Cumbria Chamber of Commerce has received an award from the Ministry of Defence.
The silver Employer Recognition Scheme award recognises the chamber’s commitment to supporting the armed forces community and encouraging other local businesses to do the same.
The chamber has been recognised along with 56 other businesses in the North West of England. Other Cumbrian businesses included in the list are Cumbria Education Trust, Wragg Mark-Bell Solicitors, Nuclear Waste Services and James Fisher Subtech.
Cumbria Chamber of Commerce managing director Suzanne Caldwell said: “Over the past two years we’ve been working to develop our support for the armed forces community.
“We’d already changed our recruitment policies some time ago, so this started with refreshing and really getting behind our Armed Forces Covenant.
“As part of working towards our silver award, we’ve gone further with new company policies to meet the needs of army reservists during training and mobilisation, for example.
“It’s no secret that we are currently facing a staffing crisis in Cumbria with businesses struggling to recruit people with the right skills. So, given our role as a chamber, we’ve been promoting the opportunities and benefits of employing service leavers, veterans and reservists, as well as members of Forces families.
“Ex-service personnel and reservists possess valuable experience, skills and qualities and the ERS will help you make your business more attractive to them. There’s also support available to help you with tapping into this pool of potential employees.
“Through the ERS, businesses can also develop future recruitment opportunities by working actively with local cadet groups. Not all cadets will join the forces and their participation in cadets makes a huge difference to their employability.
“So I’d really encourage businesses to consider taking part in the ERS as a way of mitigating staffing challenges if nothing else.
“We’d like to congratulate the Cumbrian businesses who have received their silver award with us and strongly encourage others to find out more and get involved!”
Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Reserve & Cadets), Major General Marc Overton said: “I would like to thank and congratulate the recipients of this year’s Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Awards.
“A silver award recognises the fantastic efforts of employers throughout the UK who have both elevated their commitments under the Armed Forces Covenant and provided actual benefits to the armed forces community.
The winners should all be proud of their life-changing impact and fresh opportunities they are providing to our reservists, veterans and their families. The number of winners this year yet again shows that the armed forces family talent pool is also providing tangible business benefit.”
