Rail Operations Group has scooped an award for being one of the East Midlands’ greatest champions for our Armed Forces.

The presentation came at a glitzy award ceremony held in the Officers’ Mess at Prince William of Gloucester Barracks in Grantham on 19 October, with the awards being presented by Lieutenant General Tom Copinger-Symes CBE, Deputy Commander of UK Strategic Command. He was joined by special guests, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenants of Lincolnshire, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire, and the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire.

The Ministry of Defence recognises that a basic foundation for the UK’s Reserve Forces is the partnership between Defence and civilian employers. There are thousands of such partnerships that support and advocate both the Reserves as well as former and serving Armed Forces personnel, their families, and Cadets across the East Midlands.

Some partnerships are informal, whilst others are formally recognised by inclusion in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. Each year, the Ministry of Defence recognises the most outstanding partnerships by awarded them its highest accolade for employers, the Gold Award.

The Gold Award recognises those organisations that have proactively demonstrated their Forces’ friendly credentials during their recruitment and selection processes. In addition, to qualify for the award they must also provide at least ten days of extra paid leave for training for the Reserves within their workforce.

The award works both ways, as employers benefit from having members of staff who return with new qualifications and skills.

The ceremony included a display of light field guns courtesy of 103 Regiment Royal Artillery, a visit from The Mercian Regiment’s mascot Lance Corporal Derby, military musicians, and the Prince William of Gloucester Detachment Army Cadets.

Dave Burley, Chief Executive Officer at Rail Operations Group said: “I am absolutely delighted that the Group have received this prestigious award. This is the result of a huge effort on behalf of many colleagues within the business.

“The importance of ensuring that those who serve, have served or support Cadet Forces are themselves supported by employers cannot be overstated. Since signing the Armed Forces Covenant in June 2020 and harnessing the full range of skills that veterans, reservists and Cadet Force Volunteers bring to the company we have worked through bronze and silver levels before achieving gold status.

“Rail Operations Group is truly honoured to join the increasing number of businesses that benefit from the scheme and commend it wholeheartedly to others”.

Fred Hopkins, Head of Engagement at East Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, added: “Achieving the Gold Award is a remarkable accomplishment and I would like to congratulate Rail Operations Group.

“We are very proud of the support and advocacy our Gold holders provide to Defence, especially for Reserves and Cadets.

“I very much look forward to building on these mutually-beneficial partnerships and establishing even more through the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme in the years ahead.”

Kirstie Lawrence, Regional Employer Engagement Director at East Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, said: “Award holders in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme celebrate the excellence of Defence people in the workplace routinely, having seen it for themselves and now gaining Gold for promoting it to others who have since shared that success. So it was a wonderful experience to thank them”.