DERS Gold status is awarded only to organisations that show outstanding support through their policies, employment practices, community engagement, and proactive advocacy for the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Council’s Gold status is for a further five years, until December 2030, reflecting its ongoing dedication to serving personnel, reservists, veterans, and military families, mentoring and staff networks, flexible working for veterans and families of those in active service

Major programmes to support the Armed Forces community include support for reservists, adult cadets, proactive recruitment policies for service leavers, flexible working and paid leave for spouses of those in active services, and employing dedicated Armed Forces Covenant Officer, and a cross-organisation approach to ensure the Armed Forces community has good access to public services.

Councillor Peter Stoddart, Chair of Herefordshire Armed Forces Covenant, said:

“We are incredibly proud to receive Gold Recognition Status. Herefordshire has a long and deeply rooted relationship with the armed forces, and this award reflects our continued commitment to ensuring that those who serve, or have served, receive the respect, opportunities, and support they deserve. This recognition strengthens our pledge to keep pushing forward in championing military inclusivity, wellbeing, and community integration.”

Paul Walker, Chief Executive of Herefordshire Council, added:

“This prestigious accolade demonstrates that Herefordshire Council not only supports armed forces personnel through inclusive recruitment and employment practices but also actively encourages other organisations across Herefordshire to adopt the principles of the Covenant. We are delighted to have been recognised for the work that we do – and will continue to do – and are immensely proud of our Gold Recognition Status.”

Some of the key innovative and highly impactful work the Council has put in place to support the Armed Forces community includes:

• Developing and running a successful staff Armed Forces Network, with 25 current members
• As pro-active Armed Forces recruiter, encouraging and welcoming applications from service leavers, and attending job fairs across the West Midlands
• Encouraging Adult Cadet volunteers, with seven currently in the workforce, who have access to flexible and additional paid leave
• Developing a Mobilisation Policy, which has seen Reservists and Managers successfully deploy into active service
• Flexible working schemes, paid leave initiatives and well-being support for Services’ spouses
• Cross-organisation support and involvement in Armed Forces Week
• Appointing a dedicated Armed Forces Convent Officer and an Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Peter Stoddart, who has lived experience as a soldier
• Organising and hosting Herefordshire Armed Forces Covenant Partnership annual review and business breakfast