New employers awarded for armed forces community support

Posted on 30 July, 2020 by Advance 

The most supportive organisations for Britain’s Armed Forces, from both the private and public sectors, such as Microsoft Ltd, Greater Manchester Police and the Post Office, have been announced today.

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The Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Awards continues to grow in strength year on year. To win an award organisations must demonstrate that they provide 10 extra paid days leave for reservists and have supportive HR policies in place for veterans, reserves, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, spouses and partners of those serving in the armed forces. They also advocate the benefits of supporting those within the armed forces community encouraging others to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and to engage in the Employer Recognition Scheme.

This year marks the seventh year of the awards scheme and this year 47% of winners are either micro organisations or SMEs and 38% are public organisations. This demonstrates both the growth in numbers and the depth of supportive employers who cover a wide range of sectors and company size.

This year’s 127 award winners join a group of 226 winners from previous years, bringing the total to 353 organisations who can share their knowledge and experience on the benefits of employing those from the armed forces community.

Johnny Mercer, Minister for Defence People and Veterans said: "The breadth and diversity of the winners this year shows how business support for the armed forces continues to grow no matter the sector, company size or location. I am grateful for the positive attitude and flexible policies these organisations have adopted towards the defence community, which is testament to the fantastic contribution our serving personnel, veterans and their families can make to any organisation.

"I am delighted that so many companies are supporting our people and that, through this scheme, we can give them the public recognition they deserve."

James Moore, The President of Vetforce UK at Salesforce said: "This award is testament to our continued commitment to support the forces community, whether this be through the provision of career transition assistance, by raising funds for military charities or championing the military community to our organisation. As a former Army Officer, I know first-hand the challenges of finding work after leaving the forces and feel honoured to work for an organisation like Salesforce which recognises the value members of this community can bring to the workplace."

Stephen Corfield, SVP and GM of Industry Sales UK&I at Salesforce added: "We are thrilled to be awarded Gold in the UK Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. At Salesforce, equality is a core tenet of how we run our business and we believe that our business and our community thrive as a result. This is a wonderful recognition of the work our Vetforce team does to build a workplace that respects and values the experience of reservists, veterans and their spouses."

David Gagen, CEO of Engage Technical Solutions said: "Engage Technical Solutions is delighted to have been awarded Gold in the Employers Recognition Scheme. This award represents a significant milestone and reflects the hard work that the team have put in to ensure Engage offers Service Leavers a route where they are fully supported to make the transition into civilian life. With service leavers from the army, navy and the RAF making up to 90% of our Delivery Team Engage strives for a welcoming environment tailored to each individual’s needs.

"With a mainly defence and security focused client base, Engage is well placed to use the skills and experience that the Service Leavers bring with them and quickly enables them to develop new skills and enjoy new experiences delivering for our clients."

Full list of winners:

    AAA Caring Caretaker Ltd
    Aberdeen City Council
    Active Plus CIC
    Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Limited
    Angus Council
    Army Families Federation
    Automatic Data Processing Limited (ADP)
    Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
    Barratt Developments Plc
    B D Print
    Bell Decorating Group
    Black Country Chamber of Commerce
    Black Country Housing Group
    BMT Group Limited
    Bridgeway Consulting Limited
    Cable Telecommunications Training Services Limited
    Cambridgeshire County Council
    Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust
    Camor Limited
    Capco
    Cardiff University (Main Building)
    City Hospitals Independent Commercial Enterprises Ltd
    City of Wolverhampton College
    Company X Consulting Ltd
    Consortio Security
    Cornwall Council
    Cranfield University
    Cumbria County Council
    Dover District Council
    East Riding College
    Enbarr Enterprises Limited
    Engage Technical Solutions Ltd
    Equinix
    Finning UK Limited
    Forces Fitness Limited
    Forrest Precision Engineering Company Limited
    Forward Assist Recruitment
    Gentoo Group Ltd
    Glasgow Caledonian University
    Gosport Borough Council
    Greater Manchester Police
    Herefordshire Council
    High Life Highland
    Highways England
    Hire A Hero
    Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
    Institute of Supply Chain Management
    Interserve PLC
    Kent Fire and Rescue Service
    Lancashire County Council
    Leicestershire County Council
    Level Peaks Associates
    Mace Limited
    Marsh Ltd
    Mears Group plc
    Medway Council
    Microsoft Limited
    Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust Pinderfields General Hospital
    Milbank Concrete Products Ltd
    Milton Keynes Council
    Mitie Group Plc
    Monmouthshire County Council (HQ)
    Morrissey Elite Global Group
    Network Training Partnership
    Newcastle Gateshead NHS CCG
    New Model in Technology & Engineering (NMiTE)
    NHS Northamptonshire Clinical Commissioning Group
    Northamptonshire County Council
    Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
    North East London NHS Foundation Trust
    Northern Trust
    North Lincolnshire Council
    North Wales Police
    North Yorkshire County Council
    Nottingham Forest Community Trust
    Nottinghamshire County Council
    Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service
    One to One Support Services
    Oxfordshire County Council
    PA Consulting Services Limited
    Pearson Engineering
    Peterborough City Council
    Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
    Post Office Limited
    Public Health Wales NHS Trust
    RecruitME
    Ringway Jacobs
    Rose Builders Ltd
    Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service
    Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI)
    Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead
    Rutland County Council
    SA Group Ltd
    Salesforce UK Limited
    Scottish Engineering
    Scottish Water
    Serve and Protect CU
    SHAID
    Simpkins Edwards LLP
    Southampton City Council
    Spectra Group (UK) Limited
    St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
    Stoke City Football Club
    Techmodal Ltd
    Teesside University
    Telford & Wrekin Council
    The Military Mutual
    The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust
    The Rift Group
    The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
    Torfaen County Borough Council
    Torus Logistical Solutions
    Trinity Insurance Services Limited
    UK Veterans Hearing Help
    University of Leicester
    University Of Sunderland
    Veterans HQ
    Vigilance Properties Ltd
    Warwickshire County Council
    Weston College
    West Sussex County Council
    WH Management Group
    Wigan Council
    Wilkin Chapman Solicitors
    Woking Borough Council
    York St John University
    York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.