After what has been a challenging 18 months for all businesses, West Midland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association (RFCA) are very pleased to announce that 41 organisations in their region are confirmed as Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award winners for 2021, including the Chamber.
This Ministry of Defence award recognises companies for their support to the Armed Forces community, including Reservists, veterans, spouses, Cadet Forces Adult Volunteers and cadets. Silver award holders must demonstrate a number of positive measures and policies in their organisations, which actively support members of the Armed Forces community.
The silver status requires employers to ensure:
- That members of the forces community are not disadvantaged in their recruitment and selection process
- That all positive policies relating to defence personnel are internally publicised
- That they employ at least one individual from the armed forces category that their nomination emphasises
- If required, that they have demonstrated support to Reservist mobilisations
- That they align their values with their Armed Forces Covenant
The organisations cover all of the regions counties and come from a wide range of sectors including education providers, NHS Trusts, charities, local authorities and security firms.
We would also like to congratulate award winners from across the two counties:
Herefordshire
- 3 Counties Defence and Security Limited
- HS Infra Ltd
- Leominster Town Council
- Octaga Security Services Ltd
- Royal National College for the Blind
- Sutton House Limited
- The Cart Shed Charity
- Wye Valley NHS Trust
Worcestershire
- Signal Traffic Management Ltd
- Stepway
- Worcestershire Medal Service Ltd
Dawn Hardman, Director of HR at the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, said:
“We’re delighted that our organisation has been successful in its application and has now been announced as achieving the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award. This award is a great achievement for us and is important as part of our HR strategy as we now have policies in place to ensure that ex-members of the armed forces who are employed by us are treated fairly and their contribution is recognised.”
Philip Sinclair, Regional Employer Engagement Director for West Midland RFCA commented on the awards:
“We are absolutely delighted that 50 employers across our region have been recognised by the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award this year, including 9 that have had their Silver Awards from 2016 revalidated, demonstrating a continued and sustained commitment to supporting our Armed Forces community. The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme encourages employers to support Defence and inspire others to do the same. The scheme encompasses Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to Defence and the Armed Forces community, and who align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant. Having worked closely with these organisations over a number of months and years, we know of the commitment that they show and demonstrate on a daily basis, and applaud their recognition, which is justifiably deserved. Many congratulations to them all, we look forward to continuing our work with them.”
The ERS was launched to recognise and reward employers who support Defence and inspire others to do the same. To find out more about the ERS click here or to find out more about the Armed Forces Covenant click here.