Council secures top defence accolade with gold award renewal
Telford & Wrekin Council has been reaccredited with the Gold Award in the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme, marking a decade of support for the armed forces community.
This reaccreditation, which is valid for the next five years, follow’s the Council’s first Gold Award in 2020 and is the highest accolade within the scheme.
To maintain Gold status, employers must demonstrate a deep commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and implement industry-leading HR policies. These include providing at least ten days of additional paid leave for Reservists to carry out training and deployments, alongside robust support frameworks for Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and the spouses or partners of serving personnel.
Councillor Paul Davis, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Civic Pride, said: “With more than 16,000 people living or working in our borough with an armed forces connection, Telford & Wrekin Council has made a strong commitment, through the Armed Forces Covenant, to support them and ensure that they are treated fairly.
“Within our own organisation, we clearly recognise the value that those with an armed forces connection bring, the service our veteran employees have given, and the commitments our Reservist staff have made, and have made sure we provide them with every support we can.
“This Gold Award recognises that commitment, and we are proud to continue to support those in our borough with an armed forces connection.”
Telford & Wrekin Council employee Nichola said: “As a veteran and now an employee at Telford & Wrekin Council, I know firsthand how challenging the transition from military to civilian life can be. When you leave the Forces, you don’t just leave a job—you leave a family, a way of life, and a sense of belonging that’s hard to replace. That’s why I’m proud to be part of a council that truly supports its Armed Forces community.”
Philip Sinclair, Defence Relationship Manager West Midlands for the Ministry of Defence added: “The reaccreditation of the Defence Employer Recognition Gold award held by Telford & Wrekin Council for further five years is a tremendous endorsement of the fantastic support that they offer to the Armed forces Community in the borough, both as a key employer, and as a local authority, supporting the community.
"The Council are a ‘force multiplier’ when it comes to their support, and an exceptional advocate for the Armed Forces Covenant and community it supports and represents. I am proud to be the Defence Relationship Management account manager for Telford & Wrekin Council, and immensely grateful for their support and engagement with Defence.”
The Council’s support for armed forces personnel, veterans and their families is part of the local authority’s wider commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, which aims to remove any disadvantage caused to service personnel, their families and veterans as a result of their service and sacrifice for the country.
Through the Covenant, which it first signed in 2012, Telford & Wrekin Council works with trusted partners to provide a range of support for serving armed forces personnel, veterans and their families, including the recently opened Christopher Turley Armed Forces Community Hub in Dawley, in partnership with Great Dawley Town Council and Telford Mind.
Additionally, through the Telford and Wrekin Armed Forces Network, the council also supports a range of activities and events for serving personnel, veterans and their families including weekly ‘bake and banter’ sessions, fortnightly Models for Heroes sessions, craft and art lessons, plus pop-up advice and information sessions around the borough and the Council’s annual Armed Forces Day celebration event, held each year on national Armed Forces Day.
