Hallam receives Silver Award for Armed Forces community support

28th July 2022

Sheffield Hallam University has been presented with a Silver Award by the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, in recognition of a commitment to supporting those in its communities with Armed Forces connections.

The accolade is awarded to employers who support defence and Armed Forces community linked staff and students, for example those who are reservists, Adult Cadet Force volunteers and spouses of those who are currently serving and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.

The University has received the Award for proactively demonstrating that ex-service personnel and members of the Armed Forces community are not unfairly disadvantaged within the university community or as part of recruitment and selection processes.

The Award will be presented at a ceremony in York later this year and will be presented by the regional Lord-Lieutenant’s, who are Her Majesty’s representatives, and the Naval Regional Commander for Northern England and the Isle of Man.

Tracey Hulme, Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development at Sheffield Hallam, said:

“We’ve recently updated our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant in 2022, and I’m really pleased that we’ve been recognised with the Silver Defence Employer Recognition Award. Our reserve forces make a huge contribution to their communities and the civilian workplace.

“We’re committed to our civic responsibilities as a university, we inspire people to realise their potential and begin life-changing journeys, where collaboration means working together to solve problems and challenge the status quo. This award recognises how we achieve this for both our staff and our students.”

Pauline King, regional employer engagement Director, Reserve Forces Cadets Association for Yorkshire, and the Humber, said:

“We are delighted that Sheffield Hallam University has been recognised at a national level and been granted the 2022 ERS Silver Award for their support for defence personnel and the Armed Forces community. We have worked closely with Sheffield Hallam to develop their HR policies and procedures that supports the Armed Forces. A very well-deserved award.

The award follows the launch of a new policy for staff who are armed forces reservists and Adult Cadet Force volunteers.

The Reserve Forces Training and Mobilisation Policy, has been created to provide support for university employees who are members of the Territorial Army, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, the Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Marines Reserve.

Having first made the pledge in 2017, Sheffield Hallam reaffirmed its commitment to supporting members of the armed forces community to ensure they face no disadvantage by re-signing the Armed Forces Covenant alongside the University of Sheffield earlier this year.

The Armed Forces Covenant was introduced into public life in 2000 to refer to the mutual obligations between the nation and its armed forces.