News story: 33 employers awarded gold for supporting the Armed Forces

The Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Awards is the highest badge of honour for organisations which have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and demonstrated outstanding support for those who serve and have served.

The ERS Gold Awards recognise employers who actively support the Armed Forces community in their workplace and also encourage others to follow their lead. The award scheme, which attracts entries from companies in every part of the country and in the private and public sectors, has seen a rapid increase in participation since it launched in 2014.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said:

These companies have shown the gold standard of commitment to supporting members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their families. They have taken meaningful steps to ensure the Defence community are not disadvantaged by the sacrifice they make in helping keep this country safe. The actions of these employers make it crystal clear that regardless of size, location, or sector, employing people with military skills is good for business.

Commenting on their Gold status, Mark Carne, Chief Executive of Network Rail said:

Network Rail has a long tradition of supporting our armed forces and in employing ex-service personnel and Reserve staff. There are plenty of similarities between Network Rail and the Armed forces – the challenges and pressures, where every day is different, requiring a professional can-do attitude and strong teamwork ethos.

A large number of our workforce come from an Armed Forces background and have thrived in our organisation providing the skills that are critical to our Railway Upgrade Plan and helping us to build a bigger, better railway for Britain.

We are extremely proud to have received this recognition of our work and continued commitment to support the Armed Forces community.

Royal Marines veteran Chris Girdwood, Technician at Gold Award winner Combat Pest Control, added:

It has been great working with Combat Pest Control, not only because they have trained and supported me in my career but also because they do so much supporting the wider military community

The Ministry of Defence also announced today that following a stringent assessment, seven recipients of the 2014 ERS Gold Awards have retained their Gold status:

BAE Systems Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE)
Barclays NHS Nottingham University Hospitals Trust
BT NHS Scotland
Carillion  

The 2017 Employer Recognition Scheme Gold award winners are:

Airbus Hull City Council Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
Balfour Beatty Inverclyde Council Shropshire Council
City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust Kuehne + Nagel Skanska UK Plc
Combat Pest Control Laing O’Rourke Sodexo UK & Ireland
DHL Liverpool City Council Mabway Ltd
DXC Technology ManpowerGroup UK South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
ER Systems Global Metropolitan Police Service Transport for London
FDM Morson Group West Midlands Fire Service
Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce Network Rail Wiltshire Council
General Dynamics UK NHS Golden Jubilee Foundation Wolferstans Solicitors
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North West Ambulance Service X-Forces