Published: Thursday 24th November 2016 | 9.15am
Cannock Chase Council has been recognised for its support for the armed forces and gained a Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award.
The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) encourages employers to support defence and inspire others to do the same. The scheme includes 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 Armed Forces Covenant is a promise that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces and their families are treated fairly.
Cannock Chase Council was nominated for the award by William Billington of the Personnel Recovery Unit at 11 Signal and West Midlands Brigade and have received this accolade for a number of reasons including; support for medically discharged service leavers in offering work attachments in areas such as planning, business support, environmental health, housing, open spaces and parks.
The award ceremony took place at the iconic Library of Birmingham on 17 November, where Managing Director of Cannock Chase Council, Tony McGovern was presented with the award by Major-General Richard Stanford and Colonel Richard Maybery.
Councillor George Adamson, Leader of the Council said “I am delighted that Cannock Chase Council has been recognised with this prestigious award, we are one of only three Councils in the West Midlands to have received this award, this month.
We are committed to helping those who have or are serving in the armed forces and their families and will continue to do all we can.”
The Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme awards were launched in 2014 by the Prime Minister and include Bronze, Silver and Gold tiers. The silver award holders must;
- demonstrate support for service personnel issues and employ at least one member of the armed forces community
- actively communicate and uphold a positive stance to their employees via established HR policies and procedures
- show flexibility towards annual training commitments and mobilisation of reservist employees and support the employment of cadet instructors, armed forces veterans (including wounded, injured and sick) and military spouses/partners
- collect their certificate at a regional silver awards ceremony, receive silver logos to display and are themselves displayed on the list of Employer Recognition Scheme award winners
- must be nominated for a silver award by a third party using the online nomination form
- are required to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and employ at least one individual from the covenant category that the nomination emphasises