Silver in the Armed Forces Covenant ERS
June 29, 2026Posted by:
PeoplePlus has been awarded Silver in the Armed Forces Covenant Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), progressing from the Bronze Award we have held since first signing the Covenant. The award recognises employers who actively support the Armed Forces community, including veterans, reservists, cadets, and the families of those who serve.
For us, the recognition reflects work that is already part of how we operate, rather than a new commitment made to secure an award. Colleagues from the Armed Forces and veteran community work across PeoplePlus, in roles that contribute directly to the people we support every day.
What the commitment looks like in practice
Support for the Armed Forces community runs through several areas of our work. We actively support the employment of veterans and members of the wider Armed Forces community, and we accommodate colleagues who serve as Reservists, making allowances for training and deployment wherever possible so that service does not disadvantage a person's civilian career. We take part in Armed Forces and veterans events through the year, including Armed Forces Day and Remembrance Sunday, and we provide dedicated support through our Armed Forces and Veterans Lead and support group.
That role has been central to our progress from Bronze to Silver. As well as embedding awareness of Armed Forces issues internally, our Lead represents us externally by attending Armed Forces Covenant meetings, sitting on local NHS Armed Forces and veterans steering groups, and taking part in breakfast clubs and support networks.
Going further than our own organisation
Our commitment extends beyond our own workforce, we have supported a local council to achieve its Bronze Award and are now mentoring it towards Silver, and our Social Recruitment Advocacy Group works on a national scale to help organisations recruit from a wider talent pool, contributing to a wider network of Armed Forces-friendly employers.
Through Gloucestershire Carers Hub, we continue to strengthen support for Armed Forces families. The team works closely with local military base welfare teams, promotes awareness of the support available to unpaid carers, and helps Armed Forces families understand where to turn for help and guidance.
“Moving from Bronze to Silver matters to us because it reflects something we already believe. People who have served, and the families who support them, bring experience and perspective that make us a stronger organisation, and our responsibility is to make sure that service is never a disadvantage at work. That applies to a veteran building a civilian career, a Reservist balancing training with their job, and a carer in a forces family who simply needs to know where to turn. The same belief that shapes how we look after our own colleagues runs through our wider work to open up employment for people who are too often overlooked.”
Jenna Jack, Head of Marketing & Colleague Engagement
Looking ahead, PeoplePlus will continue to deepen our support for Armed Forces colleagues and families, expand partnerships across sectors, and champion the value that the Armed Forces community brings to the workplace.
June 29, 2026Posted by:
