Eighteen exceptional employers received Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Awards in East Anglia this year. The awards celebrate their outstanding commitment to supporting employees who are involved with the Armed Forces.
The Silver Award ceremony highlighted how these organisations have gone beyond signing the Armed Forces Covenant to embed meaningful, practical support for Reservists, Cadet Forces Adult Volunteers (CFAVs), veterans and military families into their workplace policies and culture.
In 2025 our glittering presentation event took place at Madingley Hall, Cambridge, on Thursday 25 September. you can see some photos of the proceedings below.
Understanding the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS)
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.
To achieve the Silver Award, organisations must demonstrate sustained support beyond their initial Bronze-level commitments. This includes implementing comprehensive HR policies that address the unique needs of reservists, providing additional leave for Reservist training, actively supporting veteran recruitment, and creating flexible working arrangements that accommodate military commitments.
The progression to Silver level represents a significant step forward in an organisation’s relationship with the Defence community. Louis Payne, chief executive of Davro, a leading provider of site welfare and accommodation solutions—and one of our 2025 Silver winners—said: “Our aim is to provide meaningful support, helping former service members feel welcome and valued. We’re proud to stand with them.”
Benefits of supporting veterans and reservists
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.
Chris Mann is director of learning and assurance at the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), as well as a veteran himself. He said: “The ECITB is a flexible employer that provides a supportive environment to ex-forces personnel. The company values the experience and transferable skills gained from my time in the Royal Navy and actively encourages the continued professional development of all staff.”
Adrian Webster is operations manager at specialist military equipment designer and manufacturer ISTEC. He said: “The team at ISTEC have been incredibly supportive, recognising my background, valuing my experience, and providing the flexibility I needed to adjust. I’ve been able to continue supporting defence initiatives while building a new career, thanks to an environment that understands the demands of service life.”
The programme director leading construction of a new nuclear reactor at Sizewell in Suffolk, Paul Snelling, said: “Being recognised with the Silver Award is an absolute honour and…reflects our drive to build an inclusive workplace where military talent is valued, supported, and empowered to help build Sizewell C.”
Backing employees with defence connections
For members of the Defence community, these supportive employers provide crucial stability during career transitions and ongoing service commitments. There can be real challenges in translating military experience into civilian contexts, making supportive employers invaluable partners in their professional development.
After leaving the Armed Forces, Rachael Bailey became a consulting trainer in security and privacy for risk management firm Principle Defence. She said: “Delivering training in the military has been a transferable skill that my workplace values. Principle Defence has supported me gaining qualifications in cyber security and privacy and building my knowledge in specialist areas, which has given me confidence in corporate scenarios.”
Natalie Urbaniak is head of fundraising and communications at the Parachute Regiment Airborne Forces Charity (Support our Paras). She said: “As a military spouse, balancing a full-time job with raising a young family and supporting my husband’s career can be challenging. Having such an incredible support network at work is an enormous comfort.”
Reservists particularly value employers who understand the flexibility required for their ongoing Reserve Forces commitments. Kelvin Batallas, West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust’s facilities assurance officer, is one of them. Ahead of the awards evening, Kelvin told us: “The trust’s support has made it possible for me to balance my Defence commitment alongside my NHS role.
“Having access to paid leave for training and mobilisation has taken away a lot of the stress that reservists often face.”
Recognition across diverse sectors
This year’s Silver Award winners represent the breadth of East Anglian industry, from major infrastructure projects like Sizewell C and public bodies like West Herts Hospitals to community-focused organisations such as Healthwatch Essex. Each brings unique approaches to supporting the Defence community while demonstrating the universal applicability of military-friendly employment practices.
Healthwatch Essex chief executive Samantha Glover said: “This award allows us to promote we are a reservist friendly employer and share with colleagues and partners that we are working with the Armed Forces Covenant. We are committed to continuing this support and working towards a Gold Award.”
The diversity of winners demonstrates that organisations of all sizes and sectors can meaningfully contribute to supporting Defence personnel, with each finding approaches appropriate to their context and capabilities.
Looking forward
The winners of the 2025 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.
The ceremony celebrating these 2025 Silver Awards in East Anglia also included speakers such as HM Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire Mrs Julie Spence OBE CStJ QPM and our Chair, Brig Tim Seal TD DL VR. Together, we celebrated this milestone in their ERS journey with all our region’s winners, who for 2025 are:
- Davro Site Services Ltd
- Dereham Town Council
- e50K CIC
- Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB)
- Gardline Limited
- Healthwatch Essex
- Highbury Recruitment
- Ipswich Borough Council
- Istec Services Ltd
- P4 Limited
- Principle Defence
- Scotty’s Little Soldiers
- Sir Robert McAlpine
- Sizewell C Limited
- Southend-on-Sea City Council
- System Design Evaluation Ltd
- The Parachute Regiment Airborne Forces Charity (Support our Paras)
- West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Supporting those who serve and have served is not just the right thing to do. As our Silver Awards in East Anglia show, it’s good business practice that strengthens organisations, communities, and our national resilience.
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.
