SOLIHULL Council has been given a Silver Award by the Ministry of Defence for its support to the Armed Forces as part of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).
A spokeswoman for Solihull Council said: “The award was given in recognition of the council’s positive measures and policies which actively support members of the Armed Forces community.
“The Council ensures that members of the forces community are not disadvantaged in its recruitment and selection process, that all positive polices relating to Defence personnel are internally publicised and that its values are aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant.”
Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Stronger and Safer Communities – and Armed Forces Champion for Solihull – Cllr Alison Rolf, said: “Staff at Solihull Council have worked hard to ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not disadvantaged. We will continue to develop our interventions and positive support for the Armed Forces Community.”
In all twenty-two organisations from across the West Midland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association’s (West Midland RFCA) region have been recognised by the Ministry of Defence for their support to the Armed Forces. They and come from a wide range of sectors including: education providers, NHS Trusts, charities, local authorities, security firms and the leisure industry.
The region’s winners this year are:
Academy Transformation Trust
Almarose Hotels and Resorts Limited
Ammo and Company Limited
Atheniem Limited
Carwood Motor Units
Citizens Advice Telford and The Wrekin
Eclipse Strategic Security Limited
GMS Security Services Limited
HR4 Limited
Landau Limited
Matrix Academy Trust
Minerva Elite Performance Limited
MSG Risk Management Limited
Onions and Davies Solicitors
SafeLane Global
Solihull College and University Centre
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
The Surveillance Group Limited
Traffix Limited
University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
West Midlands Combined Authority
YSS Limited (Youth Support Services)
Bobby Birdi, Regional Employer Engagement Director at West Midland RFCA, said: “We are absolutely delighted that these employers in our region have been recognised by the Ministry of Defence for the support they provide to the Armed Forces community.
“From working with Careers Transition Partnership and Forces Families Jobs in recruiting veterans and military spouses, to the respect they show their existing staff members who are Reserves or Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, every employer here has demonstrated the value they place on the forces community and military experience. They are working examples of the fact that partnering with Defence is good for business.”
Silver award holders must demonstrate a number of positive measures and policies in their organisations which actively support members of the Armed Forces community. This includes veterans, Reservists, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and their families.
The silver status requires employers to ensure:
That members of the forces community are not disadvantaged in their recruitment and selection process
That all positive policies relating to Defence personnel are internally publicised
That they employ at least one individual from the Armed Forces category that their nomination emphasises
If required, that they have demonstrated support to Reservist mobilisations
That they align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant
Commenting on the announcement of the ERS 2020 awards, Johnny Mercer, Minister for Defence People and Veterans said: “The breadth and diversity of the winners this year shows how business support for the Armed Forces continues to grow no matter the sector, company size or location.
“I am grateful for the positive attitude and flexible policies these organisations have adopted towards the defence community, which is testament to the fantastic contribution our serving personnel, veterans and their families can make to any organisation.
“I am delighted that so many companies are supporting our people and that, through this scheme, we can give them the public recognition they deserve.”
