December 5, 2025
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Bilfinger UK was presented with the Armed Forces Covenant and Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Bronze Award on 31 October.
Highland RFCA’s Defence Relationship Manager Ray Watt presented both certificates at the organisation’s office in Aberdeen. Ray is pictured (centre) with Sandy Bonner, President of Bilfinger Engineering and Maintenance UK, and Bilfinger UK Recruitment Manager Claire Dingwall.
Bilfinger is an international industrial services provider. Active in Europe, North America and the Middle East, it serves customers in the energy, chemicals and petrochemicals, pharma and biogas and oil and gas sectors.
Bilfinger UK first signed the Armed Forces Covenant in April. By signing the Covenant, it became one of more than 13,000 organisations to pledge support to the Armed Forces community.
Its commitment to honouring the Covenant includes pledges to:
- Promote the fact it is an Armed Forces-friendly organisation.
- Support the employment of Veterans and Service leavers.
- Support the employment of Service spouses and partners.
- Support employees who are members of the Reserve Forces; granting additional paid/unpaid leave for training; supporting mobilisations and deployment; encourage members of staff to become Reservists.
- Support employees who are volunteer leaders in military cadet organisations; granting additional leave to attend annual training camps and courses; actively encourage staff to become volunteer leaders in cadet organisations.
- Support Armed Forces Day, Reserves Day, the Poppy Appeal Day and Remembrance activities.
- Support Armed Forces charities.
Bilfinger UK also received the ERS Bronze Award. The ERS Awards encourage employers to support Defence and inspire others to do the same. The prestigious Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards are 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.
Sandy Bonner (left) and Claire Dingwall holding the Bronze Award and Armed Forces Covenant certificates outside Bilfinger’s Aberdeen offices with (centre) Ray Watt.
Sandy Bonner said: “Achieving the Bronze Award is a meaningful first step. It reflects our values and our commitment to building a workplace where those with military experience can thrive.”
Claire Dingwall added: “Signing the Armed Forces Covenant and achieving our Bronze Award recognises the value members of the Armed Forces community bring to our workforce. It further cements our commitment to providing meaningful employment opportunities and support to Service personnel, Reservists, Veterans, the cadet movement, and military families. This marks an important step in our journey to strengthen engagement with the Armed Forces community and ensure our values align with those who protect and serve.”
To find out how you can support the Armed Forces, contact HRFCA’s Defence Relationship Managers Ray Watt at [email protected] or Hayley Munro at [email protected].
Find out more about the Armed Forces Covenant.
Find out more about the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
Find out more about Bilfinger.
