Council receives Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award from MOD

Council receives Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award from MOD

High Peak Borough Council has been recognised for its sustained commitment to supporting the armed forces community with the award of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award.

The ERS Silver Award celebrates employers who are actively creating supportive environments for reservists, veterans, the cadet movement and military families.

The Council was one of just three councils in the East Midlands to receive a silver in this year's awards.

The Mayor of High Peak, Councillor Barbara Hastings-Asatourian, who is also the Council's Armed Forces Champion, received the award last week at a ceremony held at RAF Digby near Lincoln.

She said: "We have done a lot to support our veterans in recent years, so to get the Silver recognition is extremely welcome. Although a largely rural area, we have over 3,000 veterans locally and have been determined to support them in any way we can.

"This includes training our staff to recognise the needs of veterans, supporting cadet detachments, councillors using their allocated funding to support local cadet units, guaranteeing veterans a job interview if they meet the job criteria, marking Armed Forces Day and Remembrance Sunday, and creating a grant scheme for parishes and towns to mark last year's VE and VJ Day commemorations.

"Gaining this recognition is really encouraging. We are now working towards attaining the Gold award."

Published 29 October 2026