The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has received a Silver Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), it was announced today (5 July). The award is in recognition of its work as an employer of people from the Armed Forces communities, as well as using its platform to encourage the UK’s 5.5 million small businesses to do the same, and for successfully influencing government policy to enable more SMEs to employ veterans.
The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) encourages employers to support defence and inspire others to do the same. The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant. The ERS is designed primarily to recognise private sector support.
FSB’s CEO, Julie Lilley, said: “I’m very proud that FSB has received this award in recognition of our work as an employer. Currently, five of our employees at FSB are from the Armed Forces community. That community is a huge pool of talent and employees from it bring strong skills to our business – teamwork, leadership, resilience, as well as specialisms such as cyber.”
Assistant Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Marc Overton, said: “I’d like to thank and congratulate FSB as a recipient of this year’s Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award. This Silver Award recognises the fantastic efforts of FSB as an employer which has elevated its commitments under the Armed Forces Covenant and provided actual benefit to the Armed Forces Community.”
FSB’s Armed Forces Champion, Ren Kapur MBE, tweeted: “I’m incredibly proud of the team at FSB for their dedication and commitment to the Armed Forces and did you know the founder of FSB was a Reservist - who knew - not surprised!”
In 2022 and 2023, FSB introduced new employee benefits for Reservists, and following FSB’s campaigning, since 2021 smaller businesses no longer pay Employer National Insurance contributions for 12 months when they hire veterans.
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Notes to Editors
1). The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) encourages employers to support defence and inspire others to do the same. The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.
The ERS is designed primarily to recognise private sector support although public sector organisations such as the emergency services, local authorities, NHS trusts and executive agencies are also eligible to be recognised.
2) National Insurance relief for employing a veteran is available for 12 consecutive months from the veteran’s first day of civilian employment.
3) FSB currently has 205 employees.
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