Eight businesses from West Yorkshire are celebrating after learning they have been awarded silver in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).
The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme was established in 2014 to recognise and reward UK employers for their support and commitment towards Defence. The scheme was a commitment made in the July 2013 White Paper ‘Reserves in the Future Forces 2020’.
There are three tiers of award – Bronze, Silver and Gold – for employers who pledge, demonstrate then advocate, support to the Armed Forces Community in alignment with the Armed Forces Covenant.
Longs of Leeds, Calderdale NHS CGC, West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, Reliance Precision, Bradford University, Leeds City Council, Bradford College and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust have all been granted the Silver Award by Defence Relationship Management (DRM), the body charged with linking employers and Defence.
Each winning organisation has worked closely with the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (RFCA) for Yorkshire and The Humber, which has taken them through the steps required to achieve a Silver Award. They will receive their accolades at a glittering ceremony attended by senior officers, civic dignitaries and business leaders from across the region, which will be held at Sheffield’s Cutlers Hall in October.
Dean Royles, Director of HR and Organisational Development, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We are delighted to have been recognised for our support for the armed forces. As one of the largest NHS Teaching Hospitals, we have been undertaking some great work to recognise the value that our armed forces colleagues bring to our organisation and have strengthened our connections with local armed forces partners. This award is a credit to all our staff who have armed forces training/experience which they use to benefit patient care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals.”
Lieutenant General Richard Nugee, Chief of Defence People, said: “Congratulations to this year’s Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award winners who have turned their willingness to make a difference to our Armed Forces into effective programmes of support.
“Their actions mean that our veterans, the wounded, injured and sick, our Reservists and their families are not disadvantaged by their military service and have the same opportunities as everyone else. Our winners’ commitment is highly valued and is at the heart of all that can be achieved in every part of the country through the Armed Forces Covenant.”
Silver award holders demonstrate support for Defence by employing at least one Reservist, actively communicating and projecting a positive image of Defence to their employees via established HR policies and procedures. They also support Reservists by giving them the flexibility needed to plan and fulfil their annual training and mobilisation commitments.
For more information on the ERS Awards visit;
www.rfca-yorkshire.co.uk/employers
To find out more about the role of Reservists or to find out about becoming an Adult Volunteer
in the Cadet Forces, please visit the RFCA website at;
