Businesses recognised for supporting Armed Forces community
PUBLIC and private sector businesses including councils, from across Leicestershire have been formally recognised for the support they provide to the Armed Forces community.
During a ceremony held at Beaumanor Hall, organisations received a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver award in recognition of their support for Defence personnel.
John Wilson, the Ministry of Defence’s regional employer engagement director, said: “Employing military trained personnel is beneficial to employers; the skills and experiences developed through military training help employers to fill skill gaps in their businesses. These Silver award winners recognise that and actively seek to take advantage of it.”
The awards were presented by Air Commodore Simon Edwards MA RAF. In Leicestershire there were seven win- ners - Charnwood Borough Council, Hughes Driver Training, Rushcliffe Borough Council, Melton Borough Council, Loughborough College, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and Leicester City Council.
Loughborough College CEO, John Doherty, said: “It is a real honour to receive the Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award. We are proud of the college’s long-standing support of members of the Armed Forces – including reservists, service leavers and cadet force volunteers.”
To achieve a Silver Award employers need to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant, shown flexibility towards the annual training commitments and deployment of reservists whilst also supporting the employment of Cadet Force instructors, service leavers and military spouses/partners