Updated: Defence Employer Recognition Scheme under the headings: 'Silver award' and 'Gold award'.
Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders’
Updated organisation name on ERS Silver Award Holder spreadsheet
updated Bronze holder list
updated silver and bronze spreadsheets, updated the link to apply for bronze award
Updated Gold and Bronze excel lists, deleted Bronze spreadsheet from Nov 2020, deleted tips and tricks on writing a citation document
updated Bronze award holder list, deleted two spreadsheets that are outdated and not needed (the bronze award holders updated in november spreadsheet, and the tips and tricks for writing your citations pdf).
"ERS gold award holders - 2021" added.
Updated: Defence Employer Recognition Scheme by adding new heading 'Privacy policy'.
changed the silver award status to closed for nominations
Marked the Gold Award winners nominations as closed.
Updated headings Gold Award and Silver Award in Defence Employer Recognition Scheme html.
Updated: ERS bronze award holders (Updated 16 November 2020).
Updated the Bronze, Silver and Gold award holder lists
Edited the silver awards holder list
updated bronze award holder spreadsheet
updated the excel list of ERS Gold award holders
updated bronze award holders list
Updated one of the criteria under the gold ERS heading.
Updated ERS bronze award holders.
Changed the silver award nominations from open to now closed.
updated the list of Bronze award holders
Update made to whether you can express your organisation' interest in the ERS Gold award.
Updated Bronze ERS award holders
Updated ERS Bronze Award Spreadsheet
Updated ERS Bronze award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders.
Updated list of ERS Bronze Award Holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze Award Holders
Updated the page to reflect the new openings for organisations to express their interest for the gold and silver ERS awards.
Updated the ERS Bronze Award Holder attachment
Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders
Updated lists of Bronze, Silver and Gold Award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders
Added the update that the Silver awards nominations have now closed.
Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders
Updated Gold Award nomination information.
Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders and added 'Region' column to list of ERS Gold Award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze holders
Updated list of Bronze award holders
Updated list of Bronze Award holders.
New Bronze application form and new expression of interest forms for Silver and Gold.
Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze and Silver award holders
Updated lists of ERS Bronze and Silver award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze and Silver award holders
Changed the 'Size' field for Kent County Council's Gold award listing
Changed the 'Industry' field for Kent County Council's Gold award
Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders
Updated list of ERS Silver and Gold award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders
Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders
Updated Gold Awards with 'Gold nominations are now closed. If you have any questions regarding nominations please email employerrelations@rfca.mod.uk'.
Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders
Updated the Silver ERS award nomination announcement to reflect the change that took place at 23:59 on the 15 March 2018.
Update to bronze award holders
update to bronze ERS award holders excel.
Update to bronze award listings.
Update to ERS bronze award holders.
Update to Gold and Silver ERS award holders excels.
Update to bronze award holders.
Update to bronze and silver award listings excels.
Update to silver award listings.
Update to Bronze ERS award holders listings.
Update to Silver award listings.
Update to Bronze and Silver award holders.
Update of bronze award holders.
Update to the ERS Silver award holders excel.
Update to the ERS criteria for silver and gold.
Update of the bronze award listings.
Update of ERS Bronze award holders.
Change to wording 'AFC' - 'Armed Forces Community', change to Bronze criteria and addition of updated Silver award holders.
Update to Gold and Silver gold award nominations.
Update to the bronze award holder listings.
Addition of bronze award holders.
Update of Bronze ERS awards holders.
Updated Bronze award listings.
Update of Gold award winners 2017.
Update to the Bronze ERS awards listing.
Update of companies that have received the Bronze award.
Updating bronze award listings.
Updated Bronze ERS award holders excel.
Addition of Bronze ERS award holders.
Update of Bronze ERS award holders.
Updated Bronze award listings.
Updates to the Bronze and Silver ERS holders index.
Update to text in regard to Gold nominations closing.
Update to Bronze award holders listing and closed Silver nominations.
Update of the Bronze ERS Award holders listing.
Update of Bronze ERS award holders.
Update of ERS Bronze award holders.
Update of Bronze Employer Recognition Scheme index.
Update of the Bronze Employer Recognition Awards.
Update of the Bronze and Silver Award holders for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
Update to the Bronze Award Holders excel.
Update of the bronze employer recognition scheme awards holders.
Updated list of Bronze award holders
Updating Silver and Bronze Awards Employer Recognition scheme holders.
Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme Bronze Listings.
Updated bronze award link
Updated list of bronze award holders.
Updated list of silver awards holders from 2016.
Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.
Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme Bronze award holders.
Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.
Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders.
Change to closing date for Employer Recognition Scheme gold nomination submissions.
Updated lists of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze and silver award holders.
Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.
Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.
Nominations for Employer Recognition Scheme gold and silver awards 2017 are now open. Inclusion of links to nomination forms.
Updated list of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders
Updated list of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.
Updated list of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme gold award winners.
Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.
Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.
Updated list of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.
Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.
Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.
Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders.
Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze holders.
Updated list of bronze award holders
Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.
Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.
Updated lists of Employer Recognition Scheme silver award winners and bronze award holders.
Updated list of ERS bronze holders
Closed Employer Recognition Scheme gold nominations for 2016.
Updated list of bronze award holders.
Updated list of ERS bronze award holders
Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders
Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze holders.
Updated list of ERS bronze award holders.
Closing of nominations for ERS silver 2016.
Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders
Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.
Updated list of bronze award holders.
