Silver award for support of the Armed Forces

LJMU has received the silver award from the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) acknowledging how it provides support to the Armed Forces community.

The award comes just over six months after the university gained initial bronze status. Since then it has made considerable progress in supporting and championing the contributions of the Armed Forces community, through appointing its first Armed Forces Champion and the formalisation of a cross-university Armed Forces Steering Group.

This enhanced commitment to the Armed Forces community forms part of LJMU’s 2030 Strategy, under the Place and Partnerships Plan, underpinning its promise to build skills, the economy, society and community through local and global collaboration.

The MoD backed award recognises how LJMU continues to actively demonstrate support for the Armed Forces community since signing the Armed Forces Covenant in 2021. In particular the silver award acknowledges LJMU’s commitment through a dedicated Military Veterans and Reservist Policy which provides enhanced support for its staff, as well as its positive recruitment process which recognises that many of the skills that reservists, veterans and their families have are transferable to the workplace.

Armed Forces Champion, Dr Gus Ryrie, said: “An awful lot of hard work went into our application for this award, led by steering group members Wendy Bowe and Amanda Mannion, evidencing the important progress that LJMU has made to bring about positive change and to better support this community. We are delighted to have achieved silver status and the work of our steering group will play a vital role in ensuring we go on to gain the gold award in the not-too-distant future.”

Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Place and Partnership, Professor Joe Yates, said: “It’s testament to the on-going determination of our Armed Forces Steering Group that LJMU has been recognised by the Employer Recognition Scheme at silver level. Moving forwards, the group are looking at a whole host of workstreams to further enhance LJMU’s impact, from pursuing cross-faculty research and knowledge exchange opportunities in collaboration with external partners, to strengthening partnerships with veteran and military resettlement organisations to establish tailored recruitment support for both those seeking to work or study at LJMU.”

Executive Director Human Resources, Tina Purkis, said: “As an Armed Forces friendly organisation we’re proud to have introduced new measures to better support veterans, reservists and their partners who work for the university, or who may look to join the institution in the future.

“Our new staff policy, introduced earlier this year, ensures that reservists can carry out their duties with the support of LJMU and that we will provide appropriate practical help, as well as health and wellbeing support, to anyone returning to work after a deployment. We also offer enhanced support for partners and spouses who may need to additional help while their loved one is away on deployment.”

The 2023 Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Awards recognised 56 organisations and businesses in the North West region. Commenting on the announcement of the awards, 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.”

Contact the Armed Forces Steering Group to find out more about their work and to get involved if you are an LJMU student or member of staff.

Find out more about LJMU’s commitment to the Armed Forces community.