Businesses and organisations in Yorkshire and the Humber recognised with top Ministry of Defence honour
Businesses supporting the Armed Forces community
The Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for Yorkshire and the Humber (RFCA YH) is pleased to announce that nineteen organisations from Yorkshire and the Humber have been awarded the prestigious ‘Silver’ status as part of the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). This year celebrates employers from a range of industries, sectors and sizes. The recipients are recognised for their unwavering effort to support the forces, in their workplace and community, with services and practices that fairly treat employees or prospective employees who are veterans, reservists, families of serving officers, and cadet forces adult volunteers.
About the Employer Recognition Scheme
The ERS consists of three award levels – bronze, silver and gold. Each level indicates an organisation’s commitment and involvement to offer support programmes that align with the scheme’s framework. The main objective of the scheme is for employers to endorse their employees who are military personnel (current, former and associated) and enable development opportunities that support their current or past duty to the forces with their civilian employment. The scheme also encourages the overall support of the general armed forces community.
A pledge to support the Armed Forces
Before submitting a nomination for ERS, the employer must be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC), an agreement that pledges an employer’s intent to support the military community. AFC and ERS are nationally recognised; Silver ERS Award winners will be celebrated regionally at an awards event in York on 12th September 2024.
Colonel Jason Wright, Chief Executive RFCA YH says:
“Congratulations to this year’s employers who have achieved recognition for their exemplary efforts supporting the Armed Forces Community. Veterans, reservists and adult volunteers bring a wealth of transferable skills and knowledge from their military experience, making them invaluable contributors in a workplace environment or organisational team. We are grateful for the regional employers committed to ensuring equal and fair opportunities for these individuals and their families. We hope this year’s recipients further their development of Armed Forces-friendly practices and policies and continue their ERS journey to reach the highest recognition of gold status”.
Why being a forces-friendly employer matters – statements from 2024 Silver ERS employers
Koncept Rail Solutions Ltd’s Managing Director, David Knowles says:
“For a small company, Koncept Rail Solutions Ltd employs a significant percentage of veterans and veteran spouses (18%), through both our full-time employees and associate consultant network.
“Koncept Rail Solutions identify the transferable skills that the Armed Forces community can bring to an organisation, not just veterans but those from the Reserves, Forces families and Cadet Force backgrounds. We acknowledge these skills and have identified that individuals, although potentially lacking commercial experience, can add significant value into our business, and aim to provide the opportunities for them to thrive.”
Christeyns UK’s Operation Director Justin Kerslake:
Christeyns are absolutely delighted to receive the ERS Silver Award which recognises our ongoing commitment to the Armed Forces. We have, for some years, employed veterans in our team. This cohort have always proven to be reliable, resilient, resourceful and committed members of our team and deliver the customer support excellence we strive for. We are pleased to be able to deliver long term careers for our Ex Forces colleagues and thank them for their previous service to the Country.
York College and University Centre’s Principal and Chief Executive Ken Merry:
“It is a great honour for York College to receive the ERS Silver Award. It highlights our steadfast commitment to supporting the defence and armed forces community across York and North Yorkshire. We are fiercely proud of all our staff who have served in the armed forces and this recognition aligns perfectly with our values and our dedication to upholding the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant.”
NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board’s Executive Director of People for NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, Jayne Adamson:
“NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB is delighted that we have been awarded the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award. This prestigious accolade is given to organisations that pledge and demonstrate their support to the armed forces community, aligning their values with the Armed Forces Covenant. Our ICB has been recognised for its significant efforts to support our Armed Forces colleagues, alongside proactive measures to encourage and welcome applications from individuals within the Armed Forces community.
“We are immensely proud of this achievement as we have been working hard to be a fully inclusive employer. We understand the importance of ensuring that all our colleagues, from all backgrounds, are supported and treated fairly. We have now set our sights on achieving the Gold Award.”
2024 complete list of Yorkshire and the Humber Silver ERS employers
East Riding of Yorkshire
HETA (Humberside Engineering Training Association)
Hull 4 Heroes
NHS Humber & North Yorkshire Integrated Care
North Yorkshire
Carers Plus Yorkshire
Citizens Advice York
Eden Camp Modern History Museum
Purple Creative Studio
Saint Catherine’s Hospice
Skipton Building Society
York College
South Yorkshire
Help 4 Homeless Veterans
Koncept Rail Solutions
Linbrooke Services
West Yorkshire
Accu Limited
Amco Griffen
Atlas Green Limited
Christeyns UK Limited
The Pink Link
Wainwrights