Updated list of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders
Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme silver award winners.
Employer Recognition Scheme gold award nominations now open.
Updated list of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Bronze award holders
Updated Silver and Bronze award winner lists
Update to Defence Employer Recognition Scheme silver and bronze award winners.
Update to Silver and Bronze award holders.
Announcement of the 2015 Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold winners.
Update to Defence Employer Recognition Scheme silver and bronze award holders.
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 express your interest in applying for Silver or Gold award, contact us to find out more.
Privacy policy
You can read our Privacy policy to find out more about how we process data.
Bronze award
Bronze award holders must have:
Signed the AFC and registered their interest for a Bronze award (via the ERS website).
Confirmed their understanding of the AFC and ERS and what it means to be a supporter of the Armed Forces community with the appointed DRM.
Informed their workforce of their positive support for the Armed Forces community.
Desirable Criteria. Factors which add value to an application. Note that the description of these allows for an assessment of evidence in the context of the scale, business model and market sector of the employer. The employer is willing to consider:
How to develop a suitable HR framework to enable Reserve mobilisation for members of their work force.
Provide additional leave for Reservists (i.e. Part Time Volunteer Reserves) to conduct training.
How they would promote volunteering and support to the Cadet movement through official Cadet Force channels.
How they ensure that Service personnel/Armed Forces community are not unfairly disadvantaged as part of their recruiting and selection processes.
Silver award holders in addition to Bronze Criteria must have:
ERS Bronze Award status and have held it with sufficient time to have put in place the necessary essential policies and evidence to support their application. It would be unusual for an organisation to achieve Silver status within 12 months of gaining Bronze.
Proactively demonstrate that Service personnel and Armed Forces community are not unfairly disadvantaged as part of their recruiting and selection processes.
Actively ensure that their workforce is aware of their positive policies towards the Armed Forces community. E.g. Internally publicised positive HR policy on Reserves in their workforce. In the case where no HR policy exists this should be demonstrated by specific references in job descriptions/organisation’s website.
Support Active Reservists (PTVRs) by:
Having Policy in place to support mobilisations or have made a commitment evidenced by their DRM that they understand the mobilisation process and would support a mobilisation if practicable. E.g. Employers of reservists must be aware of the role of Unit Employment Support Officers (UESO) and how they support the Reservists in their work forces.
Demonstrated support to their training by providing at least 5 days additional annual leave (ideally paid).
A proactive relationship with their DRM, which can be demonstrated through various interactions, including but not limited to personal contact, automated communications, and engagement with supporting products or resources.
The employer must allow flexibility for employees who are Cadet Force Adult Volunteers to fit their working hours in with their volunteering.
Desirable Criteria. Factors which add value to an application. Note that the description of these allows for an assessment of evidence in the context of the scale, business model and market sector of the employer. The employer is willing to consider:
Scoping opportunities to support the Cadet movement (via official Cadet Force channels) through the following example activities: sponsorship, supporting the development of cadets’ wider skills to enhance their future opportunities; or providing employment advice and guidance.
Employ at least one individual from the Armed Forces community .
Hosting a Reserve recruiting event on their premises in partnership with a local Reserve Unit or Military Command recruiting teams.
Have inclusive policy in place to support Strategic Reserves (those with an Ex-Regular and Callout liability).
Gold award holders in addition to Silver Criteria must have:Hold ERS Silver Award and have held it with sufficient time to have put in place the necessary essential policies and evidence to support their application. It would be very unusual for an organisation to achieve Gold status within 12 months of gaining Silver.
Be an exemplar within their sector, advocating for the AFC and or ERS to partner organisations, suppliers and customers with tangible positive results. E.g. demonstrate proactive steps/activity and clear success in encouraging partner organisations and their supply chain to engage with and sign the AFC, and or mentor others in progressing through the ERS.
Actively encourage a positive workplace environment for Active Reservists (Part Time Volunteer Reserves) by ensuring that positive policies in support of Reservists within the workforce are communicated to line managers and support their training by providing at least 10 days additional paid leave annually.
Demonstrate support to the Cadet movement by committing resources to improving the outcomes for cadets. This is to be achieved by verifying they deliver one or a combination of the following through official Cadet Force channels:
1) Sponsorship (e.g. for additional resources, competitions, events and specific activities such as overseas expeditions);
2) Supporting the development of cadets’ wider skills to enhance their future opportunities;
3) Providing employment advice and guidance.
Promote volunteering with the Cadet Forces by having policies in place that cater to offer additional paid or unpaid leave to employees who are Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
Engaged with CTP to support recruitment of Service leavers and have registered with the Forces Families Jobs website.
Desirable Criteria. Factors which add value to an application. Note that the description of these allows for an assessment of evidence in the context of the scale, business model and market sector of the employer. The employer is willing to consider:
Support to Reserve Service and the wider Armed Forces community through internal and external communications, amplifying DRM social media messaging around Armed Forces Week, Reserves Day, ERS Gold /Silver announcements etc.
Actively finding out the numbers of Reservists employed and have a declared target for the number of Reservists within their workforce. Ideally, they will have relationships with the relevant Unit Employment Support Officers (UESO) for reserve units in their local area.
If there are Reservists within the workforce, the employer has positively engaged with them on how the company would support their mobilisation.
Host a Reserve recruiting event on their premises in partnership with a Reserve Unit or Military Command Recruiting Teams.
Where scale and business models permit, the employer should actively encourage and support an internal Armed Forces community network within their organisation.
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.