New employers awarded for armed forces community support
The most supportive organisations for Britains 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.