Council retains MoD Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award

We have successfully retained our Gold Award under the Ministry of Defence's Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), following our five-year reaccreditation submission. The award is the highest accolade in the scheme, recognising employers who demonstrate outstanding support for the Armed Forces community.

The ERS Gold Award highlights our continued commitment to veterans, reservists, cadet force adult volunteers, and their families. By maintaining policies that support flexible working for reservists, promoting employment opportunities for service leavers, and championing the Armed Forces Covenant, we have reaffirmed our role as a leading advocate for those who serve.

Some of the policies and activities in place at Leicestershire County Council include:

• Extra paid leave for Reservists, Cadet Force adult volunteers, military spouses and partners
• Supportive HR policies in place for all members of the armed forces veterans, Reservists, Cadet Force adult volunteers and spouses and partners of those serving in the armed forces.
• Bespoke rehabilitation 'taster' work placements for injured and sick veterans to help them adjust back into civilian life
• Ongoing support of the active Armed Forces Network, which provides peer support for local authority employees who are members of the armed forces family and mentoring for new starter veterans, as well as an online support network for those who cannot attend the quarterly meetings
• Training for staff to educate them about the Armed Forces Covenant and how to support the armed forces community in their work
• Online Armed Forces Voices webinar events, which provide opportunities to hear about the experience of those who have served and been involved with the armed forces community and now use that experience in their civilian life
• Public civic events to honour the armed forces, including Armed Forces Day and Armistice Day
• Displays of armed forces-related creative projects work from local schools and heritage projects
• Continued support and fundraising for the Royal British Legion

Retaining the Gold Award is a testament to our dedication to the Armed Forces community. We are proud to uphold the values of the Armed Forces Covenant and ensure that those who serve, and their families, receive the recognition and support they deserve.

We first achieved Silver status under the scheme in 2017, progressing to Gold in 2020. We have continued to build on its strong foundations, working closely with local partners and the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme to deliver initiatives that offer positive support to all member of the armed forces family.

More information about the Employer Recognition Scheme and the Armed Forces Covenant is available on our Supporting the Armed Forces web pages.