Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) has received the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Bronze Award.
Highland RFCA Regional Employer Engagement Director Roy McLellan (pictured, centre) presented the award to Chair Alistair Dodds (left) and Chief Executive Stuart Black in Inverness on 26 April.
HIE has been recognised as an Armed Forces-friendly organisation that values the contribution of serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families to the region’s economy and communities.
The agency also has policies in place to provide flexibility for employees who are spouses or partners of service personnel, and those who are reservists or adult volunteers in the service cadets.
HIE previously signed the Armed Forces Covenant in August 2021. The Covenant is a commitment to ensure those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly.
The Covenant sets companies on the path to have their pledge recognised through the Employer Recognition Scheme. This scheme incorporates prestigious Bronze, Silver and Gold awards, granted in recognition of their pledge to support defence and the Armed Forces Community.
HIE is the economic and community development agency for the north and north west of Scotland. It helps build a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable economy across the Highlands and Islands, attracting more people to live, work, study, invest and visit.
Presenting the award to HIE, Roy McLellan, said: “I am delighted to welcome Highlands & Islands Enterprise as an Armed Forces Covenant signatory, and also holder of the Employer Recognition Scheme Bronze award. More importantly, I welcome the organisation’s stated commitment to supporting serving and former military personnel, reservists and military families.
“The Armed Forces are responsible for the first duty of Government – the defence of the realm. Those affected directly or indirectly by this duty often need additional support and flexibility in relation to civilian employment and the commitment demonstrated through the Covenant makes a huge difference.”
Stuart Black, HIE Chief Executive, said: “We are very pleased to receive this award. As an organisation that employs people across the Highlands and Islands and provides support to hundreds of other employers, it’s very important to us that we recognise the contribution that serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families make to our businesses, to our communities and to the country. That’s why we have signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant and are determined to honour that commitment.”
To find out how you can support the Armed Forces, contact HRFCA’s Regional Employer Engagement Directors Roy McLellan at [email protected], or Ray Watt at [email protected].
For more on Highlands & Islands Enterprise, click HERE.
For more on the Employer Recognition Scheme, click HERE.
