Armed Forces support earns Gold

NHBC’s ongoing support for the Armed Forces community has earned us a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award – the highest level possible.

Our status has been upgraded from Silver to Gold thanks to our efforts to go above and beyond in supporting serving personnel, veterans, reservists and military families.

This has involved advocacy for the Armed Forces Covenant, which we reaffirmed our commitment to in 2022, and inclusive recruitment and workplace policies to ensure members of the Armed Forces community feel valued.

Colleagues across our business have worked tirelessly to embed our support for those who serve into our culture, led by our dedicated Armed Forces Circle of likeminded employees and Director of Business Change Roger Morton – himself a veteran with 30 years’ experience.

We are one of 162 organisations to achieve a Gold Award this year.

Craig Pocock, Chief People Officer, said: “Achieving Gold status in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme is an outstanding achievement and a powerful endorsement of the inclusive culture we continue to build at NHBC. We recognise the exceptional skills, experience and values that the Armed Forces community brings to our organisation, and we are proud to support them.

Our commitment doesn't end with recruitment. We will continue to champion those who serve, those who have served, and their families, ensuring they not only feel they belong at NHBC, but have every opportunity to thrive and develop successful careers with us.”

Our formal backing of the Armed Forces Covenant began in 2015, but we have celebrated Armed Forces Week, marked Remembrance and employed ex-Forces personnel throughout the company’s long history.

The NHBC Armed Forces Circle goes further to connect these individuals, led by James Starr, a former Army close protection officer who is also our recognised Armed Forces mental health first aider.