We have officially been presented with a silver award from the UK Ministry of Defence's Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and singled out for praise for the work we do for veterans.
The Employer Recognition Scheme recognises employers that pledge, demonstrate and advocate support to the defence and armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust and the Armed Forces Covenant.
We work solely for the UK military and its partners and have brought in various schemes and policies to help the armed forces community.
And these were noted at a special event in Durham by Brigadier Ben Banerjee, the Head of Army Healthcare, as he presented the silver award.
Specific examples referred to include our pledge of at least one fifth of our new recruits coming from a military connection and – which we achieved in 12 months.
Brigadier Banerjee also mentioned that we partner with three single service military charities - the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund., sponsor the Army Hockey Association and football teams for children from military families, have (at the time of the presentation) two colleagues nominated for the Women in Defence awards and provide health, mental and emotional wellbeing support for new starters with a military background.
In addition, the brigadier praised us for assisting with the Listening Ear project at Bovington Academy, a school in Dorset near Bovington army camp made up mainly of children from service families. The project aims to address the transient nature of their educational career by providing a safe space where the children can express their emotions and feel listened to as many move multiple times during their school years as their parents are posted to new locations.
The fact that we offer work placements for service personnel was also mentioned as a reason for gaining the silver award. We do this to help upskill those due to finish military service so that when they return to civilian life, they have trade experience in a relevant skill.
David Eccles, Regional Employment Engagement Director for the North of England at the Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association, said: “We are very grateful that VIVO Defence Services have formally demonstrated their efforts in creating a forces-friendly environment and supporting the Defence industry. VIVO has been awarded the Silver ERS award as a result of its support for the Armed Forces Community and for its employees who are Veterans or currently in the Reserve Forces.”
VIVO Defence Services Managing Director Jerry Moloney added: "I am really proud that we have received a silver award, which shows our continued commitment to supporting the armed forces community. VIVO works solely for the UK military and its partners and we are committed to this, so it is great to hear that Brigadier Banerjee pointed out many examples of what VIVO has achieved since it started operating in 2022."
Any organisation seeking to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and make their pledge can find more information here.