Guidance

Defence Employer Recognition Scheme

The Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) encourages employers to support defence and inspire other organisations to do the same.

From:
Ministry of Defence
Published
21 October 2015
Last updated
1 August 2025 鈥� See all updates

Documents

ODS, 46.7 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

ODS, 54.1 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

ODS, 165 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

Details

About the scheme

The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) encourages employers to support defence and 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 .

The ERS is designed primarily to recognise private sector support although public sector organisations such as the emergency services, local authorities, NHS trusts and executive agencies are also eligible to be recognised.

Pledge your organisation鈥檚 support via the Bronze award or express your interest in a Silver or Gold award via the links below.

Privacy policy

You can read our to find out more about how we process data.

Bronze award

Bronze award holders:

  • are self-nominated by employers who pledge to support the armed forces, including existing or prospective employees who are members of the community
  • must have signed the Armed Forces Covenant
  • promote being armed forces-friendly and are open to employing reservists, armed forces veterans (including the wounded, injured and sick), cadet instructors and military spouses/partners
  • receive an electronic certificate and logos to display on their website, stationery and other collateral

View the ERS Bronze award holders

Silver award

Silver award holders:

  • must have signed the
  • must already be accredited as a holder of ERS Bronze Award and must have held it with sufficient time to develop suitable plans, policies and evidence to support the ERS Silver application - the employer must proactively demonstrate that service personnel and the armed forces community are not unfairly disadvantaged as part of their recruiting and selection processes
  • must actively ensure that their workforce is aware of their positive policies towards defence people issues - e.g. an employer nominated for support to the Reserves must have an internally-publicised and positive聽HR聽policy on Reserves
  • within the context of Reserves, the employer must have demonstrated support to mobilisations or have a framework in place, demonstrating support to training by providing at least 5 days鈥� additional unpaid/paid leave (wherever possible not to Reservist employees鈥� financial disadvantage)
  • must not have been the subject of any negative PR or media activity
  • the employer should demonstrate support to the Cadet movement as a whole by providing proactive support to individual cadets and/or to local cadet units

View the 2024 ERS Silver Award Holders

Gold award

Gold award holders:

  • must have signed the
  • employers must have an existing relationship with their National Account Manager/Regional Employer Engagement Director/appropriate defence representative
  • the employer must already be accredited as a holder of ERS Silver Award and must have held it with sufficient time to develop suitable plans, policies and evidence to support the ERS Gold application
  • the employer must proactively demonstrate their forces-friendly credentials as part of their recruiting and selection processes; be engaged with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) in the recruitment of service leavers, and have registered for the (FFJ) portal
  • the employer must actively ensure that their workforce is aware of their positive policies towards defence people issues - e.g. an employer nominated for support to the Reserves must have an internally publicised and positive human resources policy on Reserves
  • the employer must be an exemplar within their market sector, advocating support to defence people issues to partner organisations, suppliers and customers with tangible positive results
  • within the context of Reserves the employer must have demonstrated support to mobilisations or have a framework in place, and must provide at least 10 days鈥� additional leave for training, fully paid, to the Reservist employee
  • the employer must actively encourage a positive environment for Reservists by ensuring that positive policies in support of Reservists within the workforce are communicated to line managers
  • the employer must not have been the subject of any negative public relations or media activity
  • the employer should be an exemplar in demonstrating support to the Cadet movement, e.g. through mentoring cadets in key employment skills, by providing guaranteed interviews for cadets, by direct investment in equipment and infrastructure for a local cadet unit, or by funding and sponsoring competitions, events, and specific activities for cadets such as overseas expeditions
  • the employer promotes volunteering with the cadet forces from their workforce by providing additional leave for employees who are Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs)

View the 2024 ERS Gold award holders

Nomination and award process

Employers can sign up themselves for each award.

Nominations will be validated to determine the level of defence personnel employment within the nominated organisation and to check that the organisation has signed the .

