Guildford Borough Council awarded SILVER in Armed Forces Covenant Employers’ Recognition Scheme

Tom Hunt, Lib Dem Councillor for Friary & St Nicolas is Armed Forces Champion for Guildford Borough Council. Here he reports on the wonderful news that GBC has been awarded Silver in the MOD's Employer's Recognition Scheme.

"The Armed Forces Covenant is a pledge 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 they serve with their lives. It was launched by the Coalition government in 2012 and focuses on helping members of the armed forces community have the same access to government and commercial services and products as any other citizen.

As part of the covenant, and to encourage employers from not unfairly disadvantaging employees who are reservists, veterans, or the family member of servicemen/women, in 2015 the MOD created the Employer's Recognition Scheme (ERS), with three tiers of recognition - gold, silver and bronze.

Guildford Borough Council signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2013 and achieved the bronze level of the ERS in 2016.

Earlier this year, the Council submitted a nomination for the silver level ERS award. The nomination described how we provide support for reservists, veterans, cadet force adult volunteers, service leavers, the wounded, sick and injured, and military spouses and partners.

I'm very proud that Guildford Borough Council has now been awarded the ERS silver award, recognising the Council's commitment to the military community. It is so important that we support our armed services, and I am delighted to receive MOD's public recognition of the Council's efforts."

Tom Hunt, 3rd August 2021