Rotherham Council has been awarded the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) 2024 Gold Award.
The Award recognises the Council's support for the armed forces community and for its alignment with the values of the Armed Forces Covenant.
To achieve the prestigious gold award, nominees must have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and demonstrated forces-friendly credentials in their recruiting and selection processes.
They also actively ensure their workforce is aware of their positive policies towards issues relating to those in the forces and are advocates in support of those issues to partner organisations, suppliers, and customers.
Gold award employers also actively encourage a positive environment for reservists and demonstrate support for such staff to carry out activities required in the role, with at least 10 days’ additional fully paid leave for training.
The Gold Award is the highest honour in the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Employer Recognition Scheme.
Cllr Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council, said: “This award highlights our commitment to our Armed Forces community and the value of their contribution to our workforce and the borough.
“The Council has policies in place to prevent disadvantage for members of the Armed Forces community, as well as directing them to support given by local organisations and charities. We’re proud of our Armed Forces community and grateful for everything they do for the people of Rotherham and the nation.”
Cllr Eve Keenan, Armed Forces Champion at Rotherham Council said: “As we mark the honour of being awarded the ERS Gold Award and embark on the next phase of the Covenant’s work, it is important to re-commit and re-emphasise the borough’s continuing support for the Armed Forces Covenant.
“As a council, we want to ensure there is a package of meaningful support and help to members of the Armed Forces who may be thinking of returning to civilian life. While the Armed Forces Community Covenant has now been in place for many years, we continue to work closely across the borough with organisations, charities and businesses and with our neighbouring Councils across South Yorkshire to ensure our community of veterans, cadets, reservists, and serving forces personnel have the support they and their families need.”
The Council holds quarterly meetings of the Rotherham Armed Forces Community Covenant Partnership Group, where the focus is to enhance and join-up the services, organisations and resources that are available for members of the Armed Forces community in Rotherham.
You can find out more about support for Armed Forces at www.rotherham.gov.uk/armed-forces-support