Armed Forces Covenant - What is it?
Armed Forces Covenant: What It Is, the Award Levels, and Why It Matters
The Armed Forces Covenant is a nationwide pledge that ensures those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly. It recognises the unique contribution of Service Personnel, Veterans, and Reservists, and seeks to remove disadvantage while providing special consideration where appropriate.
For organisations, signing the Covenant is not just symbolic – it demonstrates a tangible commitment to the Armed Forces community and embeds supportive practices into everyday business operations.
What Is the Armed Forces Covenant?
At its core, the Armed Forces Covenant is based on two key principles:
No member of the Armed Forces community should face disadvantage compared to other citizens in accessing public and commercial services.
Special consideration may be appropriate in some cases, particularly for those who have been injured or bereaved as a result of their service.
The Covenant applies to:
Serving personnel (Regular and Reserve)
Veterans
Military families
Thousands of organisations across the UK – from SMEs to global enterprises – have signed the Covenant, committing to fair treatment, understanding, and active support.
The Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS)
To recognise organisations that go above and beyond their Covenant commitments, the Ministry of Defence operates the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). This scheme has three progressive award levels:
Bronze Award
Silver Award
Gold Award
Each level reflects a deeper and more structured commitment to the Armed Forces community.
Bronze Award – Showing Your Support
The Bronze Award is the entry-level recognition and demonstrates that an organisation is supportive of the Armed Forces community.
Requirements for Bronze:
To achieve Bronze, an organisation must:
Sign the Armed Forces Covenant
Publicly pledge support for the Armed Forces community
Promote Defence-friendly policies, such as:
Support for Reservists
Positive attitudes towards veterans
Communicate their commitment internally and externally (e.g. website, social media)
Bronze is about awareness and intent – showing that the organisation understands the Covenant and is beginning its journey.
Buzz Drones achieved Bronze status in 2020, formally demonstrating its commitment to supporting Serving Personnel, Veterans, and Reservists.
Silver Award – Demonstrating Active Support
The Silver Award recognises organisations that actively demonstrate support and advocate for the Armed Forces community.
Requirements for Silver:
In addition to Bronze commitments, organisations must:
Proactively support Reservist employees, including:
Paid leave for annual training
Flexible policies for mobilisation
Ensure HR policies are forces-friendly, covering:
Recruitment
Retention
Career progression
Actively promote the Armed Forces Covenant to customers, suppliers, and stakeholders
Have a clear internal advocate or lead for Armed Forces matters
Silver is about action – embedding supportive practices and encouraging others to do the same.
Buzz Drones progressed to Silver in 2021, reflecting the company’s practical and ongoing support for the Armed Forces community.
Gold Award – Leading by Example
The Gold Award is the highest level of recognition and is reserved for organisations that lead the way in supporting the Armed Forces community.
Requirements for Gold:
To achieve Gold, organisations must:
Meet all Silver Award criteria
Actively advocate for the Armed Forces Covenant within their sector
Employ and support members of the Armed Forces community, including:
Veterans
Reservists
Military spouses and partners
Demonstrate sustained, long-term commitment
Share best practice and mentor other organisations
Gold recipients are seen as role models, setting the benchmark for others to follow.
Buzz Drones achieved Gold status in 2024, marking the culmination of years of genuine commitment, advocacy, and leadership in supporting the Armed Forces community.
Why the Armed Forces Covenant Matters to Buzz Drones
As a business operating in a highly professional and safety-critical environment, Buzz Drones recognises the exceptional skills, values, and experience that service personnel bring – including discipline, leadership, planning, and resilience.
By achieving Bronze (2020), Silver (2021), and ultimately Gold (2024), Buzz Drones has demonstrated that its support for the Armed Forces Covenant is not a tick-box exercise, but a long-term commitment aligned with its core values.
Furthermore, as a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer within the Reserves, Toby feels that it is vital to put back into the Military Community.
Final Thoughts
The Armed Forces Covenant and Employer Recognition Scheme provide a clear framework for organisations to support those who serve. Whether at Bronze, Silver, or Gold level, each step makes a meaningful difference.
For Buzz Drones, achieving Gold status represents both a milestone and a responsibility – to continue leading by example and supporting the Armed Forces community now and in the future.
If you would like to learn more about the Armed Forces Covenant or how your organisation can get involved, get in touch or explore the official MOD Employer Recognition Scheme.
