London Stansted honoured with top Armed Forces award
The award comes just 13 months after Stansted became the first airport in England to pledge support for the Armed Forces community and their families by signing up to the UK Armed Forces Covenant.
Liz Austin, Stansted Airport’s HR Director, said: "We were very proud to be the first airport in England to sign up to the Covenant last year but to win the Silver award is a fantastic honour. We have strong links with the Armed Forces with many former service personnel and reservists working in various roles across the airport. Members of the armed services can bring real value to businesses like Stansted Airport and we recognise our duty to support those individuals who fulfil difficult roles across the world and return to civilian life."
Rt. Hon. Tobias Ellwood MP, Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans, said: "I am delighted to congratulate the recipients of this year’s Employer Recognition Scheme Silver awards. A Silver award recognises the fantastic efforts of employers throughout the UK who have both elevated their commitments under the Armed Forces Covenant and provided actual benefit to the Armed Forces community. The winners should all be proud of the life-changing impact and fresh opportunities they are providing to our reservists, veterans, wounded injured and sick and their families. We’ve seen a record number of winners this year, which shows that the Armed Forces family talent pool is also providing tangible business benefit."
London Stansted is the biggest employment site in the region, employing over 12,000 people across 200 companies. With its close proximity to Colchester Garrison and Carver Barracks, near Saffron Walden, its workforce includes many veterans and serving reservists.
Jim Holland, Stansted Airport’s Head of Commercial, who served in the Royal Navy for 13 years, said: “Spending time in the Royal Navy really prepped me for airport life, on many fronts. Working in a high security environment, no two days are the same, the challenges, the people, the camaraderie, and getting things done at a fast pace. Just like the forces, Stansted Airport really is a rewarding place to work, the culture aligns with both service values and beliefs and is a fantastic place to meet great people."
The airport will be presented the award in November at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
