Amey awarded gold for supporting the armed forces

Amey awarded gold for supporting the armed forces

Leading public services provider Amey has been awarded the MOD ‘Gold Award’ for showing outstanding support for the armed forces community.

Amey won for employing veterans, supporting individuals transitioning out of the armed forces into a new career and providing flexibility for Reservists.

Now in its fifth year, the MOD’s Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Awards represent the highest badge of honour available to those that employ and support those who serve, veterans, and their families.

Amey is among 50 winners to have been recognised for their long-term commitment to the armed forces, with companies from the public and private sector achieving the top grade. Each has signed the Armed Forces Covenant and, where possible, engaged with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) to promote the recruitment of service leavers, as well as honouring individual pledges of support.

The Minister for Defence People and Veterans Tobias Ellwood said:
“The breadth and diversity of this year’s winners shows how business support for the armed forces continues to flourish. Their commitment is a testament to the fantastic contribution our serving personnel, veterans and their families can make to any organisation.

“We all have a role to play in ensuring that the armed forces community is not disadvantaged by service, and each of these employers is a setting an example as meaningful advocates for those protecting the nation.”

Andy Milner, Chief Executive Officer of Amey, said: “We are committed to supporting the people and organisations who keep our country safe by making sure they have the vehicles, equipment, workplaces and housing they need. Whether it’s our fundraising with armed forces charities or recruitment within the ex-forces community, we promote an armed forces-friendly collaboration wherever we can.

“I’m pleased that our continued support has been recognised with the Gold Employer Recognition Scheme. We have a strong commitment to employing ex-military personnel; on our defence estates contracts 11% of employees have links to the military or come from a military background.”

Earlier this year, Amey announced that Reserves will now get ten days' paid leave to train each year. This reinforces our commitment to recruiting and supporting members of the Army, Royal Naval, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. These extra days will help them to fulfil their commitments as Reservists, including annual training camps.

This support forms part of our commitment as signatories of the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant: a promise to treat people who serve, or have served, fairly. We also work with ex-service recruitment specialists Career Transition Partnership, and we are proud to have been a Strategic Partner of the armed forces charity SSAFA.


Notes to Editors:

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly. More information about the Armed Forces Covenant and how to get involved is at https://www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/

Through their Armed Forces Covenant pledges, employers have demonstrated concrete support for the Armed Forces family and key initiatives include:

• An agreement with mortgage lenders allowing personnel posted abroad to rent out their homes without facing higher mortgage costs or having to change their mortgage.
• Fairer mobile and broadband phone contracts, freezing the accounts of Armed Forces personnel and their families posted overseas and removing cancellation fees.
• Better deals in motor insurance, allowing personnel to keep their no claims bonuses and avoid cancellation fees when posted overseas at short notice.
• Employer networks in a wide range of sectors to support Service leavers through their transition to new careers.
• A Review of the Covenant in Business commissioned by the Forces in Mind Trust is being run to highlight and promote best practice and identify areas for further improvement.

More information about the companies involved can be found at https://www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/businesses-helping-deliver-armed-forces-covenant/

The Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) was launched in 2014 by then Prime Minister David Cameron to recognise employer support for the wider principles of the Defence Armed Forces Covenant and the full spectrum of Defence personnel. This includes the Reserves, Service Leavers, Wounded Injured and Sick, Cadets, and spouses.

For a full list of Employer Recognition Scheme Gold, Silver and Bronze award winners:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-employer-recognition-scheme