The MOD’s Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Awards represent the highest badge of honour available to those that employ and support those who serve, veterans,and their families. The scheme continues to grow year on year with awardees doubling in the last 12 months taking the total to 228.
Employer shave won awards for initiatives such as employing veterans, supporting individuals transitioning out of the armed forces into a new career and providing flexibility for Reservists. Included are 23 Local Authorities, 13 NHS Hospitals and Trusts and 29 SMEs.
The 100 winners have been recognised for their long-term commitment to the Armed Forces, with companies from the public and private sector achieving the top grade. Each has signed the Armed Forces Covenant, and where possible, engages with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) to promote the recruitment of service leavers, as well as honouring individual pledges of support.
Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace said:
“These awards recognise the outstanding support for our armed forces from employers across Britain and I would like to thank and congratulate each and every one.
“Regardless of size, location or sector, employing ex-forces personnel is good for business and this year we have doubled the number of awards in recognition of the fantastic support they give.”
Minister for Defence People and Veterans Johnny Mercer said:
“Veterans make a huge contribution to businesses across the country and it’s fantastic to see a record breaking number of organisations recognised for their support.
“We’reworking closely with businesses to help them further understand the huge valuethat veterans, reservists and military spouses can bring to their organisation.”
Amazon UK have a dedicated Military Talent Acquisition team as well as hosting Military Insight Days. Doug Gurr, their UK Country Manager said:
“We are delighted to have been awarded Gold in the UK Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, which is recognition of the huge contribution hundreds of UK ex-Service personnel make every day here at Amazon. The transferable skills of veterans and reservists are a great fit for a company made up of builders, innovators and inventors. So as we continue to invent on behalf of our customers, we hope to see more come build the future with us.” – Doug Gurr, UK Country Manager, Amazon.
Georgina Yellowlees, Director Talent Acquisition Amazon EMEA comments:
“Amazon UK are exceptionally proud to receive the ERS Gold Award in recognition of our support to the Armed Forces. Veterans, Reservists and Military Spouses form an extremely important part of our ever-growing workforce. Their leadership and management skills, honed during military service, are second to none, driving our ability to keep our customer promise everyday.”
IED Training Solutions Ltd was set up in 2015 by two former Royal Marines and has a strong reputation in the field of risk and trauma management, drawing heavily on the team’s military training and expertise. Ian Clark the Managing Director said:
“We feel honoured and incredibly proud to receive this recognition for our work and continued commitment to the Armed Forces community and supporting this community is a primary focus for IED.
The company is wholly owned and operated by former full career Royal Marines and‘the Commando Distinction’ characteristics, [versatility, value, excellence],very much underpin our business strategy.
As a national business which provides training and consultancy, we’re well placed to advocate the benefits of Reservists and service leavers. We believe the leadership and technical skills that military personnel develop during their service, prepare them well for career transition”
The 2019 Employer Recognition Scheme Gold award winners are:
1. Aberdeenshire Council
2. Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
3. Alford Technologies Ltd
4. Amazon UK
5. Amazon Web Services
6. AmmarM UK Limited
7. Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
8. Anglian Water
9. Arcanum Information Security Ltd
10. Ascot Care
11. Auctus Management Group Ltd
12. Biscoes Solicitors
13. Bovis Homes
14. Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust
15. Brunel University London
16. Caerphilly County Borough Council
17. CAIS
18. Carbon60
19. Caterpillar Peterlee
20. CDS Defence Support
21. CGI UK
22. Charnwood Borough Council
23. City Building
24. City of Edinburgh Council
25. City of York Council
26. Colchester Borough Council
27. College of West Anglia
28. Conwy County Borough Council
29. County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service
30. CPPC Logistic Group of Companies Ltd
31. Derbyshire Community Health Service NHS Foundation Trust
32. Digital Telecoms Network Academy Ltd
33. East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust
34. Edinburgh Napier University
35. Finchale Group
36. Flintshire County Council
37. Focus7 International Ltd
38. Foreland Shipping Limited
39. G&A Security NE Ltd
40. GE (UK & Ireland)
41. Harrison Clark Rickerbys Solicitors
42. Hartlepool Borough Council
43. Hertfordshire County Council
44. High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd
45. HMP Whitemoor
46. IED Training Solutions Limited
47. Inzpire Ltd
48. Jacobs UK Ltd
49. KBR UK Ltd
50. Knockhill Racing Circuit
51. Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust
52. Leidos Europe Ltd
53. London Borough of Lewisham
54. London Electronics Ltd
55. Midlothian Council
56. Morrison Utility Services
57. Motivational Preparation College For Training (MPCT)
58. Newport City Council
59. North Tyneside Council
60. North Warwickshire Borough Council
61. Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust
62. Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council
63. OppO Recruitment Limited
64. Police Scotland
65. The Poppy Factory
66. Qioptiq Ltd
67. Rangers Football Club & Rangers Charity Foundation
68. Rolls-Royce plc
69. Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
70. Royal Mail Group Limited
71. Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
72. Rushcliffe Borough Council
73. Santander UK
74. Schroders
75. SecureCloud+ Limited
76. South Tyneside Homes
77. Sporting Force
78. St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
79. St Helens Council
80. Stirling Council
81. Sunderland City Council
82. Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group
83. Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
84. Thales UK Ltd
85. Tom Harrison House
86. Trafford Council
87. Travis Perkins
88. TSG Marine
89. University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust
90. University of Central Lancashire
91. Veolia UK
92. Virgin Money
93. Vodafone
94. Wagtail UK Limited
95. Warwickshire Police
96. West Dunbartonshire Council
97. West Mercia Police
98. West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust
99. Wood Plc
100. Yodel
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/
Through their Armed Forces Covenant pledges, employers have demonstrated concrete support for the Armed Forces family and key initiatives include:
- An agreement with mortgage lenders allowing personnel posted abroad to rent out their homes without facing higher mortgage costs or having to change their mortgage.
- Fairer mobile and broadband phone contracts, freezing the accounts of Armed Forces personnel and their families posted overseas and removing cancellation fees.
- Better deals in motor insurance, allowing personnel to keep their no claims bonuses and avoid cancellation fees when posted overseas at short notice.
- Employer networks in a wide range of sectors to support Service leavers through their transition to new careers.
- A Review of the Covenant in Business commissioned by the Forces in Mind Trust is being run to highlight and promote best practice and identify areas for further improvement.
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: