SMMT received Gold Employer certification for its contributions to the military community.

The programme honours companies who offer extraordinary assistance and give former service members employment chances.

SMMT received Gold Employer certification for its contributions to the military community.

One of the first sector-specific trade associations to receive Gold status under the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) is the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The Armed services Covenant, a promise to ensure equitable treatment for people who have served in the services and their families, calls for companies in the UK to display and encourage support for the armed forces community. These employers are honoured by the ERS.

The Gold ERS Award, the highest honour offered, is in honour of the SMMT’s active support and advocacy of Armed Forces engagement in the UK automotive sector through Mission Automotive, the first project of its kind in any industry. Mission Automotive, which is supported by the SMMT Charitable Trust and carried out in collaboration with the military charity Mission Motorsport and The Royal Foundation, outlines how military expertise can be applied to industry certifications and job roles, assisting former service members in the UK to retrain and find employment. With the launch of Mission Renewable in 2021, the project has already been repeated in the renewable energy sector due to its success.

In 2021, SMMT signed the Armed Forces Covenant and was awarded the Bronze Award; in 2022, it received the Silver Award. Its work includes educating the automotive industry about the advantages of armed forces involvement, running specialised engagement programmes with SMMT members, assisting them in developing customised recruitment strategies, and raising awareness of job opportunities in the industry through projects like the Mission Automotive service-leaver guide.

Kerry Boniface, Senior HR and CSR Manager, SMMT, said, Ex-military personnel offer a wealth of talent and critical transferrable skills, which are in high demand as the automotive industry undergoes a radical shift to new technologies, and we are so proud to be helping to unlock this talent and open up new doors to rewarding careers.
To have our work, and that of our members, recognised by this Gold award is a real honour and we look forward to welcoming many more service leavers and veterans into the sector.”

In all areas of the automotive supply chain, from cars to commercial vehicles, across design, manufacturing, repair, and through to retail and logistics, about 58 SMMT member companies have already signed the Armed Forces Covenant and work with the armed forces community. These companies employ veterans, service leavers, and their families. Many also provide specialised training programmes for reservists, wounded, injured, and ill troops, assisting them in landing full-time jobs in the industry. Twelve Bronze ERS Awards, eleven Silver Awards, nine Gold Awards, and seven Gold re-validations have all been given to SMMT members collectively.

Source Newspress

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