South Norfolk: Local council champions armed forces

The council has been given a Silver Award in the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme.

The scheme recognises organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.

Managing Director Trevor Holden who was a Wing Commander in the RAF, said:

"We are thrilled to have been awarded Silver. It’s fantastic to achieve recognition for the way we are supporting the defence and armed forces communities, both in our own organisation and in the wider district. "As an employer, we really value the skills and qualities that veterans, reservists and ex-military personnel bring to our organisation.”

To achieve a silver award, employers need to have signed the armed forces covenant and shown flexibility towards the annual training commitments and deployment of reservists, whilst also supporting the employment of cadet force adult volunteers, service leavers, and military spouses and partners.

Steve Williams, the council's Waste Senior Operations Manager and former RAF Acting Squadron Leader, said

"The organisation has really helped me settle in after leaving the RAF and the support that it gives to ex-service personnel is brilliant. The transition from the military way of working to a civilian way has gone smoothly, but I know that if I needed extra support, it would be readily available.”