Guidance

Defence Employer Recognition Scheme

Updated 13 March 2023

About the scheme

The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) encourages employers to support defence and inspire others to do the same. The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.

The ERS is designed primarily to recognise private sector support although public sector organisations such as the emergency services, local authorities, NHS trusts and executive agencies are also eligible to be recognised.

Pledge your organisation’s support via the bronze award or nominate an organisation for a silver or gold award via the links below.

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Bronze award

Bronze award holders:

• are self nominated by employers who pledge to support the armed forces, including existing or prospective employees who are members of the community
• must have signed the Armed Forces Covenant
• promote being armed forces-friendly and are open to employing reservists, armed forces veterans (including the wounded, injured and sick), cadet instructors and military spouses/partners
• receive an electronic certificate and logos to display on their website, stationery and other collateral

Nominate your organisation for a bronze award

View the ERS bronze award holders

Silver award

Silver award holders:

• must have signed the Armed Forces Covenant
• the employer must have already stated their intent to be supportive by using the ERS website to register at the Bronze level
• the employer must proactively demonstrate that service personnel/armed forces community are not unfairly disadvantaged as part of their recruiting and selection processes
• the employer must actively ensure that their workforce is aware of their positive policies towards defence people issues. For example, an employer nominated for support to the Reserves must have an internally publicised and positive HR policy on Reserves
• within the context of Reserves the employer must have demonstrated support to mobilisations or have a framework in place. They must demonstrate support to training by providing at least 5 days’ additional unpaid/paid leave (wherever possible not to Reservist employees’ financial disadvantage)
• the employer must not have been the subject of any negative PR or media activity
• within the context of Reserves the employer must have demonstrated support for mobilisation or have a framework to support mobilisations in place in place

Express an interest to nominate your organisation for a Silver Award. Forms must be completed by 23:59 on 5 April 2023. Once you have filled the form in you will be sent the full award submission form. If you have any questions regarding nominations please email: employerrelations@rfca.mod.uk.

View the ERS silver award holders.

Gold award

Gold award holders:

• must have signed the Armed Forces Covenant
• employers must have an existing relationship with their National Account Manager/REED/appropriate defence representative
• the employer must already be demonstrating support by holding a valid ERS Silver Award. Employers that do not hold a valid ERS Silver Award cannot progress to the Gold level
• the employer must proactively demonstrate their forces-friendly credentials as part of their recruiting and selection processes. Where possible, they should be engaged with Career Transition Partnership (CTP) in the recruitment of service leavers and have registered for the Forces Families Jobs (FFJ) portal
• the employer must actively ensure that their workforce is aware of their positive policies towards defence people issues. For example, an employer nominated for support to the Reserves must have an internally publicised and positive human resources policy on Reserves
• the employer must be an exemplar within their market sector, advocating support to defence people issues to partner organisations, suppliers and customers with tangible positive results
• within the context of Reserves the employer must have demonstrated support to mobilisations or have a framework in place. They must provide at least 10 days’ additional leave for training, fully paid, to the Reservist employee
• the employer must not have been the subject of any negative public relations or media activity
• the employer must actively encourage a positive environment for Reservists by ensuring that positive policies in support of Reservists within the workforce are communicated to line managers

The nomination window to express your interest to apply for a Gold Award has now closed. If you have any questions please email: employerrelations@rfca.mod.uk.

View the ERS gold award holders.

Nomination and award process

Employers can sign up themselves for each award.

Nominations will be validated to determine the level of defence personnel employment within the nominated organisation and to check that the organisation has signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

Once the nomination has been validated it will be considered by a selection board at national level for gold awards and regional level for silver awards. The selection boards will be a panel chaired by a senior military officer and they will consider each nomination against the award criteria. Organisations selected for gold and silver awards will be formally notified in writing and invited to the relevant award event.

Related information:

• Defence Relationship Management