On 5 October 2023, the council received an esteemed award from the Ministry of Defence, the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award.
The award was presented to the council at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum by Commander 51 Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland, Brigadier Jody Davies MBE, alongside other organisations from across the Lowlands of Scotland.
Also in attendance among the many distinguished guests at the event was Charanjit Singh, whose late father Naik (Corporal) Gian Singh was awarded the Victoria Cross medal for his incredible bravery while serving with the Allied Forces in 1945. The medal was recently valued at £250,000 on an episode of the BBC’s ‘Antiques Roadshow’, and is due to go on display for two years at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum from 6 November.
The ERS Silver Award is the second-highest badge of honour available to organisations that employ and support Reservists, service leavers, Veterans and their families.
Each Silver Award winner has signed the Armed Forces Covenant, a commitment to supporting Defence through services, policy and advocacy.
Employers have gone above and beyond with their support through engaging with initiatives such as employing Veterans, supporting individuals transitioning out of the Armed Forces into a new career and providing flexibility for serving Reservists.