, in the long-term, it will help us to attract more ex-Military into the service because what they come with – discipline, resilience – is what we need.
“Our officers have to deal with confrontation virtually every day, so you need people who can deal with that and make decisions under pressure, which ex-Military are generally very good at.”
The staff network – the brains behind Derbyshire Constabulary’s Armed Forces policies – has grown to over 70 Reservists, Service Leavers, Cadet Volunteers, and Military Spouses, many of whom had not previously shared details of their service.
Now, with an attractive proposition to encourage Armed Forces personnel to join their ranks, Derbyshire Constabulary has set the ambitious target of growing its network to 200 members, which, if achieved, would represent five per cent of its entire workforce.
Resettlement journey
One person who has gravitated to the organisation since the introduction of new Armed Forces policies is Aidan Grice.
Upon leaving the Royal Air Force in 2023, the police force was a natural next step for the intelligence analyst.
But after several months, he found he still had ‘the itch’ and applied to rejoin as a Reservist.
He said:” Derbyshire Constabulary’s support makes a huge difference.
“Because of his Forces background, our Armed Forces Champion Guy Fillipich has been really good with the policy side of things, especially with my line manager, as they have no experience of having a Reservist on their team.
“The 10 days additional annual leave has been a really big help. And the mobilisation framework would, without a doubt, encourage me to go on deployment.”
Other benefits
Derbyshire Constabulary has invested significant time and resources in developing its Armed Forces support. In return, it’s benefiting from more than just a bolstered profile for recruiting Service-Leavers and Reservists.
Through engaging with the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, the force has now signed up to the Cadet Apprenticeship Pathway, which provides them with direct access to high-quality, work-ready people who have obtained a wide range of life experiences and skills from the Cadet Forces.
They have also struck up strong bonds with Derbyshire Army Cadet Force to establish a referral scheme for troubled youngsters, and they have been invited to exclusive events to learn from the British Army’s world-class leadership training.
Since their Silver Award was renewed in 2022, Derbyshire Constabulary’s support for the Armed Forces has been transformed, and it’s clearly already paying dividends.
Aidan added: “If there was anything I would say to Derbyshire Constabulary, it would be thanks.
“It takes a lot for all of these improvements to be introduced; things like this don’t happen easily, and they don’t have to do it at the end of the day.
“It makes the workplace more approachable and makes individuals more willing to engage because you know they’ve got your back with the Reserves. It goes both ways basically.
“Although they might not be immediately clear, there are benefits – in terms of skills, teamwork and independence – to having Reservists in an organisation, it’s second-to-none.
“Workforces can only benefit from having Reservists within them, without a doubt.”
‘The state, business and society must unite in pursuit of the security of the nation’
