Moray Council achieves Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award
Proudly supporting the Armed Forces Covenant, Moray Council has reached the gold standard in the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) 2023.
The scheme encourages employers to support serving and retired armed forces personnel and inspire others to do the same. The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise from the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly.
The scheme consists of 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.
Having previously been awarded the silver recognition, Moray Council worked to go even further in supporting the armed forces community and reach the gold award after renewing its support for the Armed Forces Covenant in June 2021.
The award demonstrates that Moray Council recognises the value of service personnel, Veterans and military families. The Local Authority offers support to its own workforce with ties to the Armed Forces community with a dedicated hub on its internal digital network for the Scottish Military Community and Veterans with updates from Age Scotland as well as hosting reservist recruitment events.
The council has also demonstrated to the Ministry of Defence that service personnel and the Armed Forces community are not unfairly disadvantaged during recruitment and selection processes.
Moray Council’s Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Peter Bloomfield, said: “We have an extensive armed forces community in Moray with everything from cadets and reservists to serving personnel and veterans, so we know the contribution they all make to our wonderful region. That’s why it’s so heartening to see the council receiving this recognition for all it does to support our armed forces community within, and related to, its workforce. Not to mention facilitating the opportunity for reservists to play an active part in our nation’s defence.
“The relationship between Moray and our armed forces is a long and cherished one, with Kinloss Barracks and RAF Lossiemouth providing great benefits to our county. This award aptly demonstrates the commitment from both parties and signifies the importance of this enduring relationship.”
Regional Employer Engagement Director, Ray Watt, added: “I am absolutely delighted that Moray Council have been awarded the Employer Recognition Scheme Gold award. Their commitment to support local Regular and Reserve forces and their families is at the centre of the Armed Forces Covenant, and I look forward to continuing to work with this wonderful organisation to make Morayshire a desired destination for our Regular forces, Reserve Forces and Veterans in the future.
“I am also keen to ensure the network we have started to develop in Morayshire continues to grow and become mutually supportive for local businesses and their Military employees. If you would like more information regarding the Armed Forces Covenant then please contact me Ray on hi-reed2@rfca.mod.uk.”