South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue receive Silver ERS
In June 2023, South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue (SYFR) was recognised by the Ministry of Defence for its commitment to the armed forces community.
SYFR has been named a Silver award-winning organisation under the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), delivered locally by the Reserve Forces & Cadets Association for Yorkshire & Humber.
Being forces-friendly
South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Group Manager Mike Anthony, said: “At South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue we recognise the invaluable contribution members of the Armed Forces Community make. As a service we want to promote the fact we are a Armed Forces friendly organisation and being awarded the Silver award further celebrates all of the positive action we are taking in support of the Armed Forces community.”
With ten percent of its workforce part of the armed forces community, Mike chats to us about why employing those who have served, or are currently serving is important.
Moving forward
A selection of SYFR’s work to achieve Silver ERS includes:
| -‘Time off for Public Duties’ (TOFPD) Policy to support those employees who are part of the reserve forces. -Recruitment campaigns encourage applications from members of all Armed Forces Community members, including reservists. |
| -Where there is a requirement for staff who are CFAV’s to attend annual training camps, individuals will benefit from the same provision of paid leave as reservists. -Partnering with cadet groups in supporting them achieve the requirement for them to demonstrate working with an Emergency Service. -Our Officers regularly attend events that are hosted by the Armed Forces to further our organisations understanding of where we can best support the Armed Forces Community |
-Allow serving members of the Armed Forces who live out of county to apply for recruitment, this also extends to members of the reservists who live out of county. -Register vacancies within SYFR with the Career Transition Partnership and Forces Families Jobs -Attend South Yorkshire’s four Districts’ Councils Steering groups that cover Armed Forces topics in the district. |