Aberdeen University has received a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award revalidation.
The award certificate was presented on 11 April in Aberdeen. The certificates are for employers who joined the Ministry of Defence scheme in 2016, with both Gold and Silver awards reviewed and revalidated on a rolling five-year basis.
Aberdeen University signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2016, and was first awarded Silver status in the same year. That 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.
Highland Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association’s Regional Employer Engagement Director Ray Watt visited the University office for the presentation.
Armed Forces Champion Professor Abbe Brown received the award on behalf of the University. Also present were Debbie Dyker (Director of People); Duncan Stuart (Head of Student Experience), and Catherine Cook (HR Partner).
Abbe said: “The University has a long association with the military. We signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2016 and were awarded the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award in 2016. Our Silver Award was revalidated last year and today I was delighted to welcome Ray Watt of Highland RFCA to the University and to receive the award from him. We will continue with our support of the Armed Forces and hope to work together to develop new ways of doing so.”
Ray said: “I was delighted to visit Aberdeen University to present this award recognising its support of the Defence family. The revalidation of the Silver Award celebrates the University’s close relationships with members of the Armed Forces community.”
The ERS Silver Award is in recognition of the exceptional support employers and organisations, such as Aberdeen University, 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.
For find out more about Aberdeen University, click HERE.
