Fares4Free receive Gold Award from the MOD

We are absolutely delighted to have been officially recognised for our outstanding commitment to the Armed Forces Community with a Gold Award from the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). The impressive accolade is the highest badge of honour available to civilian organisations that employ and support Reservists, Service Leavers, Cadet Force Volunteers, Veterans and their families.

The proactive work of the Fares4Free Management Team to help ensure those who continue to serve, have served, and their families, aren’t disadvantaged in the workplace helped us secure this recognition. The Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) highlights employers such as ourselves who are acting as advocates to the Armed Forces Community and we fully encourage anyone who hasn't already signed up to please do so by clicking here.

Our journey towards achieving this Gold Award began with us signing the Armed Forces Covenant in February 2022 and since then we have steadily progressed through the Employer Recognition Scheme levels of Bronze and Silver, assisted tremendously well by the Lowland Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association.  A special acknowledgement and thanks needs to go to Regional Employer Engagement Director Charlie Cook, who we cannot thank enough for all his continued support and guidance.

Being awarded gold is a win-win scenario for us at Fares4Free because this mark of recognition helps us attract the best talent to our organisation, whilst showing that we care for and value our people who are already a part of the armed forces community. A few of the team will be heading to Edinburgh for an awards ceremony later this year, where we will be presented with our award, and we look forward to telling you more about this in due course.

Marie Crombie, the Fares4Free Chief Executive Officer had the following to say,

"As a charity dedicated to supporting the Armed Forces Community across the whole of Scotland including the Merchant Navy and Seafarers, we are absolutely delighted to have been awarded this prestigious Gold Award in recognition of our continued support to the Armed Forces community, and we would like to congratulate all the other winners also."

"Our Fares4Free family consists of veterans, veteran family members, individuals still serving and active participants within the Volunteer Reserve Training Branch. We continue to be extremely proud of our military roots and would like to thank everyone who continues to serve."

For anyone who would like to find out more about our commitment to the Armed Forces Community as an employer, or if you would be interested in volunteering with us, please get in touch with Leon Fisher, our Operations Manager at leon@fares4free.org.