The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award is handed out for exceptional support for Reservists, veterans, military families and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers
The award ceremony will take place on November 14(Image: © David Lindsay 2024 – photosbydavid.co.uk)
Organisations from across Yorkshire and the Humber have been recognised with the Ministry of Defence’s highest honour for employers after receiving the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award for their exceptional support to the Armed Forces community.
The organisations are among 162 employers across the UK to receive the recognition in 2026, celebrating those that go above and beyond in supporting Reservists, veterans, military families and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers. The award recognises organisations that go beyond their Armed Forces Covenant commitments by embedding forces-friendly policies, championing Defence and creating inclusive workplaces where members of the Armed Forces community can thrive.
The Reserve Forces and Cadet Association (RFCA) for Yorkshire and the Humber gave the region’s Gold Award to:
- GVA Trees
- Help 4 Homeless Veterans
- Hull 4 Heroes
- Humberside Fire and Rescue Service
- LNER
- Northern Divers (Engineering) Ltd
- PPSS Group
- The Afghan Rug Shop Limited
- The Pink Link Ltd
- University of Hull
- York College and University Centre
- The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme
Gold Award is the Ministry of Defence’s highest recognition for employers that demonstrate exceptional and sustained support for the Armed Forces community. The award is now in its twelfth year.
Minister for Veterans and People Calvin Bailey said: “For a veteran starting a new chapter, or a Reservist balancing two demanding roles, having an employer in your corner makes an enormous difference. These 162 organisations have gone out of their way to make veterans, Reservists and military families feel genuinely welcome and supported. I’m incredibly proud to recognise them today, and I hope their example inspires many more.”
To achieve Gold Award status, employers must demonstrate long-term commitment by providing at least ten days’ additional paid leave for Reservists each year, implementing supportive HR policies for Reservists, veterans, military families and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, and actively promoting the Armed Forces Covenant while encouraging other organisations to support Defence.
This year’s recipients represent organisations of every size and from a wide range of sectors, including education, emergency services, engineering, transport, charities and professional services, reflecting the growing commitment of employers to recognising the skills, experience and values that members of the Armed Forces community bring to the workplace.
Richard Watson, Operations Manager, Northern Divers (Engineering) Ltd and a Commander in the Royal Fleet Reserve with over four decades of combined Regular and Reserve Royal Navy service, said the company is “delighted and deeply honoured”. “It is a true privilege, and one that reflects the dedication of our entire team in demonstrating our ongoing commitment to the Armed Forces community. Receiving this award reinforces our belief that supporting those who serve is not simply a corporate responsibility but a fundamental part of our company ethos. We remain committed to providing meaningful employment opportunities and creating an environment in which reservists, veterans and adult cadet volunteers are recognised, supported and encouraged to thrive.”
Alan Gray TechIOSH AISEP, HSQE Manager at GVA Trees, said: “Securing the 2026 ERS Gold Award is a fantastic moment for GVA. Over recent years we’ve worked hard to embed meaningful support for the Armed Forces community, and this recognition shows the impact of that commitment. We’re honoured to be acknowledged at the highest level.”
The Yorkshire and the Humber Gold Award recipients will be formally recognised at a regional awards ceremony in York on 14 November 2026.
Organisations interested in supporting the Armed Forces community can sign the Armed Forces Covenant and progress through the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. The RFCA for Yorkshire and the Humber Employer Engagement team is available to provide guidance and support to employers throughout the process.
For more information, please contact the RFCA for Yorkshire and the Humber Employer Engagement Team at yh-reed2@rfca.mod.uk.
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