BSUH is proud to be one of 100 employers being recognised by Defence Minister Ben Wallace for their outstanding support for the Armed Forces community by being awarded an Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award.
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.
BSUH is one of 13 NHS Hospitals and Trusts to receive this coveted award. Trust Chief Executive Marianne Griffiths said: “I am delighted that we have received this Gold Award and would like to take this opportunity to say how grateful we are to our armed forces employees at the Trust. We are absolutely committed to supporting staff who are regular personnel, reservists, veterans and their families.
“We are proud of our growing armed forces staff network and being one of the first Trusts in the country to be also be accredited as ‘Veteran Aware’ – ensuring that our patients who have served in the UK armed forces will also receive the best and most appropriate care.”
Employers have won awards for initiatives such as employing veterans, supporting individuals transitioning out of the armed forces into a new career and providing flexibility for Reservists. BSUH supports their staff with armed forces aware policies, additional paid leave for reserve and regular reserve personnel and physical and mental health clinics and support services. The Trust has signed the Armed Forces Covenant, and engages with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) to promote the recruitment of service leavers.
Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace said: “These awards recognise the outstanding support for our armed forces from employers across Britain and I would like to thank and congratulate each and every one.
“Regardless of size, location or sector, employing ex-forces personnel is good for business and this year we have doubled the number of awards in recognition of the fantastic support they give.”
For a full list of all employers see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-employer-recognition-scheme
