Twenty six employers from the West Midlands region have been presented with their Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Awards. The West Midland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association’s awards took place on Tuesday 26th September, at the National Memorial Arboretum.

The ERS 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.

The winning West Midlands ERS Silver Awards organisations are spread across all of the region’s counties and come from a wide range of sectors across industry, including education providers, NHS Trusts, charities and more. This year’s winners broken down into counties are:

  • Herefordshire: Providence Global ITF Limited, SEPAR International, Wye Float Limited
  • Shropshire: Allsports Coaches Coaching Academy CIC, Career Pursuit CIC, Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, Wrekin Housing Group
  • Staffordshire: The National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire Police, Staffordshire University
  • Warwickshire: Apex Recruitment, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (Op Courage, NHS Veterans Mental Health), Risk Evolves Limited, Unmanned Air Veterans Limited
  • West Midlands: Marston’s PLC, Sandwell College, St. Modwen Properties PLC, Steps to Work, STS Aviation Services UK Limited, Summit Learning Trust, West Midlands Trains
  • Worcestershire: Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, RT Consulting Limited, Sanctuary Group, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Worcestershire County Council

Imogen Day, VP Human Resources at STS Aviation Services UK, said: “Obtaining Silver ERS status supports our commitment and contributions to the Armed Forces through the world class work that we are performing on a daily basis, which can only be delivered through the people that we employ. Within both our Military or Civilian Aviation operations we see the incredible value that the transferable skills from the Armed Forces brings to our organisation. Being awarded Silver ERS status enables us to demonstrate our commitment to this community, our existing employees, customers, suppliers and prospective employees.”

Stephanie Bishop, Head of Consulting at RT Consulting added: “RT Consulting are immensely thankful to the Veteran, Reservist, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, and military spouses/partners community, and it is our aim to continue our ongoing support to these groups wherever possible.

“The members of these communities are highly adaptable, results-driven, and incredibly resilient, skills that are invaluable in any area of life. We recognise the immense sacrifice that those within these communities may have endured or may be yet to. By pledging our continuous support and recognition of the value these skills can bring to the workplace we hope to help these individuals recognise their own talents and the value they can add to any organisation.”

Graham Whitehouse, Philip Sinclair and Cat Suckling, Regional Employer Engagement Directors for West Midland RFCA commented on the awards:

“The Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme encourages employers to support Defence and inspire others to do the same. The scheme encompasses Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards for organisations that pledge, demonstrate and advocate support to Defence and the Armed Forces community, and who align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.

“We are absolutely delighted that 26 employers across our region have been recognised by the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award this year.  Having worked closely with these organisations over a number of months and years, we know of the commitment that they show and demonstrate, and applaud their recognition, which is justifiably deserved.

“Many congratulations to them all, we look forward to continuing our work with them.”

Silver ERS Awards 2023 winning employers stand outside Aspects, a building at the National Memorial Arboretum, holding their awards and smiling for a group photo. Behind them is the expanse grounds and memorials that are located at the Arboretum.

The lunch time event was held in Aspects at the iconic National Memorial Arboretum, a fitting place for such awards to be presented. Guests were welcomed to the event by representatives from local Royal Naval Reserve, Army Reserve and Royal Air Force Reserve units and the event concluded with a short Act of Remembrance at the Armed Forces Memorial.

If you’re interested in finding out more about the Employer Recognition Scheme please visit www.wmrfca.org/employers or contact our employer engagement team on wm-ee@rfca.mod.uk

 

Published 28/09/23