NHS Forth Valley has received a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award revalidation.
The award certificate was presented on 21 April during the Royal Gun Salute at Stirling Castle. Chief Executive Cathie Cowan and Chair Janie McCusker accepted the award on behalf of NHS Forth Valley from General Bill Wright CBE, General Officer Scotland.
The certificates are for employers who joined the Ministry of Defence scheme in 2015/16, with both Gold and Silver awards reviewed and revalidated on a rolling five-year basis.
NHS Forth Valley’s Silver Award was renewed in 2021, cementing their pledge and forces-friendly approach. The formal presentation was delayed until 2022 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The ERS Silver Award is in recognition of the exceptional support employers and organisations, such as NHS Forth Valley, provide to the Armed Forces community and Defence.
The ERS Scheme recognises those who demonstrate or advocate support to that 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 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.
For organisations to be revalidated they must continue to adhere to that criteria. The revalidations recognise the long-term support employers have given to the Armed Forces community and highlight that, through their consistent support over a sustained period of time, they have been able to continue to champion and demonstrate their forces-friendly measures.
For more information on the Armed Forces Covenant, click HERE.
For more information on the Employer Recognition Scheme, click HERE.
