Strong military support gains MoD recognition for Moray Council

MORAY COUNCIL’S POSITIVE support for employees who are members of the armed forces community has earned the local authority an award from the Ministry of Defence.

The Council’s positive stance through their signing of the armed forces community covenant was one of the reasons why it received a bronze award through the MoD’s employer recognition scheme.

Moray Council has a long record of support for the services, including its being a supportive to those employees who have also elected to serve in military reserve units. The MoD award goes to organisations who seek to promote an armed forces-friendly environment, and are open to employing reservists, veterans, cadet instructors and military spouses and partners.

Receiving the award on behalf of the local authority was Councillor Chris Tuke, himself a former serviceman at RAF Kinloss and who strongly supported the application for the award.

After accepting the award from Lt Col Tom Marsden, the CO of 39 Engineering Regiment based at Kinloss Barracks, Councillor Tuke said: “I am delighted that we have achieved this recognition – there are numerous staff employed by Moray Council from the local military community, past and present, and they bring a high level of expertise, commitment and dedication with them.

“By achieving this award, Moray Council becomes one of only 19 local authorities in the UK to sign up to this scheme – and one of only two in Scotland.

“I would also like to encourage other local employers of all sizes to consider applying for this scheme. The bronze level award if self-certifying and there is no cost.”

Also attending the presentation was Katie Burton, an engineer with the council’s consultancy section whose husband is a Typhoon pilot based at RAF Lossiemouth, and council research and information officer Carl Bennett, who served in the RAF for 23 years.

The scheme is open to all UK employers and features bronze, silver and gold awards – each demonstrating an increasing level of support for armed forces employees. The council is currently working towards the silver award.