The borough council has reached the highest level of the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme, moving up from Silver status it held in 2025.
Veterans, reservists, serving personnel and military families in Tonbridge and Malling now have a council that’s formally committed — at the highest possible level — to making sure its policies actually work for them. The Gold Award under the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme is the top tier of the scheme, and it isn’t handed out lightly: employers must go beyond their basic Armed Forces Covenant commitments and actively encourage other local organisations to raise their game too.
The council already held Silver in 2025, so this isn’t a debut. A clear step up.
Cllr Dave Davis, the council’s Armed Forces Champion, said: “Achieving Gold is a tremendous honour and a testament to the work taking place across the council to support the Armed Forces community.” He added that the progression from Silver to the highest level of the scheme shows the commitment is continuing to grow, and that the council wants serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families to know their contribution is understood, valued and supported.
The council is a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant — the national pledge that those who serve or have served, and their families, shouldn’t face disadvantage because of their military service — which means fair treatment across housing, employment and public services in the borough.
Tonbridge and Malling Council wins top Gold Award for Armed Forces support Quiz
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