UK military vehicle developer, Supacat and parent SC Group, have been awarded the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award, which acknowledges employers who have provided exceptional support to the armed forces community and defence by going above and beyond their covenant pledges.
Nick Ames, Chief Executive of SC Group, and Phil Applegarth, Head of Supacat received the Silver Award on 4 October from the Lord Lieutenant of Devon, David Fursdon, supported by his Deputy Lord Lieutenants, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope GCB, OBE, DL, and Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Ridgeway KCB CB DL, Commanding Officers of 6 RIFLES and 165 Port and Maritime Regiment RLC, the High Sheriff and other Civic dignitaries. The Lord Lieutenant also formally appointed a number of cadets representing each of the three Armed Services to accompany him on his official duties.
The Silver Award is bestowed to organisations meeting specific criteria, which include proactively demonstrating that service personnel and the armed forces community are not unfairly disadvantaged as part of their recruiting and selection processes. Supacat employs many former service personnel and reservists who continue to serve their country and also regularly supports activities on behalf of the armed forces community. The Awards scheme recognises the different levels of commitment provided by employers and allows the Ministry of Defence to publicly thank and honour those organisations for their support.
Earlier this year Supacat re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant, affirming its pledge to uphold the Covenant. This is a promise by the nation, enshrined in UK law, to those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, that they are treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy and society they serve with their lives.
On receiving the award, Phil Applegarth said, “We delighted that our commitment to supporting the armed forces has been recognised with the Silver Award and are very proud to uphold the Armed Forces Covenant. It was a pleasure for us to witness the next generation of the Armed Forces attending this prestigious event and how the Cadet organisation provides an important pathway for individual development”.