127 new employers awarded for supporting the Armed Forces Community

The most supportive organisations for Britain’s Armed Forces such as Microsoft Ltd, Greater Manchester Police and the Post Office from both the private and public sectors have been announced today, 30 July 2020.

The Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Awards continues to grow in strength year on year.  To win an award organisations must demonstrate that they provide ten extra paid days leave for Reservists and have supportive HR policies in place for Veterans, Reserves, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and Spouses and Partners of those serving in the Armed Forces. They also advocate the benefits of supporting those within the Armed Forces community encouraging others to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and to engage in the Employer Recognition Scheme.

2020 marks the seventh year of the awards scheme and this year 47% of winners are either Micro organisations or SMEs and 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 organisations who can share their knowledge and experience on the benefits of employing those from the Armed Forces community.

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 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.

 

James Moore, The President of Vetforce UK at Salesforce said:

This award is testament to our continued commitment to support the forces community, whether this be through the provision of career transition assistance, by raising funds for military charities or championing the military community to our organisation. As a former Army Officer, I know first-hand the challenges of finding work after leaving the forces and feel honoured to work for an organisation like Salesforce which recognises the value members of this community can bring to the workplace.

 

Stephen Corfield, SVP and GM of Industry Sales UK&I at Salesforce added:

We are thrilled to be awarded Gold in the UK Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. At Salesforce, equality is a core tenet of how we run our business and we believe that our business and our community thrive as a result. This is a wonderful recognition of the work our Vetforce team does to build a workplace that respects and values the experience of reservists, veterans and their spouses.

 

David Gagen, CEO of Engage Technical Solutions said:

Engage Technical Solutions is delighted to have been awarded Gold in the Employers Recognition Scheme.  This award represents a significant milestone and reflects the hard work that the Team have put in to ensure Engage offers Service Leavers a route where they are fully supported to make the transition into civilian life. 

With Service leavers from the Army, Navy and the RAF making up to 90% of our Delivery Team Engage strives for a welcoming environment tailored to each individual’s needs.

With a mainly Defence & Security focused client base, Engage is well placed to use the skills and experience that the Service Leavers bring with them and quickly enables them to develop new skills and enjoy new experiences delivering for our clients.

Special congratulations to our Members who were recognised:

Full list of winners:

AAA Caring Caretaker Ltd

Aberdeen City Council

Active Plus CIC

Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Limited

Angus Council

Army Families Federation

Automatic Data Processing Limited (ADP)

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Barratt Developments Plc

B D Print

Bell Decorating Group

Black Country Chamber of Commerce

Black Country Housing Group

BMT Group Limited

Bridgeway Consulting Limited

Cable Telecommunications Training Services Limited

Cambridgeshire County Council

Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust

Camor Limited

Capco

Cardiff University (Main Building)

City Hospitals Independent Commercial Enterprises Ltd

City of Wolverhampton College

Company X Consulting Ltd

Consortio Security

Cornwall Council

Cranfield University

Cumbria County Council

Dover District Council

East Riding College

Enbarr Enterprises Limited

Engage Technical Solutions Ltd

Equinix

Finning UK Limited

Forces Fitness Limited

Forrest Precision Engineering Company Limited

Forward Assist Recruitment

Gentoo Group Ltd

Glasgow Caledonian University

Gosport Borough Council

Greater Manchester Police

Herefordshire Council

High Life Highland

Highways England

Hire A Hero

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Institute of Supply Chain Management

Interserve PLC

Iss Facility Services

Kent Fire and Rescue Service

Lancashire County Council

Leicestershire County Council

Level Peaks Associates

Mace Limited

Marsh Ltd

Mears Group plc

Medway Council

Microsoft Limited

Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust Pinderfields General Hospital

Milbank Concrete Products Ltd

Milton Keynes Council

Mitie Group Plc

Monmouthshire County Council (HQ)

Morrissey Elite Global Group

Network Training Partnership

Newcastle Gateshead NHS CCG

New Model in Technology & Engineering (NMiTE)

NHS Northamptonshire Clinical Commissioning Group

Northamptonshire County Council

Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

North East London NHS Foundation Trust

Northern Trust

North Lincolnshire Council

North Wales Police

North Yorkshire County Council

Nottingham Forest Community Trust

Nottinghamshire County Council

Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service

One to One Support Services

Oxfordshire County Council

PA Consulting Services Limited

Pearson Engineering

Peterborough City Council

Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust

Post Office Limited

Public Health Wales NHS Trust

RecruitME

Ringway Jacobs

Rose Builders Ltd

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service

Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead

Rutland County Council

SA Group Ltd

Salesforce UK Limited

Scottish Engineering

Scottish Water

Serve and Protect CU

SHAID

Simpkins Edwards LLP

Southampton City Council

Spectra Group (UK) Limited

St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Stoke City Football Club

Techmodal Ltd

Teesside University

Telford & Wrekin Council

The Military Mutual

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust

The Rift Group

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

Torfaen County Borough Council

Torus Logistical Solutions

Trinity Insurance Services Limited

UK Veterans Hearing Help

University of Leicester

University Of Sunderland

Veterans HQ

Vigilance Properties Ltd

Warwickshire County Council

Weston College

West Sussex County Council

WH Management Group

Wigan Council

Wilkin Chapman Solicitors

Woking Borough Council

York St John University

York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly. More information about the Armed Forces Covenant and how to get involved is at https://www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/

The Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) was launched in 2014 by then Prime Minister David Cameron to recognise employer support for the wider principles of the Defence Armed Forces Covenant and the full spectrum of Defence personnel. This includes the Reserves, Service Leavers, Wounded Injured and Sick, Cadets, and spouses.

For a full list of Employer Recognition Scheme Gold, Silver and Bronze award winners:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-employer-recognition-scheme