Once the nomination has been validated it will be considered by a selection board at national level for gold awards and regional level for silver awards. The selection boards will be a panel chaired by a senior military officer and they will consider each nomination against the award criteria. Organisations selected for gold and silver awards will be formally notified in writing and invited to the relevant award event.

Updates to this page

Published 21 October 2015
Last updated 1 August 2025 show all updates

  1. Updated 'ERS bronze award holders - 2015 to 2025' and 'ERS silver award holders - 2015 to 2025'.

  2. Updated: 'ERS gold award holders - 2015 to 2025' and 'ERS silver award holders - 2015 to 2025'.

  3. Added 2025 Gold Award winners to 鈥楨RS gold award holders - 2015 to 2025鈥�

  4. Updated 'ERS bronze award holders - 2015 to 2025'.

  5. Updated: ERS gold, silver and bronze award holders lists.

  6. Added links to the 2025 Silver and Gold Award Expression of Interest forms.

  7. Updated 'ERS bronze award holders - 2015 to 2024' and 'ERS silver award holders - 2015 to 2024'.

  8. Updated 'ERS bronze award holders - 2015 to 2024'.

  9. Updated: ERS gold award holders - 2015 to 2024.

  10. Updated: ERS silver award holders - 2015 to 2024.

  11. Updated: ERS gold and silver award holders - 2015 to 2024.

  12. Updated: ERS silver award holders - 2015 to 2023.

  13. Updated: ERS gold award holders - 2015 to 2023.

  14. Updated: ERS bronze award holders - 2015 to 2024.

  15. Updated: ERS bronze award holders - 2015 to 2024.

  16. The ERS Bronze award holders list has been updated.

  17. The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) 2024 Silver Award Expression of Interest (EoI)聽window is now closed.

  18. The list of ERS Bronze holders has been updated.

  19. The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) 2024 Gold Award Expression of Interest (EoI)聽window is now closed.

  20. The ERS bronze awards holders list has been updated.

  21. Added links for nominations for the ERS Silver and Gold awards.

  22. Removed 'Defence Employer Recognition Scheme' as this information is available under 'Details'.

  23. Updated 'Defence Employer Recognition Scheme'.

  24. The ERS Bronze list has been updated.

  25. The ERS bronze list has been updated.

  26. ERS Bronze List 2023 has been updated.

  27. ERS Bronze holders list 2023 has been updated.

  28. Updated: ERS bronze award holders - 2015 to 2023.

  29. The ERS Silver list 2023 has been updated.

  30. The ERS Silver list 2023 has been updated

  31. The ERS Bronze list 2023 has been updated.

  32. The ERS Silver list 2023 has been updated.

  33. The ERS Silver list 2023 has been updated.

  34. The ERS Silvers 2023 holders list has been updated

  35. ERS gold holders has been updated

  36. View the ERS Gold awards updated

  37. Updated: 'ERS gold award holders - 2015 to 2023'.

  38. The Gold Award Holder list has been updated.

  39. Updated: ERS silver award holders - 2015 to 2023.

  40. ERS Bronze Award holders list has been updated

  41. Updated: 'Silver award' section in 'Defence Employer Recognition Scheme'.

  42. Bronze award holder list updated.

  43. Added an update for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award.

  44. Bronze award holder list has been updated.

  45. Bronze award holder list updated.

  46. Updates have been made to the bronze award holder list.

  47. ERS Bronze holder spreadsheet has been updated.

  48. Updated list of bronze award holders

  49. Updated 'Defence Employer Recognition Scheme' with nomination details for the Employer Recognition Scheme.

  50. Updated list of bronze ERS holders.

  51. Updated list of ERS bronze holders

  52. Updated list of bronze holders

  53. Updated list of bronze award holders

  54. Updated list of bronze award holders

  55. Updated list of bronze ERS holders

  56. List of Bronze award holders updated.

  57. ERS Bronze holders updated

  58. Updated list of bronze ERS award holders

  59. Updated list of bronze holders

  60. Updated bronze award holders

  61. Updated ERS Bronze holders

  62. ERS bronze holders updated

  63. ERS 2022 Silver holders updated

  64. ERS Bronze holders updated

  65. 'ERS bronze award holders - 2015 to 2022' updated.

