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 Regional Employer Engagement Director (REED) 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 through the Defence Relationship Management group (DRM). DRM is funded by a general grant scheme of the Ministry of Defence.
Our Regional Employer Engagement Director (REED) for East Anglia is Kristina Carrington. Kristina is a local contact for reservists’ employers on behalf of Defence Relationship Management. Her services are completely free of charge. She can provide information on the legal rights and responsibilities of employers with regards to employing reservists. She can explain reserves’ and adult volunteers’ training commitments and how they can affect employers. She can offer guidance on how to get the best out of reserve or cadet force adult volunteer employees.
The REED and the county RFCA 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 Regional Employer Engagement Director help you?
The Regional Employer Engagement Director (REED) 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.
Kristina Carrington is your Regional Employer Engagement Director.
Kristina can guide you through the process of writing and tailoring your Armed Forces Covenant pledge. You decide how you want to support Defence People through your covenant promise.
Kristina has a great deal of experience working with companies of all different sizes and industries. she said: “The best covenants are those that are ambitious, include specific pledges and demonstrate an awareness of how your company can make a difference to the lives of those who serve.”
If you wish to have your pledge co-signed by a member of the Armed Forces, Kristina can make the necessary arrangements.
Contact Kristina today to ask about advice and support with the pledge.
Employers who are working with our the REED can also access events and opportunities organised by the Armed Forces, including:
- local networking breakfast events with presentations by reservists and employers,
- the King’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour),
- Army Engagement Group presentations,
- annual Employer Recognition Scheme Awards evenings,
- overseas visits to reservists on training exercises.
Working with Kristina, you can join the growing number of supportive employers who have received recognition from the Ministry of Defence.
Kristina 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 Kristina’s assistance, they were awarded the Silver, then Gold ERS Awards.
Kristina and her team preserved the testimony of companies who received Silver recognition in dedicated booklets, from 2015 to present day.
Once you’ve become a supportive employer, you can enjoy the rewards of 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 the Nation’s commitment to those who proudly protect our nation, who do so with honour, courage, and commitment, that they and their families will be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy and society they serve with their lives.
Businesses and charitable organisations can sign the Armed Forces Covenant to publicly show their support for the Armed Forces community.
For employers, it demonstrates that they recognise the value that reservists, cadet force adult volunteers, regular soldiers and veterans contribute to our country.
It also shows that employers aim to uphold 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 in some circumstances special treatment may be appropriate, especially for the injured or bereaved.
The Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) acknowledges employers who have provided exceptional support to the Armed Forces community and Defence by going above and beyond their Armed Forces Covenant Pledges.
Once you have signed the Armed Forces Covenant, you can self-nominate for a Bronze award as long as you promote yourself as being Armed Forces-friendly and are open to employing reservists, service leavers/veterans, cadet instructors and military spouses/partners.
Award holders receive an electronic certificate and logos to display on their website and stationery.
Through a three tier approach of Bronze, Silver and Gold awards, the scheme 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 with their Gold ERS Award) employ more than 80 veterans and numerous reservists. They work tirelessly with businesses across several industries to help recruit military personnel.
They ran a social media campaign to recruit new military personnel into the gas industry. This involved placing candidates onto a training programme, giving them industry qualifications and longer term career prospects in an industry area where there is a skills shortage. The resulted in Morrison Utility Services employing 22 ex-service leavers.
Silver and Gold awards are bestowed to organisations meeting specific criteria. Advice and support is available from our dedicated Employer Engagement team.
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 5 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.”