Second ERS Gold Award Honour for X-Forces Enterprise

X-Forces Enterprise (XFE) has retained Gold in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), the highest badge of honour for organisations that support the Armed Forces community.

XFE is bestowed the honour of a second 5-year term by the Ministry of Defence after the organisation was awarded Gold in 2017, one of the first small businesses to be recognised in the scheme. XFE’s ERS Gold Award status is now extended to 2027.

The ERS scheme brings together organisations across the UK to acknowledge and advocate that those who serve or who have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy and society throughout their lives. The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate and deliver support to defence and the Armed Forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.

XFE CEO and founder, Lt Col Ren Kapur MBE, explained what this award means to the team:

“To retain our ERS Gold Award status is recognition at the highest level of the quality and importance of our work in the Armed Forces community. We are dedicated to maximising every opportunity to champion this community and are proud that our team comprises veterans, reservists, military spouses and family members of Armed Forces personnel.

“XFE mirrors the very essence of the ERS scheme. Through our Military in Business® Network, we bring together hundreds of people and our Knowledge Exchange Hub now encompasses over 1500 members that support and encourage one another. The Soldiering On Awards celebrate the achievements of people and teams in the community, and our workshops with Cadets raise awareness of enterprise as a life skill.

“We are thrilled to be recognised for these endeavours and XFE will continue to develop its services to further support the UK’s Armed Forces community.”

XFE Chairman, Martin Wing, who will be able to continue in his role as vice-chair for the Gold Award Association, described XFE’s additional commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant:

“I’m delighted to continue the advocacy for the Armed Forces community in a leading capacity within the Gold Award Association. XFE established and leads a group of stakeholders representing Trade Associations and Membership Bodies to encourage employment opportunities within SME employers for the Armed Forces community. Our Big Business Supporting Small Business initiative, established in 2017, connects Armed Forces start-ups with supportive large organisations and, through a strong partnership with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), XFE championed a government policy change to introduce a one-year Employer NIC holiday for businesses to employ Armed Forces veterans. Achievements of which we are very proud.”

Anyone interested in the work that X-Forces Enterprise does in supporting the Armed Forces community should read the latest Activity Report which can be found here.

Lt Gen Richard Nugee CB CVO CBE, XFE Patron, added his praise for the award:

“I am absolutely delighted for Ren and the whole XFE team, who work tirelessly in pursuit of excellence in supporting the Armed Forces community, to be recognised in such a way. They are a credit to every one of the partners and stakeholders they collaborate with. This is wonderful acknowledgment for the work they do and will continue to do.”

On 11th July 2022, the Ministry of Defence awarded Gold to 156 new organisations in the UK. Including XFE, 643 organisations now have ERS Gold Award status.

For more information about the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and the full list of Gold Award organisations, visit here.