South Gloucestershire Council has received the bronze award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme as part of its commitment to supporting its employees who have been part of the armed forces.
Established by the Ministry of Defence, the scheme was designed to acknowledge, publicly thank and honour employers that provide exceptional support to the armed forces community and defence by going above and beyond their pledges, as part of the Armed Forces Covenant.
It recognises the different levels of commitment employers provide to demonstrate their commitment to excellence in employment practices for the armed forces community, and allows them to scrutinise their practices to continuously improve and develop.
As part of the scheme, the council can access help and advice from Defence Relationship Management, as well as practical advice on rights, responsibilities and financial assistance through a Reservist employer toolkit.
South Gloucestershire Council received recognition due to being an active member of Forces Connect South West and its role in the development of the health and wellbeing element of a south-west England-wide strategy, to ensure proactive delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant across the region.
As mental health and wellbeing are one of the key reasons why armed forces veterans approach services for support, this prompted the council to take steps to assist them.
Councillor Alison Evans, armed forces champion for South Gloucestershire Council, said: “I am delighted that we have achieved this recognition. Through our work with partners, including SAFFA and AssistPlus, we aim to support those who serve or have served in the armed forces, and their families, ensuring they are treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy, and society they serve with their lives. Being a forces-friendly employer is part of our commitment and I would encourage businesses of all shapes and sizes to consider the proven business benefits of hiring veterans.”
