Adler & Allan awarded Gold in Defence Employer Recognition Scheme

Published: 22 July 2025

We have been awarded the prestigious Gold award in the UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), recognising our outstanding support for the armed forces community, including service leavers, veterans, reservists, spouses, and adult cadet volunteers.

The Gold award is the highest badge of honour for organisations that demonstrate exceptional advocacy for defence people. It reflects our long-standing commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and integration of forces-friendly policies under the social pillar of our ESG strategy.

To achieve Gold status, we met a rigorous set of criteria, including:

Holding the Silver award and building on it with robust plans and evidence
Partnering with a national account manager and the Career Transition Partnership
Implementing HR policies that actively support reservists and adult cadet volunteers
Promoting forces-friendly credentials in recruitment and across professional networks

Among our standout initiatives, we offer 10 days of fully paid leave annually for reservists to undertake training or mobilisation, with unused days carried over to support continued military involvement. We also provide additional paid leave for those who serve as Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, enabling them to mentor cadets, support local units, and contribute to youth development activities.

“This Gold award is a fantastic addition to our business and a tribute to our amazing ex-forces colleagues. Their experience and dedication make us stronger every day. This award shows how we put our values into action.”

Carla Murray

HR Director, Adler & Allan

We have also strengthened our collaboration with the Career Transition Partnership to streamline recruitment for service leavers, and expanded access to roles via the Forces Families Jobs portal to make opportunities more accessible to military spouses and families.

Lee Bond, a former member of the armed forces and now Head of Electrical Services for the defence sector, commented: “The armed forces community possesses a range of valuable skills and experiences that can be beneficial to Adler & Allan. Supporting the Armed Forces Covenant can help us tap into this talent pool. Recognising and supporting the armed forces community can boost morale among all employees, particularly those with military backgrounds.”

This recognition reinforces our commitment to inclusion and community impact; we have set a clear goal to double our ex-forces hires by 2026, recognising the leadership and practical skills that veterans bring to the organisation.

Carla Murray, Group HR Director, added: “This Gold award is a fantastic addition to our business and a tribute to our amazing ex-forces colleagues. Their experience and dedication make us stronger every day. This award shows how we put our values into action.”

The Gold award marks a significant milestone in our journey to becoming a leading forces-friendly employer and highlights the tangible benefits of integrating military talent into the workforce.