The Ministry of Defence has today announced that Interserve is a Gold Award winner in a highly prestigious scheme recognising the work companies undertake to support the UK Armed Forces.
The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) encourages employers to support defence and to inspire others to do the same. The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.
Interserve delivers market-leading total facilities management (FM) services to the Ministry of Defence via a range of crucial contracts that supports the military at home and abroad. Work the company undertakes ranges from delivering FM and highly-skilled engineering services to four overseas bases (Cyprus, Ascension Islands, Falkland Islands and Gibraltar) through to delivering FM to the UK Armed Forces training estate – which spans 1,200 sites and represents one per cent of the UK’s land mass.
The ERS primarily recognises private sector support. As well as fulfilling all the criteria involved in bronze and silver, gold award holders must: have signed the Armed Forces Covenant proactively demonstrate their forces-friendly credentials as part of their recruiting and selection processes be actively engaged with the recruitment of military service leavers support Reservists and guarantee 10 days’ additional leave for training, fully paid, to the Reservist employee be an exemplar within their market sector, advocating support to defence people issues to partner organisations, suppliers and customers with tangible positive results.
Graham Hervin, a mobile engineer in Interserve’s National Maintenance Network, has been in the RAF Reserves for 30-years and is currently on active duty in the Gulf.
He said: “Interserve has been superb. The company provides two-weeks paid leave for me to undertake the training requirement, and quite simply without that support I’d struggle to continue in the role.”
Johnny Mercer, Minister for Defence, People and Veterans, said: “The breadth and diversity of the award winners this year shows how business support for the Armed Forces continues to grow no matter the sector, company size or location. I’m grateful for the positive attitude and flexible policies these organisations have towards the defence community which is testament to the fantastic contribution our serving personnel, veterans and their families can make to any organisation.
“I’m delighted this scheme gives those organisations who have achieved this award the recognition they deserve.”
Lynn Mawdsley, Managing Director of Interserve’s Support Services division, said: “I am proud that the Ministry of Defence has recognised our commitment to support the UK Armed Forces.
“Our global workforce, from our senior leaders to our frontline colleagues, includes many veterans, Reservists and service dependants. We understand how vitally important it is to support this staff group and have well-established ‘Armed-Forces-friendly’ policies to achieve that aim.
“We have launched an Armed Forces Steering Committee and mentor network who work across the business to engage proactively with colleagues in need of help, advice and guidance on our Armed-Forces-friendly policies. We also strongly encourage our supply chain to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and actively back military veteran recruitment schemes.”
The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) encourages employers to support defence and to inspire others to do the same. The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.
Interserve delivers market-leading total facilities management (FM) services to the Ministry of Defence via a range of crucial contracts that supports the military at home and abroad. Work the company undertakes ranges from delivering FM and highly-skilled engineering services to four overseas bases (Cyprus, Ascension Islands, Falkland Islands and Gibraltar) through to delivering FM to the UK Armed Forces training estate – which spans 1,200 sites and represents one per cent of the UK’s land mass.
The ERS primarily recognises private sector support. As well as fulfilling all the criteria involved in bronze and silver, gold award holders must: have signed the Armed Forces Covenant proactively demonstrate their forces-friendly credentials as part of their recruiting and selection processes be actively engaged with the recruitment of military service leavers support Reservists and guarantee 10 days’ additional leave for training, fully paid, to the Reservist employee be an exemplar within their market sector, advocating support to defence people issues to partner organisations, suppliers and customers with tangible positive results.
Graham Hervin, a mobile engineer in Interserve’s National Maintenance Network, has been in the RAF Reserves for 30-years and is currently on active duty in the Gulf.
He said: “Interserve has been superb. The company provides two-weeks paid leave for me to undertake the training requirement, and quite simply without that support I’d struggle to continue in the role.”
Johnny Mercer, Minister for Defence, People and Veterans, said: “The breadth and diversity of the award winners this year shows how business support for the Armed Forces continues to grow no matter the sector, company size or location. I’m grateful for the positive attitude and flexible policies these organisations have towards the defence community which is testament to the fantastic contribution our serving personnel, veterans and their families can make to any organisation.
“I’m delighted this scheme gives those organisations who have achieved this award the recognition they deserve.”
Lynn Mawdsley, Managing Director of Interserve’s Support Services division, said: “I am proud that the Ministry of Defence has recognised our commitment to support the UK Armed Forces.
“Our global workforce, from our senior leaders to our frontline colleagues, includes many veterans, Reservists and service dependants. We understand how vitally important it is to support this staff group and have well-established ‘Armed-Forces-friendly’ policies to achieve that aim.
“We have launched an Armed Forces Steering Committee and mentor network who work across the business to engage proactively with colleagues in need of help, advice and guidance on our Armed-Forces-friendly policies. We also strongly encourage our supply chain to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and actively back military veteran recruitment schemes.”