Employability support specialists, Steps To Work, have recently received the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Bronze Award. This follows on from the commitment they made in November of last year, when the Black Country based charity signed the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC).
Launched by the Ministry of Defence in 2014, the ERS recognises organisations from a wide range of industry sectors who pledge their support to those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, as well as their families and dependents. With over 21 years’ experience of assisting local residents – including veterans and reservists – into employment, education and training, Steps To Work will actively promote and encourage other organisations to sign the AFC and become a Force’s friendly employer.
They have also ensured their own recruitment processes are Armed Forces inclusive and arranged for members of staff to receive training that champions alignment with ERS values. In particular, Sgt. Ad Sefton will be delivering an Armed Forces careers awareness session to all of the organisation’s delivery staff on 1st February, which will focus on opportunities for clients and the benefits of joining the reserves.
Mike Gahir, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Steps To Work, commented: “We are delighted to have received the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Bronze Award, which highlights our ongoing commitment to our Armed Forces personnel and their families.
“As a charity, we recognise the exceptional skills and boundless potential that veterans and reservists can offer local employers, and are proud to provide services that support them into sustainable, rewarding and meaningful employment. Due to their unique qualities and lived experience, employing Armed Forces community members can truly help to diversify workforce talent, often resulting in tangible benefits for business performance, innovation and growth. Therefore, we encourage employers from across the region to also consider pledging their support.
“I would like to extend my congratulations to our fellow award winners and look forward to working alongside them to raise awareness for the skills and employability prospects of our local Armed Forces community.”
For more information about the employability support services that Steps To Work deliver, please visit: stepstowork.co.uk. To discover more about the Armed Forces Covenant, please visit: www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk.
