Summit Learning Trust awarded the Silver Award accreditation in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) for their support to the Armed Forces
Summit Learning Trust has been recognised by the Ministry of Defence for their support to the Armed Forces from across the West Midland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association’s (West Midland RFCA) region.
Summit Learning Trust met all the criteria for the silver status which includes a number of positive measures and policies that they have in place advocating their support to members of the Armed Forces community within their family of academies. This offer also includes and extends to veterans, reservists, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and their families.
The silver status requires all employers to ensure:
That members of the Armed Forces community are not disadvantaged in their recruitment and selection process
That all positive policies relating to Defence personnel are internally publicised
That they employ at least one individual from the Armed Forces category that their nomination emphasises
If required, that they have demonstrated support to Reservist mobilisations
That they align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant
The ERS scheme bestows Bronze, Silver and Gold accreditation to employers supporting the wider armed forces community, their families and communities who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, while aligning their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.
All entries are subject to a rigorous validation process by a selection board made up of senior military personnel.
Vince Green, CEO, summit Learning Trust said, “Summit Learning Trust are proud to be Silver ERS holders and this demonstrates our commitment to the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant which we all collectively signed earlier this year. We are honoured that our family of 8 academies have committed pledges to advocate their support for our Armed Forces community. Our vision is to ensure that all children and young people, regardless of their background, fulfil their educational potential and maximise their life chances. As an employer, we epitomise working inclusively within our communities, embracing the varied localities we serve, and are committed to honouring the Armed Forces Covenant, supporting our Armed Forces community including former and present military personnel and their families.”
West Midland RFCA would like to congratulate all winners for achieving their Silver Awards as part of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). The organisations are spread across all of the regions counties and come from a wide range of sectors including: education providers, NHS Trusts, charities, local authorities, security firms and the leisure industry. This Year saw a record number of companies and organisations sign the Armed Forces Covenant across the country which shows how much the Armed Forces Community is valued in the workplace.
Graham Whitehouse, Regional Employer Engagement Director at West Midland RFCA, said: “We are absolutely delighted that 26 employers in our region have been recognised by the Ministry of Defence for the support they provide to the Armed Forces community. “From working with the Careers Transition Partnership and Forces Families Jobs in recruiting veterans and military spouses, to the respect they show their existing staff members who are Reserves or Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, every employer here has demonstrated the value they place on the forces community and military experience. They are working examples of the fact that partnering with Defence is good for business.”
Commenting on the announcement of the ERS 2023 awards, Johnny Mercer, Minister for Defence People and Veterans said:
“The breadth and diversity of the winners this year shows how business support for the Armed Forces continues to grow no matter the sector, company size or location. I am grateful for the positive attitude and flexible policies these organisations have adopted towards the defence community, which is testament to the fantastic contribution our serving personnel, veterans and their families can make to any organisation. I am delighted that so many companies ( well over 10,000) are supporting our people and that, through this scheme, we can give them the public recognition they deserve.
The ERS was launched to recognise and reward employers who support Defence and inspire others to do the same.