ERS Silver Awards presented

Two organisations in the Highland RFCA-area have been presented with the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award for 2022, with another two existing Silver holder having their awards revalidated.

Recruitment Bee and Bon Accord Care were unable to attend the awards ceremony held at Scone Palace last month to celebrate the achievements of the 15 Silver winners in the Highlands.

Falkirk Football Club originally won Silver in 2017, and Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce received the award in 2018. Both Silver and Gold awards are reviewed and revalidated on a rolling five-year basis.

Highland RFCA Regional Employer Engagement Director (REED) Ray Watt travelled to Forres, Aberdeen and Falkirk respectively to present the awards. Highland RFCA’s other REED Roy McLellan presented Dunbartonshire Chamber Chief Executive Damon Scott with his revalidation in Clydebank. All awards and revalidations were presented this month.

Lorraine Westley, Managing Director at Recruitment Bee Ltd, received her ERS Silver Award from Highland RFCA REED Ray Watt in Forres.

The award from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is in recognition of the support the organisations give to the Armed Forces community.

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.

Ray presenting the ERS Silver Award to Bon Accord Care in Aberdeen. Pamela MacKenzie (Managing Director) accepted the award along with Joanna Caie (Wellbeing Manager).

Silver Award 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.

Pamela MacKenzie, the Managing Director of Bon Accord Care, said: “We are absolutely delighted and privileged to be receiving the Silver Award and to be supporting the Armed Forces community at Bon Accord Care. We look forward to being able to develop our support in the future and very much value the contribution that our Armed Forces, Veterans, and their families make, not only to our country, but in workplaces across Scotland and the rest of the UK.”