Derbyshire Employers Unite to Strengthen Support for the Armed Forces Community

The inaugural meeting of the Derbyshire County Employer Engagement Group (CEEG) officially kicked off at the Royal Yeomanry Army Reserve Centre in Leicester, bringing together Derbyshire businesses committed to strengthening support for the Armed Forces community.

Chaired by Acres Engineering’s Managing Director, Luke Parker DL, the meeting marked an important step in creating a more coordinated and proactive approach to employer engagement across Derbyshire.

The County Employer Engagement Group exists to encourage businesses to better understand the immense value that serving personnel, reservists, veterans, military families, and cadet force adult volunteers bring to the workplace, whilst supporting organisations on their journey through the Armed Forces Covenant and Employer Recognition Scheme.

Turning Commitment into Action

Although this was the group’s first formal meeting, momentum has already been building.

In recent weeks, three additional Derbyshire organisations have committed to signing the Armed Forces Covenant, reinforcing the growing appetite amongst employers to actively support the Armed Forces community.

Recognising that signing the Covenant is only the beginning of the journey, the group has also arranged a dedicated employer progression workshop to help organisations move from Armed Forces Covenant signatory status through to Bronze Employer Recognition Scheme recognition, whilst beginning to shape their pathway toward Silver and beyond.

This practical session is designed to help employers convert commitment into measurable action through policy development, recruitment commitments, public advocacy, and meaningful engagement.

Building a Stronger Derbyshire Employer Network

The inaugural meeting also focused on shaping the future of employer engagement activity across Derbyshire.

Discussion included:

• plans for Armed Forces Week
• development of a coordinated events calendar
• the structure and focus of future CEEG meetings
• opportunities to increase Derbyshire employer participation
• sharing practical best practice between employers

A key outcome of the meeting was agreement that the Derbyshire CEEG working group will organise and deliver three employer forum meetings each year, creating regular opportunities for Derbyshire businesses to engage directly with the Armed Forces and wider defence community.

These forums will be designed to help businesses:

• better understand the Armed Forces Covenant and Employer Recognition Scheme
• learn more about defence, service life, and the Armed Forces community
• hear from military, civic, and business speakers
• build valuable local and regional networks
• explore opportunities for collaboration
• take away practical insight and tangible value for their own organisations

The ambition is to create an active, collaborative employer network that champions the Armed Forces community whilst delivering genuine business benefit through engagement, learning, and connection.

Building on Positive Momentum

This first meeting builds on a strong period of Armed Forces employer engagement activity.

A recent highlight was the successful Badajoz Day commemoration hosted by Acres Engineering, bringing together military, civic, and business stakeholders to commemorate the actions and sacrifice of the 45th (Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot / Sherwood Foresters.

With strong ceremonial links to Derbyshire’s military heritage, the event provided a meaningful opportunity to honour service and sacrifice whilst strengthening connections between the Armed Forces community and local employers.

Looking ahead, momentum continues with the planned 85th Anniversary Lancastria Memorial Event in July, which will bring together military, civic, veteran, cadet, and employer communities in another important act of remembrance and engagement.

A Natural Extension of Acres’ Commitment

For Acres Engineering, supporting Derbyshire’s Armed Forces employer engagement activity is a natural extension of the company’s long-standing commitment to the Armed Forces community.

As a proud Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award holder, Acres has consistently championed reservists, veterans, cadets, and service families through practical action, advocacy, and community engagement.

This commitment sits alongside wider organisational values around opportunity, leadership, and social responsibility, recently recognised through both the Make UK National Manufacturing Award and The King’s Award for Enterprise 2026.

Luke Parker DL said:

“The Armed Forces community brings exceptional leadership, resilience, teamwork, discipline, and technical capability into British business. As employers, we have a responsibility not just to recognise that value, but to actively create opportunities for those who serve, have served, or support service life. Through Derbyshire CEEG, we want to create a thriving employer network that not only supports the Armed Forces community, but also delivers real learning, connection, and opportunity for Derbyshire businesses.”

 

A Fitting Military Venue

Hosting the inaugural Derbyshire CEEG meeting at the Royal Yeomanry Army Reserve Centre in Leicester provided an authentic and highly fitting backdrop for the launch of the group.

As an active Army Reserve location with deep links to the Armed Forces community, the venue reinforced the purpose of the CEEG, creating stronger and more meaningful connections between employers and the military community.

The Royal Yeomanry, one of the Army Reserve’s senior cavalry regiments, plays an important role in supporting UK defence capability, and the setting provided attendees with a tangible connection to service life and the wider defence environment.

By bringing Derbyshire employers into a live military setting, the event helped turn policy conversations into something far more real, personal, and relevant.

Join the Journey

If your organisation would like to learn more about the Armed Forces Covenant, employer recognition, or becoming involved in Derbyshire employer engagement activity, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Supporting those who serve is not just the right thing to do, it is also good for business, good for people, and good for our communities.

Follow the CEEG LinkedIn page here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/derbyshire-defence-employer-network-em-rfca-ceeg/posts/?feedView=all&viewAsMember=true 

Find out more about the RFCA here: https://eastmidlandsrfca.co.uk/