The council has been awarded the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award, which recognises and rewards UK employers for their support and commitment towards the defence community.
From supporting a member of staff who was mobilised during the First Gulf War and put on standby during the Kosovo crisis, employing veterans and reservists, to having a dedicated webpage for ex-armed forces – for any former member of the Armed Forces who is homeless, or is planning to leave the Armed Forces and faces the threat of homelessness – there is a wide range of initiatives and commitments the council has undertaken to qualify for the award.
The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.
The Mayor of Basildon, Councillor David Burton-Sampson, said: “It is always an honour to get the opportunity to meet veterans and members of the Armed Forces on Armed Forces Day and Remembrance Sunday but it’s important they both feel supported and are supported all year round.
“Whether council staff or residents living in the borough, I’m pleased we are proudly supporting those who serve and have served our country”.
Basildon Council’s Head of Engagement, Joseph Reay, added “People are at the heart of our policies and this award shows our continued commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.
“To achieve this award, we were able to proactively demonstrate that service personnel and armed forces community are not unfairly disadvantaged as part of our recruiting process, we employ at least one individual from the armed forces community and we ensure that our workforce is aware of our positive policies; and demonstrate our support to mobilisations of reserves”.
