February 24, 2025
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Highland RFCA’s Employer Engagement team recently hosted a series of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) workshops.
The aim of the workshops was to guide employers through the process of applying for Employer Recognition Scheme Gold and Silver Awards.
The Employer Recognition Scheme encourages employers to support Defence and inspire other organisations to do the same. This support is recognised with Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards.
The first of the Silver workshops was held on 21 January at Fife Medical Group in Lochgelly. Fife Medical Group was awarded Gold in 2023.
In attendance were representatives from three companies: EASTON’s Training Limited, Raeburn Training, and Knights Templar Goodwill Charity of Scotland.
Each of those organisations has signed the Armed Forces Covenant and holds the ERS Bronze Award.
HRFCA Regional Employer Engagement Director (REED) Roy McLellan delivered a presentation on the steps and criteria needed to support a successful application, as well as highlighting the relevant timelines for Silver applications.
Silver and Gold workshops followed on 23 January, hosted in Stirling by Gold Award holder Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce.
The morning Silver session saw representatives from Armed Forces Covenant signatories and ERS Bronze Award holders Robertson Group and Clackmannanshire Council learning about the ERS process.
The Gold session in the afternoon was attended by Gogar Services Limited and Falkirk Football Community Foundation. Both organisations are Armed Forces Covenant signatories and ERS Silver Award holders.
The workshops continued in Aberdeen on 3 February at Aberdeenshire Council’s headquarters in Aberdeen. The Council was first awarded Gold in 2019, with the Award revalidated in 2024.
Highland RFCA REED Ray Watt delivered a Silver workshop to representatives from Stork UK, highlighting the steps and criteria needed to support a successful application, as well as highlighting the relevant timelines for Silver applications. Stork UK signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2023 and is an ERS Bronze Award holder.
The final ERS workshop was hosted by Gordon Morrison at Highland Council headquarters in Inverness on 13 February. The Highland Council first signed the Covenant in 2018 and was awarded the ERS Gold Award in 2021.
Ray Watt welcomed a representative from Covenant signatory and ERS Bronze Award holder, Copernicus Technology Ltd. Ray also caught up with Munro and Noble Solicitors and Estate Agents, a Covenant signatory and ERS Silver Award holder, and Inverness Chamber of Commerce, a Covenant signatory and ERS Bronze Award holder, to go through the ERS criteria.
Both the ERS Silver and Gold application windows are open, 2025 timeline below.
Other areas discussed at the workshops included the HRFCA Support for Cadets webpage and an explanation of the GOV.UK online Reservist employer toolkit. Posters highlighting the benefits of cadet service both to young people and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers were also distributed.
