Council marks Armed Forces Week - and gains Silver in MOD's Employer Recognition Scheme
To mark the lead up to Armed Forces Day on 27 June, High Peak's Mayor, Councillor Barbara Hastings-Asatourian has helped raise the Armed Forces flag in the Pavilion Gardens in Buxton followed by in Norfolk Square, Glossop.
The 'Fly the Flag for our Armed Forces' event was held earlier today at the start of Armed Forces Week. The Chairman was joined by fellow councillors and officers from the borough council.
Armed Forces Week is a national campaign to build public understanding and support for the Armed Forces community - regulars, reserves, veterans, cadets, cadet adult volunteers and military families.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence has announced that High Peak Borough Council has achieved the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award for 2026, recognising its sustained commitment to supporting the armed forces community.
The ERS Silver Award celebrates employers who are actively creating supportive environments for Reservists, veterans, the Cadet movement and military families. These organisations demonstrate that support for Defence is not simply symbolic, but embedded within workplace culture, policies and leadership.
Councillor Hastings-Asatourian is the Council's Armed Forces Champion. She said about the recognition:
"We have done a lot to support our veterans in recent years, so to get the Silver recognition is extremely welcome. We have nearly 3,000 veterans locally.
"Support includes a Cadet Development Fund benefiting six Cadet detachments in the borough, councillors using their Councillors` Community Initiative Fund to help fund Cadet Units, offering a guaranteed interview where a veteran applies for a job and has the minimum criteria, and creating a fund of £20,000 for parish councils and community groups they could apply to, to mark last year's VE/VJ Day.
"Gaining this recognition is really encouraging and will help us build on what we have achieved so far."
Published 22 June 2026
