Balfour Beatty recognised for outstanding support to the British Armed Forces community
Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, has been awarded the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award 2017 for its on-going commitment to the Armed Forces community.
The ERS Gold Award is the highest badge of honour for organisations who have signed the Armed Forces Covenant having demonstrated outstanding support for those who serve and have served. As part of the Armed Forces Covenant, Balfour Beatty seeks to support the employment of veterans young and old, in addition to supporting employees who choose to be members of the Reserve Forces, by accommodating their training and deployment.
Balfour Beatty’s Armed Forces Forum, which operates across the UK, focusses on the recruitment, retention, development and support of ex-military personnel and is making strides towards a greater Armed Forces community throughout the company. For example, Balfour Beatty’s West Sussex County Council contract, which sees the local authority’s maintenance, upgrade and management services outsourced to Balfour Beatty, has a workforce comprised of 10% ex-military.
Paul Raby, Balfour Beatty Group Human Resources Director, commented: “We are delighted to have been recognised for our commitment to our Armed Forces colleagues. Creating a sense of community for our Armed Forces personnel across Balfour Beatty is of great importance and we are proud to be recognised as an employer of choice for Armed Forces leavers.
“Many Armed Forces leavers have transferable skills which are ideally suited to the construction sector. We recognise the business benefits associated with having a diverse workforce and are committed to offering a rewarding career, with opportunities for continued development.”
Defence Secretary, Sir Michael Fallon, said: “These companies have shown the gold standard of commitment to supporting members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their families. They have taken meaningful steps to ensure the Defence community are not disadvantaged by the sacrifice they make in helping keep this country safe. The actions of these employers make it crystal clear that regardless of size, location, or sector, employing people with military skills is good for business.”
