Gold network meets in Aberdeen

Highland RFCA’s Highland Gold Network met on 18 February to share best practice in advocacy and support for the Armed Forces.

The meeting was held at the premises of Trident IES in Aberdeen. Trident IES was awarded the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award in 2023.

After a welcome and run-through of actions from the previous meeting, Highland RFCA Regional Employer Engagement Directors Roy McLellan and Ray Watt provided an update to members.

Donna-Marie Cunningham and Adam Riley of Trident IES then told the meeting about their organisation’s journey to becoming a member of the Highland Gold Network.

Members joined the meeting both in person and virtually. The face-to-face attendees included representatives from the following employer organisations: Aberdeen City Council, Angus Council, Donut Pig Digital Marketing Ltd, Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce, Serica Energy, Simplicity in Mind, Sport Aberdeen, The MacRobert Trust, Trident IES, and Veolia. The virtual attendees included representatives from the following employers: BEAR Scotland, Eclipse (IP) Ltd, High Life Highland, HorseBack UK, Moray Council, NHS Tayside, Perth & Kinross Council, Stirling Highland Games, The Highland Council and The UKSI Limited.

The next meeting will take place at Perth & Kinross Council in Perth on 30 May.

■ The Highland Gold Network consists of the 47 current Gold Employer Recognition Scheme employers in the HRFCA-area of responsibility. The aim of the group is to advocate for defence people, while sharing best practice and ideas, and to encourage and mentor Bronze and Silver employers to gain Gold status. The group, formed in 2022, meets quarterly in a hybrid format.

The Chair is Sharon Faulkner. Sharon is the Head of HR, IT and Organisational Development at Angus Council. Ian Clark from IED Training Solutions is Deputy Chair.