East Ayrshire Council was among twenty two employers from across Scotland who were awarded for their supportive attitude towards the Armed Forces and their personnel over the last year.
Provost Jim Todd, who is Armed Forces’ Champion for East Ayrshire Council, attended the Reserve Forces Employer Awards Dinner last week, a glittering event held in The Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle, organised jointly by Lowland and Highland Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations.
The evening was held to publicly acknowledge employers in Scotland who support the United Kingdom’s Armed Forces by employing reservists, veterans, disabled veterans, Cadet Force Adult Instructors or the spouses of members of the Armed Forces.
The Employer Recognition Scheme is awarded at three levels: the Bronze award can be gained by signing an electronic pledge online; the Gold award is presented nationally in London and the Silver awards presented on this occasion are decided regionally.
Employers can be nominated online by anyone who believes that the company or organisation satisfies the criteria, and then a regional board determines which of the nominations will go forward to receive the award.
The Vice Chief of Defence Staff, General Sir Gordon Messenger KCB DSO OBE ADC, presented employers with Silver Award certificates on behalf of the Secretary of State for Defence and spoke to those gathered about the value of reservists in the workplace and the additional skills and training they bring to employers through their military service.
The employers represented most sectors of Scottish business and included both the public and private sectors.
Provost Todd said: “What a wonderful evening it was, seeing and hearing about the support provided by employers to those members of their staff serving with the Reserves.
"I know that at East Ayrshire Council, we gain a great deal from employing reservists in terms of the skills that they bring to the workplace including communication and decision-making, leadership and teamwork. We are delighted to have received this award and will continue to do all we can to support our Armed Forces personnel. Congratulations must also go to local company Billy Bowie Special Projects who received an award on the night as well.”