There are celebrations across our region today as East Anglia employers earn top-tier recognition for the exceptional support they show to the Armed Forces community.
Eleven East Anglia employers are among the 162 organisations nationwide to win a 2026 Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award. The Gold Award is the highest acknowledgement from the Ministry of Defence of the commitment shown by companies, public bodies and charities to veterans, reservists, cadet force adult volunteers and their families.
Now in its 12th year, the Gold Award continues to celebrate employers who go well beyond their Armed Forces Covenant commitments by embedding Defence-friendly policies in their working practices.
Our new Gold winners not only create inclusive workplaces where veterans, reservists, military families and cadet force adult volunteers can thrive, but also encourage other organisations to do so, too. That commitment shows the power of values-led leadership, creating more inclusive, resilient, and dynamic organisations.
The 11 new Gold Award holders in our region are:
- Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk
- Colchester Borough Homes
- Computacenter
- e50K CIC
- Ground Control Ltd
- International Aviation Group
- Norwich City Football Club
- Sizewell C Ltd
- Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd
- Support Our Paras
- West Suffolk Council
The UK’s Minister for Veterans and People, Calvin Bailey MBE MP, said: “For a veteran starting a new chapter, or a reservist balancing two demanding roles, having an employer in your corner makes an enormous difference.
“These 162 organisations have gone out of their way to make veterans, reservists and military families feel genuinely welcome and supported. I’m incredibly proud to recognise them today, and I hope their example inspires many more.”
To achieve Gold in the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), employers must show that they:
- Offer at least 10 days’ paid leave for reservists’ training each year
- Adopt supportive HR policies for reservists, service families, veterans and cadet force adult volunteers
- Actively promote the Armed Forces Covenant and encourage others to support the Defence community
- Show a long-term, proactive commitment to the Armed Forces that meets and exceeds ERS requirements.
Gold Award holders play an important role in encouraging other organisations to strengthen support for the Armed Forces community. This makes local workforces more inclusive while supporting the Ministry of Defence “people agenda” and strengthening UK resilience.
At East Anglia RFCA, helping employers to advance through the ERS is a key “pillar” of our work, connecting Defence with society in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
If your organisation would like to start its own “Partnering with Defence” journey, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch with our Employer Engagement team about working towards ERS Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. You can also visit the dedicated Employer Engagement page on our website to find out more.
You can read more about the 2026 Gold Award recipients here. A full list of recipients across the country is published on the ERS website.
