Spicerhaart’s commitment to being a forces-friendly employer has been recognised after they received their latest accreditation from the Ministry of Defence.

The estate agency group has officially been awarded the MoD’s Silver Award in their Employer Recognition Scheme.

The company has achieved the title after making strides to ensure it is an attractive place for armed forces personnel to continue their careers after leaving the military, or for Army Reservists to work while they await mobilisation.

Spicerhaart’s Armed Forces champion Emma Barber was on hand to officially receive the award.

“It was fantastic to receive the award on behalf of Spicerhaart, and to speak to people in like-minded businesses who are as passionate as we are to be supporting Armed Forces personnel,” she said.

“I am so proud and honoured that we have received this award. It takes a lot of hard work and commitment, but we really want to be somewhere people who have served in the forces can begin a new career and use their transferable skills to help us improve.

“Our training team can also help them upskill and have rewarding second careers.”

Spicerhaart’s headquarters is in the garrison town of Colchester, and they were represented at a networking event at Merville Barracks organised by East Anglia Reserve Forces and Cadets Association engagement team.

This was organised to improve awareness of the military among businesses, encourage firms to support their employees serving in the Reserves and highlight employment opportunities for veterans and the families of serving soldiers.

Barber added: “It was really important for us to be there. Colchester is where Spicerhaart began, and the city has deep-rooted military links so we want to learn what more we can do to support the Armed Forces, Reservists and their families.”

Criteria Spicerhaart has met to pass the threshold for the Silver Award includes:

+ Demonstrating that service personnel/armed forces community are not unfairly disadvantaged as part of their recruiting and selection processes

+ Actively ensuring their workforce is aware of their positive policies towards defence people issues

+ Supporting Army Reservists with additional leave and support for them if they are called for mobilisations

Last year, Spicerhaart, signed the Armed Forces Covenant, began working with the Ministry of Defence Career Transition Partnership (CTP) and achieved their MoD Employer Recognition Scheme Bronze Award.