South Central Ambulance Service receives Gold Award in MoD's Employer Recognition Scheme

Category: News Publish date: 01/09/2017

The Ministry of Defence has announced South Central Ambulance Service as one of the new winners of the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award, the highest accolade for organisations which have signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

The ERS Gold Awards recognise employers who actively support the Armed Forces community in their workplace and also encourage others to follow their lead. The award scheme, which attracts entries from companies in every part of the country and in the private and public sectors, has seen a rapid increase in participation since it launched in 2014.

SCAS is one of only two ambulances services in England to have received the prestigious Gold Award.
Philip Astle, Chief Operating Officer at SCAS, who retired as a Colonel after a 25-year career in the Infantry, said:
“We are delighted to be recognised with this prestigious award. In my role it is very satisfying to not only find myself meeting so many ex-Services personnel whose skills and experience we are able to use to benefit patients in our region, but also I am extremely proud that the Trust has such a positive and flexible approach to allow our reservists and cadets to continue their valuable service to our Armed Forces.

“At all levels of our organisation, from actively supporting Armed Forces Day to training Cadet Forces, positively recruiting ex-Armed Forces personnel to encouraging more of our staff to become Reservists, we are incredibly proud of our longstanding relationships with and support for our Armed Services.”