On 23rd October 2024 fourteen organisations from across the wider West Midlands area attended an awards ceremony in Shropshire to receive their Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Awards, recognising their exceptional level of support to the Armed Forces community.
Held at Lilleshall House and Gardens in Shropshire – home to one of the UK’s National Sports Centres and the Royal British Legion’s Battle Back Centre – the awards were presented by Air Vice-Marshal Shaun Harris CBE MA BEng (Hons) CEng MIET, Director Support and Chief Engineer RAF, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.
The winners are:
- Allsports Coaches Coaching Academy CIC
- Career Pursuit CIC
- Carwood Motor Units Limited
- Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust
- Leominster Town Council
- Marston’s PLC
- NP Aerospace Limited
- Risk Evolves Ltd
- Staffordshire Police
- Summit Learning Trust
- Telent Technology Services Limited
- Unmanned Air Veterans Ltd
- Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
- Worcestershire County Council
In addition to the winning organisations we welcomed Reservists from 605 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force Reserves, and enjoyed music from the RAF Salon Orchestra and a surprise light stick display by the Corps of Drums from the Royal Logistics Corps.
Members of the Invictus Games’ Team UK also joined the evening, sharing their experiences and how the power of sports and the Games have played an important part in their lives and recovery.
The lead for the event, West Midland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association Regional Employer Engagement Director, Philip Sinclair commented: “It was such a pleasure to host our ERS Gold Awards at Lilleshall House and Gardens for the second year. A truly fitting place in which to mark the selfless commitment and huge enthusiasm of our Gold Award winners. All of them are exemplars in going above and beyond in their support for the Armed Forces community.
“I’d like to thank all the winners, once again, on behalf of West Midland RFCA and the whole of Defence.”
Carwood Motor Units Limited commented: “We are thrilled to receive the Gold Award. Carwood has a long-standing history with the British Military, and this prestigious award underpins our commitment to treat members of the Armed Forces community with fairness and respect.
“As a forces-friendly employer, we have, and will continue to benefit first-hand from the raft of highly transferrable skills and qualities that ex-service personnel offer. They bring values that we look for in every one of our employees – resilience, commitment and a great working attitude amongst them – and is why we will always welcome the Armed Forces community at Carwood.”
The Gold Award is the Ministry of Defence’s highest level of award available to employers who have gone the extra mile to support the wider Armed Forces community within their workforce, and communities.
To win a Gold Award, organisations must provide ten extra paid days leave for Reservists and have supportive HR policies in place for veterans, Reserves, and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, as well as spouses and partners of those serving in the Armed Forces.
Organisations must also advocate the benefits of supporting the Armed Forces community by encouraging others to sign the Armed Forces Covenant, and engage in the Employer Recognition Scheme.
To find out more about the Employer Recognition Scheme and how your business can benefit from supporting the Armed Forces community visit www.wmrfca.org/employers.
To view the list of organisations who have signed the Armed Forces Covenant visit https://www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/get-involved/who-has-signed-the-covenant/
Published 24/10/2024
