The RFCA helps the Ministry of Defence establish relationships with employers
The RFCA Defence Relationship Management team provides the Ministry of Defence with regional and local connections with employers. The Ministry of Defence is keen to establish open, strategic relationships with employers, tailoring partnering opportunities to mutual needs and business goals.
The volunteer membership of East Anglia RFCA includes county groups of local employers, reporting into the Regional Employer Engagement Group, and then to the Regional Employer Engagement Board chaired by the 7th Brigade Commander.
The Defence Relationship Manager (DRM) is an impartial role created by the Ministry of Defence to share information and support with organisations who employ a member of the Defence community. The national Defence Relationship Management group is funded by a Ministry of Defence grant scheme.
Our East Anglia DRMs are your local contacts on behalf of Defence Relationship Management for employing reservists’ , veterans and cadet force adult volunteers—and their families. Their services free of charge and include information on the legal rights and responsibilities of employers who do employ reservists.
Our DRMs can explain reserves’ and adult volunteers’ training commitments and how they can affect employers. Guidance on how to get the best out of reserve, veteran or cadet force adult volunteer employees is also available.
The DRM and the RFCA’s Employer Engagement groups also nurture a network of employers who are supportive of the Armed Forces, encourage more employers to sign the Armed Forces Covenant, and support employers in applying for a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Award.
How can our Defence Relationship Managers help you?
The Defence Relationship Manager (DRM) is an impartial role created by the Ministry of Defence to make information and support available to employers of a member of the Armed Forces community.
Signing the Armed Forces Covenant
You decide how you want to support Defence People through your Armed Forces Covenant pledge, but our DRMs will guide you through the process of writing and tailoring it.
If you wish to have your pledge co-signed by a member of the Armed Forces, your DRM can make the necessary arrangements.
Employers who are working with our DRMs can also access events and opportunities organised by the Armed Forces, including:
- local networking breakfast events
- the King’s Birthday Parade, known as Trooping the Colour
- Army Engagement Group events
- Employer Recognition Scheme Awards evenings
Receive recognition from the Ministry of Defence
Our DRMs can assist you with gaining recognition from the Ministry of Defence, taking you through the process of achieving Bronze, Silver and onto Gold recognition.
Family-owned facilities management business CS Hodges created advocacy for Armed Forces Day and the Armed Forces Covenant. They won the hearts and minds of the people and, with their DRM’s assistance, they were awarded the Silver, then Gold ERS Awards.
The RFCA’s Employer Engagement team preserved the testimony of companies who received Silver recognition in dedicated booklets, from 2015 to present day.
Enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship with Defence
View the Partnering with Defence leaflet to find out more about tangible benefits for employers.
In the Armed Forces, people develop valuable leadership skills, teamwork, effective communication and organisational ability. Many will also be trained in trade-specific skills, such as first aid or driving. This ongoing development can lead to improved performance and less sickness absence in the workplace.
Download Guide to Employing Reservists to explore the specific benefits employing a reservist.
Businesses and charitable organisations can sign the Armed Forces Covenant to publicly show their support for the Armed Forces community.
The Ministry of Defence publicly honours those organisations for their support through their Employer Recognition Scheme. Another mark of a supportive employer is to advertise jobs through the Career Transition Partnership.
The Armed Forces Covenant is our country’s commitment to those who proudly protect the nation with honour, courage, and commitment. We promise that they and their families will be treated with respect and fairness in the economy and society they serve with their lives.
For employers, signing the Covenant shows they recognise the value that reservists, cadet force adult volunteers, veterans and their families contribute to our country.
It also shows that an employer upholds the principles of the Covenant: that no member of the Armed Forces Community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen—and that special treatment, especially for the injured or bereaved, may sometimes be appropriate.
The Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) acknowledges employers who have provided exceptional support to the Defence community by going above and beyond their Armed Forces Covenant pledges.
Once you have signed the Covenant, you can self-nominate for a Bronze award as long as your organisation promotes itself as being Armed Forces-friendly and open to employing reservists, service leavers/veterans, cadet instructors and military spouses/partners.
Bronze Award holders receive an electronic certificate and logos to display on their website and stationery. They also gain the opportunity to advance to the Silver and finally Gold Awards of the ERS.
Through this three-tier approach of Bronze, Silver and Gold awards, the ERS recognises the different levels of commitment provided by employers. This allows the Ministry of Defence to publicly thank and honour those organisations for their support.
Headquartered in Stevenage, Morrison Utility Services (pictured above with their ERS Gold Award) employ more than 80 veterans and numerous reservists. They work tirelessly with businesses across several industries to help recruit military personnel.
Morrison ran a social media campaign to recruit reservist and former regular military personnel into the gas industry. The investment they made into this programme resulted in their employing 22 service leavers.
Silver and Gold awards are bestowed on organisations who meet specific criteria—which your DRMs can advise and support with.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can participate in the Armed Forces Covenant?
The Covenant can be adopted by a business or charitable organisation of any size, and from any industry.
What are the top reasons for signing the Covenant?
- To show support for Britain’s Armed Forces
- To get help to advertise your vacancies on free jobs boards aimed at service leaders, and
- To be more attractive to high-quality service leavers and reservists.
- To display the Armed Forces Covenant logo on your marketing
- To access military-run leadership and team-building training
Who makes the decision on a Silver or Gold award?
When the nomination has been validated, it will be considered by a selection board at national level for Gold awards and regional level for Silver awards. The selection boards will be chaired by a senior military officer and each nomination will be considered against the award criteria. Organisations selected for Silver and Gold awards will be notified in writing and invited to attend a presentation event.
What is the time-frame for nominations?
Employers may register for a Bronze award online at any time throughout the year. Nominations for Silver and Gold awards are also submitted online, closing dates are given on the website.
How long is an award valid?
The Gold and Silver awards will be linked to the year of the award. It is expected that employers will actively reflect their status as an award winner for five years from the date of the award, although the award itself will continue to be listed on the website and be a matter of public record.
How can the MOD and the Armed Forces Community support businesses?
The Armed Forces Community can contribute real value to a business, both as employees, who bring a wealth of skills and experience, and as customers. The Covenant scheme encourages the Armed Forces Community to do their bit to nurture this two-way relationship.
Steven Rose, MD of Rose Builders, talks about the benefits of employing veterans, and his ongoing commitment to advocate for the ERS scheme in this fantastic video produced by the Defence Relationship Management team.
Steven said: “Our HR Manager became aware of the AFC through the local college whilst supporting the Building Heroes programme they were running. The college apprenticeship team were involved with the AFC and introduced her to the scheme.”
Their HR Manager attended the local college’s Building Heroes graduation ceremony and was immediately hooked! After speaking with the cohorts for that course, she passionately believed that Rose Builders could play a part in supporting the Armed Forces community.
Rose Builders have employed Reservists, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and numerous veterans. Since 2018, three personnel have successfully transitioned to Rose Builders through the Building Heroes scheme, 2 starting apprenticeships with them. Their roles range from General Operatives, Apprentices (carpentry and brickwork) to Assistant Site Managers and H&S Managers.
The company also run a Forces Incentives scheme on their new homes, which is open to Regular and Reserves personnel, but Steven insists: “Every effort makes a difference! Don’t be put off by thinking that you have to make a big elaborate gesture. Individuals from the Defence Community bring with them a wealth of transferable skills, it really is worth exploring.”