  66. Updated list of Bronze award holders

  67. Updated with 2022 gold winners

  68. Updated bronze award holders

  69. Updated list of Bronze winners

  70. Updated list of Bronze ERS winners

  71. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  72. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  73. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  74. Updated content for: Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.

  75. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  76. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  77. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  78. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  79. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  80. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders.

  81. Updated: Defence Employer Recognition Scheme under the headings: 'Silver award' and 'Gold award'.

  82. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders鈥�

  83. Updated organisation name on ERS Silver Award Holder spreadsheet

  84. updated Bronze holder list

  85. updated silver and bronze spreadsheets, updated the link to apply for bronze award

  86. Updated Gold and Bronze excel lists, deleted Bronze spreadsheet from Nov 2020, deleted tips and tricks on writing a citation document

  87. updated Bronze award holder list, deleted two spreadsheets that are outdated and not needed (the bronze award holders updated in november spreadsheet, and the tips and tricks for writing your citations pdf).

  88. "ERS gold award holders - 2021" added.

  89. Updated: Defence Employer Recognition Scheme by adding new heading 'Privacy policy'.

  90. changed the silver award status to closed for nominations

  91. Marked the Gold Award winners nominations as closed.

  92. Updated headings Gold Award and Silver Award in Defence Employer Recognition Scheme html.

  93. Updated: ERS bronze award holders (Updated 16 November 2020).

  94. Updated the Bronze, Silver and Gold award holder lists

  95. Edited the silver awards holder list

  96. updated bronze award holder spreadsheet

  97. updated the excel list of ERS Gold award holders

  98. updated bronze award holders list

  99. Updated one of the criteria under the gold ERS heading.

  100. Updated ERS bronze award holders.

  101. Changed the silver award nominations from open to now closed.

  102. updated the list of Bronze award holders

  103. Update made to whether you can express your organisation' interest in the ERS Gold award.

  104. Updated Bronze ERS award holders

  105. Updated ERS Bronze Award Spreadsheet

  106. Updated ERS Bronze award holders

  107. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders.

  108. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award Holders

  109. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award Holders

  110. Updated the page to reflect the new openings for organisations to express their interest for the gold and silver ERS awards.

  111. Updated the ERS Bronze Award Holder attachment

  112. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  113. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  114. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  115. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  116. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  117. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  118. Updated lists of Bronze, Silver and Gold Award holders

  119. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  120. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  121. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  122. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  123. Added the update that the Silver awards nominations have now closed.

  124. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  125. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  126. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  127. Updated Gold Award nomination information.

  128. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  129. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  130. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders and added 'Region' column to list of ERS Gold Award holders

  131. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  132. Updated list of ERS Bronze holders

  133. Updated list of Bronze award holders

  134. Updated list of Bronze Award holders. New Bronze application form and new expression of interest forms for Silver and Gold.

  135. Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders

  136. Updated list of ERS Bronze and Silver award holders

  137. Updated lists of ERS Bronze and Silver award holders

  138. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders

  139. Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders

  140. Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders

  141. Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders

  142. Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders

  143. Updated list of ERS Bronze and Silver award holders

  144. Changed the 'Size' field for Kent County Council's Gold award listing

  145. Changed the 'Industry' field for Kent County Council's Gold award

  146. Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders

  147. Updated list of ERS Silver and Gold award holders

  148. Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders

  149. Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders

  150. Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders

  151. Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders

  152. Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders

  153. Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders

  154. Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders

  155. Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders

  156. Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders

  157. Updated Gold Awards with 'Gold nominations are now closed. If you have any questions regarding nominations please email employerrelations@rfca.mod.uk'.

  158. Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders

  159. Updated the Silver ERS award nomination announcement to reflect the change that took place at 23:59 on the 15 March 2018.

  160. Update to bronze award holders

  161. update to bronze ERS award holders excel.

