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EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT NEWSLETTER Issue 6, September 2022 Hello and welcome to our latest newsletter. What’s new since 1st June 2022? 27 new AFC signings from supportive employers across Yorkshire and the Humber (Y&H) 7 ERS Bronze Awards were granted regionally 4 employers were granted the 2022 ERS Gold Award and 26 employers successfully achieved Silver status. See the full list of winners below. Over 600 employers across the region have signed the AFC to show their support to the British Armed Forces and their families. Please do encourage your business connections and supply chain partners to consider signing the Covenant: https://www2.rfca.org.uk/e/343221/et-involved-sign-the-covenant-/28qcwgv/1168599775?h=G887Ee0tHBOEb_CWY35ErUoF3h0qSqM7zmNk34_-194 Going for Gold Success  We are delighted to announce that four employers from the region have won the highest award possible for their outstanding support to the AF community and their ambassadorial role as advocates for partnering with Defence. Many congratulations to: ERS Medical Green Task Force Ltd Sheffield City Council Hull City Council (revalidation) The prestigious awards ceremony will take place in November, in York, together with the winners from the North of England RFCA. Record Haul of Silver Winners 2022 has marked a record haul for Y&H employers being granted the ERS Silver Award. Seventeen employers won the award for the first time while a further nine had their existing awards revalidated – bringing the total number of Silver Award winners to 26 this year. The black-tie, awards ceremony will take place in early October, in York, when certificates will be presented by HM regional Lord-Lieutenants. Many congratulations to all our award winners. First time Silver Award winners 2022 Acumen Waste Services Ltd ASSEAL plc Engineering UTC Northern Lincolnshire Genesis Protection Services GEV Wind Power Gough & Kelly Security Ltd Health Education England Intertrain (UK) Ltd KH Plant Training Ltd Leeds and York NHS Partnership Foundation Trust Marvel Projects Ltd Northern Lincolnshire & Goole NHS Foundation Trust Offploy CIC Pennine Energy Resources Purple Dog Ltd Sheffield Hallam University The National Horseracing College Revalidated Silver Award winners 2022 Harrogate & District NHS Foundation Trust Hull KR Foundation Leeds City Council Longs of Leeds Persimmon Homes Snugpak Ltd University of Bradford West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service The 2023 ERS Award programme will open in the new year for Gold and Silver new applications and revalidations. If you would like more information and/or to discuss the criteria and application process, please contact Pauline King: E. yh-reed2@rfca.mod.uk AFC co-signing ceremonies On the 20th June we were delighted to be invited to Sheffield Forgemasters for an AFC re-signing ceremony with David Bond, CEO and Capt. Sam Rodgers, Yorkshire Officers’ Training Regiment. We look forward to working with the team at Sheffield Forgemasters as they aspire to achieve ERS Silver status in 2023. Armed Forces Week 2022 was a huge success up and down the country. As the national host, Scarborough welcomed over 120,000 visitors on Armed Forces Day, Saturday 25th June. As part of the celebrations on Reserves Day, 22nd June, we hosted a business cocktail reception at the Crown Spa Hotel, Scarborough. Six employers re-signed the AFC to reaffirm their pledges and support. Thanks to: Beyond Housing; Carers Plus Yorkshire; City of York Council; Flamingo Land Resort; Murray Hills Solicitors; Scarborough Borough Council. Also, our thanks to Cdre Phil Waterhouse, Naval Regional Commander for the Northern England and the Isle of Man, as our guest speaker and co-signatory on behalf of the MoD. During the Great Yorkshire Show 12-15th July, at Harrogate Showground, we were delighted that Harrogate & District NHS Foundation Trust re-signed the AFC with Lt. Col. Will Blackhurst, Commanding Officer, 4 YORKS. Our guests were then invited to take a tour of the military village at the Show. The Trust’s ERS Silver Award has just been revalidated for a further five years.  The Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge (PGL) of Yorkshire, West Riding, James Newman OBE (pictured above), signed the AFC at an event at Tapton Hall, Sheffield on 17th August with the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, John Holt DL. Also in attendance were cadets and adult volunteers from North & West Yorkshire Army Cadet Force who received a generous donation of £10,000 from the PGL Master’s Fund. Recruitment Support Services As skills and recruitment have been a recent hot topic with employers, a reminder that all forces-friendly employers have free access to a number of military-focused recruitment support services: Career Transition Partnership (CTP): www.ctp.org.uk Forces Families Jobs (FFJ): www.forcesfamiliesjobs.co.uk Veterans into Logistics: https://www2.rfca.org.uk/e/343221/2022-09-27/28qcwh5/1168599775?h=G887Ee0tHBOEb_CWY35ErUoF3h0qSqM7zmNk34_-194 BuildForce: www.buildforce.org.uk Officer’s Association: www.officersassociation.org.uk The Poppy Factory: www.poppyfactory.org Cadet Apprenticeship Pathway: https://www2.rfca.org.uk/e/343221/2022-09-27/28qcwhk/1168599775?h=G887Ee0tHBOEb_CWY35ErUoF3h0qSqM7zmNk34_-194 As part of any future application for ERS Gold or Silver Awards you should be fully engaged with CTP and FFJ. Forthcoming Events and Directives HM Lord-Lieutenant Awards to cadets, adult volunteers and reserves for meritorious service: North Yorkshire, 29th September 2022 West Yorkshire, 13th October 2022 South Yorkshire, 27th October 2022 East Yorkshire, 10th November 2022 For more information contact Tammy Mitchell: yh-commsao@rfca.mod.uk City of York Council AF conference, 12th October 2022 HMS Ceres Diversity event, 20th October RAF Leeming Business evening event, 27th October 2022 South Yorkshire AF Business Expo in partnership with Doncaster Chamber of Commerce, March 2023 Business Networking Breakfast with Scarborough Ambassadors, March 2023 For more information contact Pauline King: yh-reed2@rfca.mod.uk Reservist Employer Notification Directive 2022/23 due to be launched soon. More information in our next newsletter. Share your news We would like to include your news and activities in our forthcoming newsletters. Tell us about your defence employees, about your armed forces networks, projects and events and what it means to your company to be a forces friendly employer. Send your ideas and copy to Pauline King: yh-reed2@rfca.mod.uk Contact us Contact the Employer Engagement team at any time to help you make the most of your AFC or for more information on the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Awards: Richard Lenton, Regional Employer Engagement Director: yh-empsp@rfca.mod.uk Pauline King, Regional Employer Engagement Director: yh-reed2@rfca.mod.uk Liz Kama, Employer Engagement Admin Officer: yh-eeao@rfca.mod.uk |