The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) encourages employers to support defence and inspire others to do the same. The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.
The ERS is designed primarily to recognise private sector support although public sector organisations such as the emergency services, local authorities, NHS trusts and executive agencies are also eligible to be recognised.
Gold award holders:
- must have signed the Armed Forces Covenant
- employers must have an existing relationship with their National Account Manager/REED/appropriate defence representative
- the employer must already be demonstrating support by holding a valid ERS Silver Award. Employers that do not hold a valid ERS Silver Award cannot progress to the Gold level
- the employer must proactively demonstrate their forces-friendly credentials as part of their recruiting and selection processes. Where possible, they should be engaged with Career Transition Partnership (CTP) in the recruitment of service leavers and have registered for the Forces Families Jobs (FFJ) portal
- the employer must actively ensure that their workforce is aware of their positive policies towards defence people issues. For example, an employer nominated for support to the Reserves must have an internally publicised and positive human resources policy on Reserves
- the employer must be an exemplar within their market sector, advocating support to defence people issues to partner organisations, suppliers and customers with tangible positive results
- within the context of Reserves the employer must have demonstrated support to mobilisations or have a framework in place. They must provide at least 10 days’ additional leave for training, fully paid, to the Reservist employee
- the employer must not have been the subject of any negative public relations or media activity
Award Ceremony
We are looking forward to attending the presentation of the Gold Award at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth in late November.
“Well, a year ago we were proud to announce that we had achieved Silver, and I could not be prouder to announce that today we received notification that we have been awarded the Gold Armed Forces Covenant! As a Private Training Provider specialising in the resettlement of our Armed Forces, we are absolutely delighted to be recognised for the hard work we do to train and support anyone connected with the armed forces. There is even more opportunity now within Construction and Engineering and we will continue to support those leaving, veterans and forces families with skills training. We are proudly working alongside local and national employers on some of the largest construction and engineering projects in the country to provide employment opportunities too.
Both Jon and I would personally like to thank every member of our team for ensuring service personnel receive a smooth transition when leaving the military, we will continue to work hard to provide the very best outcomes, and will be delighted to accept the Gold Covenant Award in November. Thank you to the Wessex RFCA team for their continued support”
Rachel Allen
Train4All - Chief Operating Officer
If you are an employer and your business would like to pledge your support to defence, get in touch with Wessex RFCA where they will be happy to support and guide you through the process.