  162. Update to bronze award listings.

  163. Update to ERS bronze award holders.

  164. Update to Gold and Silver ERS award holders excels.

  165. Update to bronze award holders.

  166. Update to bronze and silver award listings excels.

  167. Update to silver award listings.

  168. Update to Bronze ERS award holders listings.

  169. Update to Silver award listings.

  170. Update to Bronze and Silver award holders.

  171. Update of bronze award holders.

  172. Update to the ERS Silver award holders excel.

  173. Update to the ERS criteria for silver and gold.

  174. Update of the bronze award listings.

  175. Update of ERS Bronze award holders.

  176. Change to wording 'AFC' - 'Armed Forces Community', change to Bronze criteria and addition of updated Silver award holders.

  177. Update to Gold and Silver gold award nominations.

  178. Update to the bronze award holder listings.

  179. Addition of bronze award holders.

  180. Update of Bronze ERS awards holders.

  181. Updated Bronze award listings.

  182. Update of Gold award winners 2017.

  183. Update to the Bronze ERS awards listing.

  184. Update of companies that have received the Bronze award.

  185. Updating bronze award listings.

  186. Updated Bronze ERS award holders excel.

  187. Addition of Bronze ERS award holders.

  188. Update of Bronze ERS award holders.

  189. Updated Bronze award listings.

  190. Updates to the Bronze and Silver ERS holders index. Update to text in regard to Gold nominations closing.

  191. Update to Bronze award holders listing and closed Silver nominations.

  192. Update of the Bronze ERS Award holders listing.

  193. Update of Bronze ERS award holders.

  194. Update of ERS Bronze award holders.

  195. Update of Bronze Employer Recognition Scheme index.

  196. Update of the Bronze Employer Recognition Awards.

  197. Update of the Bronze and Silver Award holders for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.

  198. Update to the Bronze Award Holders excel.

  199. Update of the bronze employer recognition scheme awards holders.

  200. Updated list of Bronze award holders

  201. Updating Silver and Bronze Awards Employer Recognition scheme holders.

  202. Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme Bronze Listings.

  203. Updated bronze award link

  204. Updated list of bronze award holders.

  205. Updated list of silver awards holders from 2016.

  206. Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.

  207. Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme Bronze award holders.

  208. Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.

  209. Updated list of ERS Bronze Award holders.

  210. Change to closing date for Employer Recognition Scheme gold nomination submissions.

  211. Updated lists of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze and silver award holders.

  212. Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.

  213. Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.

  214. Nominations for Employer Recognition Scheme gold and silver awards 2017 are now open. Inclusion of links to nomination forms.

  215. Updated list of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders

  216. Updated list of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.

  217. Updated list of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme gold award winners.

  218. Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.

  219. Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.

  220. Updated list of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.

  221. Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.

  222. Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.

  223. Updated list of ERS Bronze award holders.

  224. Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze holders.

  225. Updated list of bronze award holders

  226. Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.

  227. Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.

  228. Updated lists of Employer Recognition Scheme silver award winners and bronze award holders.

  229. Updated list of ERS bronze holders

  230. Closed Employer Recognition Scheme gold nominations for 2016.

  231. Updated list of bronze award holders.

  232. Updated list of ERS bronze award holders

  233. Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders

  234. Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze holders.

  235. Updated list of ERS bronze award holders. Closing of nominations for ERS silver 2016.

  236. Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders

  237. Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders.

  238. Updated list of bronze award holders.

  239. Updated list of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme bronze award holders

  240. Updated list of Employer Recognition Scheme silver award winners.

  241. Employer Recognition Scheme gold award nominations now open.

  242. Updated list of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Bronze award holders

  243. Updated Silver and Bronze award winner lists

  244. Update to Defence Employer Recognition Scheme silver and bronze award winners.

  245. Update to Silver and Bronze award holders.

  246. Announcement of the 2015 Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold winners.

  247. Update to Defence Employer Recognition Scheme silver and bronze award holders.

  248. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page

Related content