Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award

Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award

Recognising VGC’s commitment to supporting veterans, reservists and military families through recruitment, training and advocacy.

Background

In 2023, VGC signed the Armed Forces Covenant, committing to support the Armed Forces community. That same year we launched a dedicated ex-forces recruitment programme to match the skills developed during military service with the demands of the construction sector.

Just two years later, in July 2025, VGC was awarded the Gold Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Award, the highest level of recognition from the Ministry of Defence. The ERS encourages employers to support and actively advocate for the Armed Forces community, inspiring others to do the same.

The Challenge

For many service leavers, the transition into civilian life can be daunting. Veterans and reservists possess exceptional skills, resilience and leadership qualities, but often lack clear pathways into industries such as construction. Military spouses and families also face unique challenges, including relocation, deployment and bereavement.

VGC recognised these barriers and set out to develop a programme that would:

  • Open entry routes into construction and infrastructure.
  • Support ex-forces personnel in both recruitment and retention.
  • Provide flexibility for reservists and military families.
  • Encourage wider advocacy across the supply chain.

The Solution: A two-year journey to Gold

Over two years, VGC built a holistic programme that was recognised with the ERS Gold Award in 2025. Key initiatives included:

  • Entry pathways – collaborating with clients, charities, and organisations to attract service leavers, reservists, and spouses into construction.
  • Ex-Forces Working Group – a peer-support forum for sharing experiences, influencing recruitment practices, and mentoring site-based staff.
  • Reservist and cadet volunteer support – offering 10 days’ paid annual leave for reservist training and mobilisation, plus additional leave for cadet force adult volunteers.
  • Flexible and compassionate policies – tailored support for military spouses during deployment, relocation, or bereavement, with compassionate leave for those impacted by Armed Forces losses.
  • Partnerships in action:
    • Collaboration with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) to share job opportunities and host online events.
    • Working with Claire’s Court Combined Cadet Force (CCF) to deliver transferable skills workshops, employability sessions, and highlight links between military service and careers in construction.
    • Hosting visits to military bases to strengthen ties with serving personnel.
  • Training and progression – apprenticeships for military leavers, CPD through the VGC Academy, and a planned military-specific award within VGC’s employee recognition programme.
  • Advocacy across the sector – mentoring supply chain organisations such as L. Lynch Plant Hire on their own Covenant and ERS journeys.
  • Visibility and engagement – celebrating Armed Forces Day, Reserves Day, and Remembrance events across the business.

Outcomes

  • Gold Employer Recognition Scheme Award (2025) – completing the journey from Covenant signing to Gold Award in just two years.
  • Veterans across VGC – 13 ex-forces colleagues employed across head office and sites, including:
    • David Brevitt, Head of Business Performance
    • Zara Mackintosh, Business Transformation Manager
    • Ryan Rees, HSQE Manager
    • Danny Carr, Labour Resourcer
  • Broader impact – veterans have taken on additional responsibilities as Mental Health First Aiders, Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) Ambassadors, and mentors.

Testimonials

  • “As I reflect on the journey from military service to civilian employment, I am genuinely grateful for the positive impact that VGC has had on my life. The experience has not only been a career transition but a life transition, and VGC’s support has played a significant role in making it a smooth and fulfilling process.”
    – Zara Mackintosh, Business Transformation Manager

  • “There is no one size fits all industry or company for service personnel leaving their respective services, but I was fortunate to find a company that embodies qualities I would suggest are essential for all leavers; vision, patience, acceptance, and enduring support.”
    – David Brevitt, Head of Business Performance

  • “I have been made to feel very welcome at VGC in the 11 months since I started. The major difference from previous employers is that VGC provides a personal level of integration, I feel like a name and not a number.”
    – Danny Carr, Labour Resourcer

Get in Touch

We are proud to support the Armed Forces community – but we know there is more to do.

Contact us today to hear more about the work we do and how we can partner to create opportunities for service leavers, reservists and military families.

“We are incredibly proud to have achieved the Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. This honour reflects our deep commitment to supporting those who have served in the Armed Forces. Veterans bring exceptional skills, resilience, and leadership to our workforce, and we’re proud to offer a working environment that values their experience, supports their transition to civilian life, and provides real career opportunities. 

This award is a testament to our whole team’s effort in making VGC a forces-friendly employer.”
– Ciara Pryce, Chief Executive Officer, VGC Group

VGC will officially receive the award at a ceremony in autumn 2025.