May 30, 2024
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Eight companies in the Highland RFCA-area have been awarded the prestigious Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award for 2024.
The Award from the Ministry of Defence is in recognition of the support the organisations give to the Armed Forces community.
The 2024 winners in the HRFCA-area are:
- Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels
- DLR Media Limited
- Fife Sports and Leisure Trust
- Gogar Services Limited
- Helen Williamson Financial Planning
- Monifieth Medical Practice
- Offshore Energies UK (OEUK)
- O’Neill Ross Ltd
The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme recognises those who demonstrate or advocate support to the Armed Forces community and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant – a pledge from the nation that those who serve or who have served and their families are treated fairly.
Silver winners must meet certain criteria, including: employing at least one individual from the Armed Forces community, actively ensuring that their workforce is aware of their positive policies, demonstrating support to mobilisations of Reservists and providing at least five days’ additional leave for training.
A ceremony will be held at The Black Watch Museum in Perth on June 13 to present the winners with their Awards. Hear from some of the winners below.
Niamh Head, Operations Support Executive for Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels, said: “This Award means a great deal to us as an organisation, demonstrating our support for the Armed Forces community. This is our commitment to ensuring that no member of the Armed Forces community suffers a commercial disadvantage because of their Service. Any support and help we can offer, we’d be delighted to do so.”
Daniel Rosie, Managing Director of DLR Media Limited, said: “At DLR Media, we are really proud and excited to have received the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award. Our commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community reflects our values and dedication to making a positive impact. We are honoured to pledge our support, and we look forward to continuing and enhancing our efforts in promoting, employing, and assisting those who have served our country.
“Since being presented with the Bronze Award, we have been striving to improve and formalise the support that we could offer. We have introduced a number of new policies and also added a dedicated section to our employee handbook. We have also brought in a guaranteed interview scheme, which we are really excited to promote as soon as we have our next vacancy. We have also made the first steps towards being involved with local cadet groups and look forward to establishing a working relationship and undertaking partnership activities in the very near future.”
Laura Mihailov, HR Assistant at Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, said: “The Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award is the second highest badge of honour presented to our organisation as we continue to demonstrate our support to the Armed Forces and inspire other organisations to do the same. This Award is fantastic news to reflect on Fife Sports and Leisure Trust’s continuous efforts and support in appreciation for the value that Veterans and Reservists can bring to the community and our organisation.”
Stuart Banks, General Manager of Gogar Services Limited, said: “This is truly fantastic news, we are delighted and honoured to receive this Silver Award in recognition for our commitment and support to all the Armed Forces and Veterans we have supported. Our Veterans and Reservists are a fundamental part of our dedicated and highly disciplined workforce, and we are extremely proud that this has been recognised.”
Helen Williamson, Founder of Helen Williamson Financial Planning, said: “Being awarded the Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award means a lot to me personally, and in business. I believe strongly in supporting the Armed Forces community that I am still part of. I understand first-hand the challenges of life in the military, but also the benefits to local communities as well as to the security of the nation. There are some amazing people involved in various roles and types of service, and I hope to be able to continue to provide my service by helping families, Veterans, Reservists and cadet organisations now and in the future.”
Eliza Matthew-Hiney, Practice Manager at Monifieth Medical Practice, said: “We are deeply honoured and thrilled to have been awarded the ERS Silver this year. This recognition reinforces our dedication to excellence. We are eager to celebrate this milestone with our community and remain committed to fostering innovation and success for the future. We uphold our commitment as an Armed Forces-friendly employer, aiming to acquire, retain, and maximise the skills of defence personnel.”
Mark Wilson, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) & Operations Manager at Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), said: “Offshore Energies UK is committed to ensuring diversity across the energy industry. This commitment includes promoting the role of the Armed Forces community, and the Silver Award is welcomed in recognition of the energy industry’s support.”
Harry Ross, Director of O’Neill Ross, said: “As a Reservist who runs a creative Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME), I hope my Award can inspire other businesses in the creative industries to get involved in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. I am passionate about the opportunities my sector can offer the wider defence community and vice versa. Creatives contribute £126 billion in gross value added to the UK economy and make up 7% of the workforce, most of this via SMEs. I hope that by engaging with the Employer Recognition Scheme, I can also strengthen Defence’s links with creative SMEs.”
Read about the 2023 ERS Silver Awards at The Black Watch Castle and Museum.
