Southway Housing Trust has been awarded Silver under the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme for its support to Defence and the wider Armed Forces community.

The Employer Recognition Scheme was launched to reward employers who support Defence People objectives and encourage others to do the same.

This includes employing serving and former members of the Armed Forces community, and demonstrating flexibility towards training and mobilisation commitments for Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.

in 2018, Southway signed the Armed Forces Covenant as a pledge to support servicemen and women, and their families, in accessing affordable housing and employment opportunities

The Covenant is a promise to ensure that those who serve, or have served in the past, are treated fairly and a commitment to delivering the best possible outcomes for the Armed Forces Community.

For housing providers like Southway, this means supporting veterans and their families through the offer of housing priority, employment and apprenticeship opportunities, in addition to raising awareness amongst our staff, customers and the wider community.

In terms of employment, this includes the following commitments:

  • Aiming to support colleagues who are partners of those serving in the Armed Forces by offering the flexibility of approving leave at short notice to coincide with their partner’s sudden or unexpected deployment.
  • Seeking to support the employment of Armed Forces veterans, young and old and share our vacancies with the various partners seeking to assist them in securing jobs.
  • Guaranteeing to interview any Armed Forces veteran applying for a post at Southway and who meets the requirements set out in the Job Profile.
  • Recognising military skills and qualifications when interviewing for new positions.
  • Seeking to support our employees who choose to be members of the Reserve and Cadet Forces.

Southway is among 51 organisations from across the North West of England to have been awarded Silver, in recognition of our ongoing commitment to these pledges

Karen Mitchell, Southway Housing Trust Chief Executive, said: "We are proud to support those who serve and will continue dedicating the next 12 months to turning our written commitment to them into a reality.”

Colonel Mark Underhill OBE DL, Chief Executive at the North West of England and the Isle of Man Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (NW RFCA), said: “On behalf of the Ministry of Defence, we are honoured and delighted to be able to recognise the outstanding support and commitment given to the Armed Forces Covenant by businesses and organisations in the region, through the Employer Recognition Scheme awards. .

"Each recipient has demonstrated not only that their support to the Covenant and the wider Armed Forces community, but also that they are prepared to support their Reservists, Service Leavers, Spouses, Veterans, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and Cadets in the workplace.”

Current and former Armed Forces personnel can view our latest job vacancies here.

The full list of Silver award winners in the North West is as follows:

Advocacy Focus

Ainscough Crane Hire

Aiva Technical Ltd

An Turas North Ltd

Bay Tree Cookery Academy

Big Heritage CiC

Blessed John Henry Newman RC College

Body & Mind First Aid Training

Bury Council

Cheetham Hill Construction

Cheshire East Council

Complete Training Solutions

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS FT

DA Languages

District Homes CiC

Electricity North West

Enabling Homes

Great British Communications

Handsfree Group

Innovative Alliance

Institute of Government & Public Policy

Knowsley Estate

Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital NHS FT

NHS Halton CCG

NHS Warrington CCG

O’Connor Utilities

Offshore Painting Services

PH Blinds & Curtains

Pinnacle Risk

Preston City Council

Project RECCE

Remote Area Risk International

Brunswick Youth & Community Centre - Revalidation

Cheshire West & Chester Council - Revalidation

East Lancashire Hospitals Trust NHS FT - Revalidation

Eddie Stobart - Revalidation

Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service - Revalidation

North West Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority - Revalidation

Northern Care Alliance - Revalidation

Oldham Council - Revalidation

Protective Security - Revalidation

Riverside Group - Revalidation

University of Bolton - Revalidation

Royal Gibraltar Police

Southway Housing Trust

Spearhead Security

Stobart Aviation

Story Contracting

The Greener Gardening Company

University of Cumbria

Virsec