South Wales Fire and Rescue Service Receives Prestigious MoD Gold Award for Outstanding Armed Forces Support

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) is proud to announce that it has been honoured with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award – the highest badge of honour for organisations that provide exceptional support to the Armed Forces community.

This distinguished accolade reflects SWFRS’s deep and ongoing commitment to veterans, reservists, and the wider Armed Forces family. To achieve the Gold Award, organisations must not only employ and support members of the Armed Forces community but also actively advocate on their behalf both within the workplace and beyond.

Building on last year’s Silver award, SWFRS has implemented a range of measures to strengthen this support, including:

• Enhanced special leave policies to provide additional paid leave for Reservists undertaking training commitments
• Ongoing engagement with the Armed Forces Covenant, reaffirming our pledge to ensure those who serve or have served are treated with fairness and respect
• Participation in major military training exercises across South Wales, demonstrating operational collaboration and mutual support
• Active membership of the National Armed Forces Network, with recent attendance at the latest national conference in Yorkshire
• Supporting Wales National Armed Forces Day, including our involvement in the recent event at Caldicot Castle
• Fundraising initiatives led by veterans, raising money for Armed Forces-related charities

Station Manager John Bolton commented:

“We’re incredibly proud to receive this award. Veterans and Reservists bring a wealth of experience, discipline, and leadership to SWFRS, and we are committed to creating an environment where they can thrive.

“The Gold Award acknowledges not only the work we’ve done so far but also our ongoing promise to be a welcoming and supportive employer for members of the Armed Forces community.”

“This achievement is a testament to the hard work of our staff and the dedication of the SWFRS Armed Forces Network, who have played a pivotal role in fostering an inclusive and supportive culture.”

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service remains steadfast in its commitment to the Armed Forces community and will continue to develop innovative ways to honour and support those who serve.