NEWS | Council receives Gold Award for supporting the armed forces community

Award recognises Herefordshire Council as an employer supporting the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant

Herefordshire Council has been named as one of this years’ winners of the Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Awards for demonstrating outstanding support for the armed forces community.

The Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Awards continues to grow in strength year on year. To win an award, organisations must demonstrate that they provide ten extra paid days leave for Reservists and have supportive HR policies in place for Veterans, Reserves, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and Spouses and Partners of those serving in the Armed Forces.

Herefordshire Council has played a key role in establishing and maintaining an Armed Forces Covenant for the county. The Covenant is a pledge, taken by public and private sector organisations, that together they acknowledge and understand that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy and society that they serve with their lives.

Alistair Neill, Chief Executive of Herefordshire Council, said:

“Something that makes Herefordshire special is our distinctive tremendous relationship with HM Armed Forces. As an employer, the council recognises the wide range of transferable skills that ex-service personnel can bring to the workplace. We actively strive to make our policies forces-friendly and we advocate that our partners, local businesses and suppliers do the same. I am delighted and immensely proud that Herefordshire Council has been awarded the Ministry of Defence’s highest employer award in recognition of our commitment to the armed forces community.”

Councillor Barry Durkin, Chair of the Herefordshire Armed Forces Covenant Partnership, said:

“Through the Herefordshire Armed Forces Covenant Partnership, we welcome the excellent news that Herefordshire Council has been awarded gold. The award recognises the council as an armed forces-friendly employer that works collaboratively with partners and armed forces charities to achieve covenant aims, but also shows that in Herefordshire we go above and beyond in our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.”

For more information about the Herefordshire Armed Forces Covenant visit www.herefordshire.gov.uk/armedforces