The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employers that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant. 

John Williams, Group Managing Director – Maritime Transport said “We are honoured to have received the MOD’s Silver award. We employ a number of ex-service personnel, and as a business, Maritime are benefitting from the skills and strong work ethic already instilled in ex-service men and women. 

Their ability to learn new skills and have confidence in new and challenging situations makes them desirable in any workplace, particularly one which echoes many of the forces standards.”

Those presented with the Silver award need to display certain attributes including:

• demonstrate support for service personnel issues and employ at least one member of the armed forces community
• actively communicate and uphold a positive stance to their employees via established HR policies and procedures
• show flexibility towards annual training commitments and mobilisation of reservist employees and support the employment of cadet instructors, armed forces veterans (including wounded, injured and sick) and military spouses/partners

The award was presented at a recent ceremony in Cambridge by Vice Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, Jane Lewin Smith to Gary Austin, Transport Manager – Maritime Transport.