Employers in East Anglia that have demonstrated outstanding support to the defence community were celebrated at a glittering Silver awards ceremony on Thursday 29 October 2026.
21 employers from our region achieved Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Awards in 2026. This recognises their exceptional commitment to supporting employees who are involved with the Armed Forces.
The Silver Award ceremony, which took place at Madingley Hall in Cambridge, highlighted how these organisations have embedded meaningful, practical support for reservists, cadet force adult volunteers (CFAVs), veterans and military families into their workplace policies and culture.
The Employer Recognition Scheme
The scheme is a government initiative that encourages employers to support the Defence community and inspire others to follow suit. There are three progressive tiers in the scheme: Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards, each representing increased levels of commitment to reservists, veterans, cadet force adult volunteers and their families.
Backing employees with defence connections
The progression to Silver level represents a significant step forward in an organisation’s relationship with the defence community. This includes implementing comprehensive HR policies that address the unique needs of reservists, providing additional leave for reservist training and creating flexible working arrangements that accommodate volunteering commitments.
Major (Ret’d) Tom Bale, Associate Director of Corporate Programmes, Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust said: “As a veteran, I have valued the opportunity to continue supporting the Armed Forces community during my time at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust. Through the support of colleagues, senior leaders and our Armed Forces Staff Network, I have been able to use my lived experience to help raise awareness of the needs of serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families across the organisation.”
Recognition across a range of sectors
This year’s Silver Award winners represent the breadth of East Anglian industry, from global organisations like Ocado Group PLC and public bodies like Cambridge and Peterborough NHA Foundation Trust to community-focused organisations such as Colchester Foodbank and Norwich City Community Sports Foundation. The diversity of winners demonstrates that organisations of all sizes and sectors can meaningfully contribute to supporting Defence personnel.
Adrian Hodges, Company Director of Norfolk based X Adventure Activities said: “Supporting defence people is a core part of our commitment to being an inclusive employer. As a small business X Adventure Activities are incredibly honoured to receive the Silver Award, showing business size is not a determining factor in supporting our defence community. We are committed to being a reservist friendly employer and supportive of veterans, who provide hugely transferable skills to our organisation.”
The silver awards also recognise the mutual benefits that arise when employers make space in their workforce for reservists, veterans and their families. Engaging with the Armed Forces provides employers with access to highly skilled staff who often display exceptional leadership qualities, discipline, adaptability, and problem-solving capabilities developed through their uniformed service.
Colin Perry Davis is Chief Executive Officer at Bedfordshire based Stonbury Ltd. He said: “At Stonbury, we are proud to support the Armed Forces community and to recognise the tremendous skills, experience and values that Service personnel bring into civilian life. We know that the qualities developed through military service, discipline, teamwork, resilience, respect, leadership and a strong work ethic, are incredibly valuable in our business.”
Speakers at the ceremony were HM Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire Mrs Julie Spence OBE CStJ QPM, representing the Lord Lieutenants from across our region; Brigadier Jeremy Dodd, Commander 19th Light Brigade, who thanked the ERS award winners on behalf of Defence; and our Chief Executive, Leona Barr-Jones DL VR.
The full list of Silver Award winners for 2026 in East Anglia are:
Arjo UK Ltd (Bedfordshire)
Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils (Suffolk)
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (Cambridgeshire)
Colchester Foodbank (Essex)
Communities 1st (Hertfordshire)
East Hertfordshire District Council (Hertfordshire)
East Suffolk Council (Suffolk)
Elite Academy of Security Training (Norfolk)
Fenland District Council (Cambridgeshire)
Haskoning UK Ltd (Cambridgeshire)
Huntingdon Town Council (Cambridgeshire)
Kindred FM (Hertfordshire)
London Asbestos Removals Ltd (Essex)
Norwich City Community Sports Foundation (Norfolk)
Ocado Group PLC (Hertfordshire)
Saffron Housing (Norfolk)
Smith Myers Communications Ltd (Bedfordshire)
Stonbury Ltd (Bedfordshire)
Suzaku Consulting Ltd (Bedfordshire)
Vantage Professional Services (Essex)
X Adventure Activities (Norfolk)
Achieving recognition through the Employer Recognition Scheme
The winners of the 2026 Silver Award in East Anglia join a growing community of employers across our region who have made concrete commitments to supporting the Armed Forces community. Their achievements represent stepping stones towards even greater recognition through the Gold Award tier, where organisations become advocates for Defence across their industries.
If your organisation would like to work towards Defence Employer Recognition Scheme awards, contact us on ea-engagement@rfca.mod.uk. Our experienced Employer Engagement team can guide you through the process from initial Armed Forces Covenant signing through to achieving Bronze, Silver, and ultimately Gold recognition.
