On Thursday 29th September, employers and organisations from across East Anglia and Greater London attended a ceremony at the Royal Automobile Club in London to receive their Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Awards; the Ministry of Defence’s highest badge of honour in recognition of supporting the Armed Forces Community.
Nationally, a record breaking 156 organisations received the award this year and similar to the previous year, instead of one national event, multiple regional ceremonies were organised to celebrate those that employ and support individuals who serve, veterans and their families.
The Minister for Defence People and Veterans, Leo Docherty said: “ Regardless of size, location or sector, employing members of the Armed Forces community is good for businesses.
These awards recognise the outstanding support for our Armed Forces from employers across the UK and I would like to thank and congratulate each and every one.”
Kristina Carrington, the Ministry of Defence’s Regional Employer Engagement Director for East Anglia, adds: “We are delighted and humbled that so many employers in East Anglia have been awarded a Gold Award, the highest accolade available. Following, what has been a difficult few years for us all, they have gone above and beyond to support our Armed Forces Community – they have our sincerest thanks.”
To win an award, organisations must provide 10 extra paid days leave for Reservists and have supportive HR policies in place for veterans, Reserves, and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, as well as spouses and partners of those serving in the Armed Forces.
Organisations must also advocate the benefits of supporting those within the Armed Forces community by encouraging others to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and engage in the Employer Recognition Scheme.
This year, Councils, charities, blue light services, retail and insurance companies are among those that have been recognised. Of the winners, 44% are either micro-organisations or small and medium sized enterprises, while 33% are public organisations. This demonstrates both the growth in numbers and the depth of supportive employers, demonstrating the wide range of organisations offering support to the military community regardless of size, sector or location.
On winning gold, Fergus Williams, Chief Executive Officer for Walking With The Wounded said: “Supporting Defence People, specifically Veterans, is at the core of our existence. Our teams work daily to embody our ‘client first’ ethos, and receiving the Gold Award is a fantastic recognition of our work, and how we are a part of the solution. Last year, we supported over 3,000 veterans into mental health support, employment, volunteering opportunities and access to emergency relief. We are proud to have received this award and will continue to be a part of the solution for the Armed Forces Community.”
Steve Lancaster, Chief Executive Officer for CYSIAM Ltd added: “As an organisation that is founded in the heritage of careers in defence and national security, our armed forces are close to all our hearts and never far from our thoughts. Whether veterans ourselves or those that have worked closely with service personnel, we have built our company on values aligned to those of our military – Integrity, Passion, and Tenacity. We committed long ago to always support those leaving the military regardless of awards or accolades, however it is fantastic to be recognised for the work we have done in this area. It’s the least we can do to help give back to those that keep us safe and protect the freedoms we enjoy.”
Award recipients on Thursday 29th September 2022:
| East Anglia Regional Organisations 11 | Breckland District Council CYSIAM Ltd Essex County Council Essex Police Fortis Vision Limited I&C Limited trading as Red7Marine iCARP CIC Instalcom Ltd Sopra Steria Tendring District Council Walking with the Wounded |
| Greater London Regional Organisations 10 | Ethos Group Holdings Ltd Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust Nimbus Ninety Ogletree Deakins International LLP Olive Group (UK) Ltd Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust Silverseal Standard Chartered UK Templar Executives Ltd |
