Harrogate & District NHS Foundation Trust and Harrogate Town Football Club have both been recognised as one of the country’s leading employers for their support of the Armed Forces, having been honoured at a special awards ceremony as part of the Government’s Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). 
Receiving a certificate signed by the Secretary of State for Defence and the Chief of the Defence Staff, Andrew Forsyth of Harrogate & District NHS Foundation Trust and Ged Maloney of Harrogate Town AFC, received the Silver Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) award. They were among only 15 organisations from across the Yorkshire region which have been successful in winning the award.
Presented by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire Barry Dodd CBE and Brigadier Oliver Stokes, Brigade Commander, 4th Infantry Brigade, in a ceremony at Cutlers’ Hall, Sheffield, the two organisations were applauded for their flexible working practises and positive support for reservists, Cadet Force Adult Instructors, veterans and families of service personnel.
The ceremony, which is run by the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (RFCA) in Yorkshire and The Humber on behalf of 4th Infantry Brigade was also attended by many dignitaries, including the Master Cutler, senior Armed Forces representatives from across the region and Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenants of North, South, East and West Yorkshire.
Phillip Marshall, Director of Workforce and Organisational Development for HDFT, said: “The Trust values the development opportunities which members of our team derive from their membership of the reserves and we strive to ensure, even in challenging times, that they are able to maximise their attendance at training and other events. We are delighted to have been recognised with a Silver ERS Award and will continue to develop our relationship with the Armed Forces.”
Garry Plant, Managing Director of Harrogate Town AFC, added: “Receiving the ERS Silver Award is a real privilege to the club and drives us on to work hard for the Gold Award.”
Brigadier Stokes said: “Fifteen businesses from across the region received the prestigious Silver award in recognition of the outstanding commitment they have made to the Armed Forces, whether by supporting service leavers and assisting them into employment, by assisting their staff who also serve in the Reserves, by working with military families or by supporting the region’s Cadet Forces. These awards are important, but so is our continued relationship with employers and their continued commitment to the forces family, and we look forward to a future of mutual benefit. Many congratulations to all the winners.”
Colonel Jason Wright, Chief Executive of the RFCA in Yorkshire and The Humber, added: “The RFCA, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, is delighted to be recognising the level of support and commitment these organisations are providing to our Armed Forces and we are enormously grateful for that support. Their understanding of the value that reservists, ex-regulars and Cadet Force adult volunteers bring to the workplace is a great example to other employers and it is the values and high standards of the British military which make these employees stand out. They bring high levels of motivation, self-discipline, confidence, communication, teamwork, leadership, all of which make a positive contribution to any employer’s bottom line.
“Combined with professional qualifications in subjects including first aid, health and safety, driving and technical qualifications, all of which are now accredited by professional bodies, the benefits of employing military people become very compelling. I am very pleased these organisations have been recognised appropriately for their support.”
The launch of the Employer Recognition Scheme was a commitment made in the July 2013 White Paper entitled ‘Reserves in the Future Force 2020: Valuable and Valued’, and takes into account the views of a wide range of companies and industry bodies who championed the value in publicly recognising employers supportive to Reservists.
Reservists in the Yorkshire and Humber areas serve in the Royal Naval Reserve, the Royal Marines, the Army Reserve and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and can be mobilised wherever needed to work alongside Britain’s regular Armed Forces. Reservists are an integral part of the UK Armed Forces and are trained to a high standard.
ENDS
Media Enquiries
For further information contact Rachel Addison, Communications Officer, RFCA Y&H.
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 01904 615544
Mob: 07901 338042
Notes to Editors
List of Winners (pictures & quotes available on request):
- Bradford College
- University of Bradford
- Harrogate & District NHS Foundation Trust
- Harrogate Town Football Club
- Hull Kingston Rovers Community Trust
- MB Roche & Sons, Hessle
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Longs of Leeds
- Leeds City Council
- West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service
- Bradley’s Jewellers, York
- East Riding College, Beverley, Bridlington & Hull
- NHS Calderdale Clinical Commissioning Group
- Reliance Precision, Huddersfield
- North East Lincolnshire Council
About the Employer Recognition Scheme – www.gov.uk/mod/employer-recognition
The Employer Recognition Scheme is accessible online and uses a tiered approach for awards. At the Bronze level employers are able to state their intent to support Defence, the regional Silver level recognises employers who actively demonstrate support and at the highest national level the Gold awards recognise those who have become advocates. A dedicated website www.gov.uk/mod/employer-recognition supports the Employer Recognition Scheme allowing organisations to declare their support at Bronze level and for nominations to be made for both Gold and Silver awards.
About the RFCA
The Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association in Yorkshire and The Humber is a community-based regional organisation which has a statutory remit to advise the Defence Council on Reservist issues, independent of the Ministry of Defence.
The Association promotes and supports Reserve Forces and Cadets in Yorkshire and the Humber and also harnesses the extensive knowledge and experience of its membership to facilitate better dialogue and understanding between military and civilian communities, particularly employers of Reservists.
Support for uniformed cadet organisations ensures that young people are helped to develop the skills and qualities needed to become active and responsible members of their local communities.
The Association also has unrivalled expertise in managing multi-million pound works and estates budgets on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.