The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme recognises those exemplar employers who go the extra mile to show their support for the Armed Forces community.
There are three tiers of award – Bronze, Silver and Gold – for employers who first pledge, then demonstrate, then advocate support to the Armed Forces Community in alignment with the Armed Forces Covenant. Before the employer is able to receive an award they must first pledge their commitment by signing the Armed Forces Covenant.
Bronze Award
Bronze 
Award holders are self-nominated employers who pledge to support the Armed Forces, including existing or prospective employees who are members of the community.
Bronze Award holders seek to promote being Armed Forces friendly and are open to employing Reservists, Armed Forces veterans (including wounded, injured and sick), cadet instructors and military spouses/partners.
Silver Award
Silver Award holders demonstrate support by employing at least one individual from the Armed Forces community category that the nomination emphasises. Actively communicating and upholding a positive stance to their employees via established HR policies and procedures.
Silver Award holders support Reservists by demonstrating flexibility to allow them to fulfil their annual training and mobilisation commitments. They must demonstrate support to training by providing at least 5 days' additional unpaid/paid leave.
Gold Award
Gold Award holders proactively advocate and support Defence, communicating their commitment both internally to employees and externally to the wider community, through established policies and examples of support.
Employers must employ at least one individual from the Armed Forces community category that the nomination emphasises.
Gold Award holders demonstrate significant support for Reservists, enabling them to fulfil their annual training and mobilisation commitments. They must provide at least 10 days additional leave for training, fully paid, to the Reservist employee.
To register for a Bronze award or nominate an employer for Silver or Gold please visit the Government's Employer Recognition Scheme webpage.