UDSS Receive Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award

The ceremony, held at the Royal Automobile Club in London was held to recognise companies that demonstrate and advocate top-level support for the defence and armed forces community.

Peter Germain, chief executive of the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Greater London,  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.' 

Co-Chairman Peter Hewitt JP FCSI FRSA received the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award on behalf of the Universal Defence and Security Solutions team.

"I am extremely proud that UDSS has been recognised for its contribution to supporting the armed forces community. We recognise first-hand, the outstanding contribution that our serving personnel, veterans and their families can make to our organisation.

"To have received both the bronze and silver awards in fast succession is a great achievement. We are now looking forward to our achieving our next goal, the Gold ERS Award", commented Peter.

UDSS Co-Chairman Peter Hewitt JP FCSI FRSA and Universal Recruitment and Interim Solutions Director Fidelma Hewitt pictured with the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE, His Majesty's representative in Greater London.

Award winners must be signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant, a promise to uplift the lives of those who serve or have served in the armed forces (and their families) through the actions of member organisations. The awards were launched in 2014 to recognise employer support for the wider principles of the Armed Forces Covenant. The scheme encompasses bronze, silver, and gold awards for the employers that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to Defence and the armed forces community. This includes the reserves, service leavers, armed forces veterans, the wounded, injured and sick, cadets, military spouses or partners and their families.

UDSS has the world’s largest pool of former UK military personnel, from 4* to warrant officers, across land, sea, air and Civil Service. UDSS honour these trusted experts with fair treatment and respect at every stage of their work.

RELATED: UDSS Detailed Areas of Specialism

Part of the criteria to achieve ERS recognition is to deliver supportive and respectful client relations. UDSS offers the best of UK Defence knowledge outside the military itself, ensuring Armed Forces Covenant values are upheld via the specialist defence and wider security solutions that UDSS provides to governments and businesses.

As ERS Silver Award holders, UDSS:

• actively ensures that its workforce is aware of UDSS' positive policies towards defence people issues.

• demonstrates support to mobilisations of veterans, serving people, and reservists that include consideration of additional unpaid/paid leave (wherever possible not to reservist employees’ financial disadvantage).

“Our team’s reputation for providing first-class defence support is well deserved, and we look forward to continuing this important work in our upcoming projects,” adds Peter.

One such project is an employment-focused webinar for veterans. To learn more about this event or further explore UDSS’ work, visit the link below.