Another record number of London’s employers and national accounts have been honoured with top awards in this year’s Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.

These awards recognise the outstanding support for our armed forces from employers across London. The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme acknowledges those organisations who actively demonstrate support to the armed forces community.

Going for Gold

140 organisations across the nation have received the Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award for their outstanding support towards the Armed Forces community, Defence Minister Leo Docherty announced today. 24 of these companies are based in the Greater London region (listed below).

Representing the highest badge of honour, Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Awards are awarded to those that employ and support those who serve, veterans and their families.

To win an award, organisations must provide at least 10 extra paid days leave for Reservists and have supportive HR policies in place for veterans, Reserves, and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, as well as spouses and partners of those serving in the Armed Forces.

Organisations must also advocate the benefits of supporting those within the Armed Forces community by encouraging others to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and engage in the Employer Recognition Scheme.

This year, organisations include NHS trusts, educational institutions, financial services, hotels, charities, law firms, police services, football clubs and museums. Nearly 50 per cent are a small or medium-sized enterprises and 72 per cent are private companies, demonstrating the wide range of organisations offering support to the military community regardless of size, sector or location.

Daniel Frumkin, Chief Executive Officer at Metro Bank said:

“I am absolutely delighted that Metro Bank has been recognised with this prestigious award. We are dedicated in our commitment to support both those that currently serve and those that have served our country including veterans, reservists and forces’ families, as well as the communities in which they reside. Metro Bank will continue to honour and support this special community.”

Silver Success

A further 39 London-based companies have achieved a prestigious Silver award. To gain this award companies must show tangible evidence of their proactive support of service personnel/armed forces community, demonstrating that neither is unfairly disadvantaged as part of the organisation’s recruiting and selection processes.  They must also actively ensure that their workforce is aware of their positive policies towards defence personnel and the employer must have demonstrated support for reservist call outs or “mobilisations” or have a framework in place, and by providing at least 5 days’ additional special leave for reservist training.

Minister for Defence People and Veterans,Leo Docherty said:

“I would like to thank all the organisations who have proven their support for the Defence community during such unprecedented and challenging times.

“The vast range of those recognised this year demonstrates how employing the Armed Forces community makes a truly positive and beneficial impact for all employers, regardless of size, sector or location.”

The nominations were considered by a selection board at national level for Gold and regional level for Silver. This year’s London Employer Engagement Board went virtual, and through video conferencing technology each nomination was considered at length against the award criteria. The board would like to acknowledge all those who applied, and thank you for your continued support the armed forces community.

Full list of Gold ERS winners 2021 can be found here.

The 24 London based Gold ERS winners for 2021 are:

1. ABF The Soldiers'​ Charity

2. Accenture

3. BuildForce

4. Capita

5. CBRE UK

6. Cisco

7. Clifford Chance LLP

8. Corps Security

9. GKN Aerospace

10. Herbert Smith Freehills

11. Intrepid Protection

12. Lloyds Banking Group

13. Hammersmith & Fulham Council

14. Metro Bank (UK)

15. Moody's

16. Pinnacle Group Limited

17. RV1 Group 

18. Saab

19. Spelthorne Borough Council

20. Turner & Townsend

21. UBS

22. Ultra Electronics Group

23. VALO

24. Victory Services Club

The 39 London based Silver ERS winners for 2021 are:

1. Adarga Limited

2. Arcadis UK & Ireland

3. Artelia UK

4. CACI Ltd

5. Chevron Energy Ltd

6. CIS Security

7. CityFibre

8. The Clancy Group

9. Community Trade Union

10. Danny Sullivan Group 

11. Dell Technologies

12. EDF UK

13. Ethos Group Holdings

14. Forces Cyber Pathway

15. Global Production Squad

16. Guidant Global

17. Heylo

18. HML Group

19. Holman Fenwick Willan LLP

20. Institute of Directors

21. London Mutual Credit Union

22. Methods Business & Digital Technology Limited

23. Milspo Network CIC

24. Morgan Stanley & Co International

25. Motorola Solutions

26. Multiplex Construction Europe Ltd

27. Olive Group (A Constellis Company)

28. One Way or Another Ltd

29. PHD Access

30. Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP

31. Services Outreach Support

32. Society of Occupational Medicine

33. The Royal British Legion

34. Standard Chartered Bank

35. Trinnovo Group

36. VMware UK

37. Wellington Management International Limited

38. Wheely Ltd

39. World Fuel Services Corporation