Veterans Covenant Service: Elmbridge Borough Council presented with Bronze Award

Elmbridge Borough Council is proud to have been awarded the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) bronze award, joining 215 other councils across the country. The ERS encourages employers to support defence and inspire other organisations to do the same.  

The bronze award is presented to organisations that: 

• pledge to support the armed forces, including existing or prospective employees who are members of the community 
• promote being armed forces-friendly and are open to employing reservists, armed forces veterans (including the sick and injured), cadet instructors and military spouses/partners 
• have signed the Armed Forces Covenant, a nationwide agreement that those who serve or have served in the armed forces are treated fairly. 

The Armed Forces Covenant exists to redress the disadvantages that the armed forces community may face in comparison to other citizens and to recognise the sacrifices made. The Armed Forces Covenant is supported by the community covenant and the corporate covenant. The community covenant encourages local communities to support the armed forces community in their area and promote public understanding and awareness. The corporate covenant is a public pledge from businesses and other organisations who wish to demonstrate their support for the armed forces community. 

We signed up to the Armed Forces Community Covenant in October 2013. The community covenant’s two principles are that: 

• the armed forces community should not face disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services 
• special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved 

Councillor Barry Cheyne accepted the award on behalf of the council. “This is an excellent achievement in recognition of the hard work Elmbridge Borough Council is doing to support our veterans. We must continue to create a military-friendly environment and ensure those employed by the council are treated fairly. I look forward to us achieving the silver award”.

In recognition of this achievement, you may see the bronze award logo added to our website and other marketing materials as necessary and our name has been added to the list of bronze awardees which can be found on the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme website. 

More information on the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.