Employee recognition scheme

The minimum required to be considered for award, policies to be in place and communicated to/with the workforce:

a.    The employer must already be accredited as a holder of ERS Silver Award and held it with sufficient time to develop suitable plans and policies and evidence to support the ERS Gold application. For example, it would be unusual for an organisation to attempt achieve Silver and Gold within the same year (<12 months).  
b.    The employer must be an exemplar within their market sector/ local area, advocating for the Covenant and the Armed Forces community 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, or mentor others in progressing through the ERS.
c.    The employer must actively encourage a positive environment for Reservists (i.e. Part Time Volunteer Reserves) by ensuring that positive policies in support of Reservists within the workforce are communicated to line managers.
d.    The employer demonstrates support to training by providing at least 10 days additional annual paid leave for Reserve training.
e.    The employer should be an exemplar in demonstrating support to the Cadet movement. This could, for example, be through mentoring cadets in key employment skills, by providing guaranteed interviews for cadets, by direct investment in equipment and infrastructure for a local cadet unit, or by funding and sponsoring competitions, events, and specific activities for cadets such as overseas expeditions.
f.    The employer promotes volunteering with the cadet forces from their workforce, by providing additional leave for employees who are Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) [The addition of support to CFAV as essential criteria for ERS Gold will apply for new applications in 2024 and all revalidations falling due in 2025].
g.    If feasible, based on the scale and business model of the employer, they should be engaged with CTP to support their recruitment of Service leavers and have registered with the Forces Families Jobs website.

Factors which add value to any 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:

a.    The employer promotes their support to Reserve service and the wider Armed Forces Community through their full range of internal and external communications e.g amplifying DRM social media messaging around Armed Forces Week, Reserves Day, ERS Gold /Silver announcements etc.
b.    Where scale and business model permit, they should be aware of the numbers of reservists employed and have a declared target for the number of Reservists within their workforce. Ideally, they would have relationship with the relevant Unit Employment Support Officers (UESO) for reserve units in their local area (See JSP 766).
c.    If there are Reservists within the workforce, they have positively engaged in the process of mobilisation for any of those Reservists.
d.    The employer should promote volunteering with the cadet forces and allow flexibility for employees who are Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAV) to fit their working hours in with their volunteering.
e.    Where scale and business models permit, the employer should actively encourage and support an internal Armed Forces community (ideally Reservist) network within their organisation.
f.    If scale and business models permit, they will have hosted a Reserve recruiting event on their premises in partnership with a Reserve Unit or single Service Recruiting Team.

How to help support and encourage others to ‘Partner with Defence’.

• Put AFC or ERS award logos on company website, email signature blocks, invoices.
• Put in place a Reservist and Cadet Force Adult Volunteer (CFAV) HR policy AND communicate this to your employees.  A Special Leave Policy also works well for spouses/partners.
• Encourage employees to have a better understanding and appreciation of the Armed Forces through active engagement at military events and courses.
• Hold an informal ‘Meet the Reservist’ coffee session or invite your local Reserve Centre to talk to you graduates/young leaders on the benefits Reserve service can bring to their career path.
• Include regular news articles/case studies in your internal communications.
• Set up an internal Military Network and appoint an Armed Forces Champion – provide them with a lanyard/badge so they are easily identified.
• Offer a ‘Buddy’ scheme for newly transitioned employees.
• Support Reserves Day and Armed Forces Day.

How to help support and encourage others to ‘Partner with Defence’.

• Encourage sub-contractors, suppliers, partners, other local businesses to sign AFC.  This can be through staging events both face to face and virtual, as part of tender documents or in a general letters to your contacts – a template letter is available.
• Develop a dedicated web page to highlight your support to the Armed Forces and the benefits it brings to your organisation.  Include links to AFC and ERS .gov pages.
• Promote the AFC and ERS on your marketing/sales material.
• If you have vehicles consider adding the AFC/ERS Award logos to the livery.
• Share Defence news and Veterans/Reservists/CFAVs case studies on social media.
• Promote your support to your Reservists, CFAVs, Veterans, Spouses/partners in business publications and the general press.
• Raise awareness of your support to the Armed Forces by adding an extra slide to supply chain, customers and peer group presentations.  Explain why you signed and the benefits it has brought to your business.
• Offer to hold a Defence awareness event on your premises and invite other local businesses and organisations to attend.
• Be an advocate at Defence events and share your journey with other employers.
• Join the SE Regional Employer Engagement Group.
• Add a slide on AFC/ERS to your Reception video.
• Offer to be a case study to inspire others to get involved.
• Be a mentor to other businesses starting out on their journey supporting Defence.
• Sponsor an event, brandish the AFC/ERS logos and add a line in the programme to encourage others to sign up.
• Hold a Defence Awareness event and invite other local businesses to join in.