Empine Group granted armed forces silver award

Darwen based print marketing company Empine Group has been granted the Silver Award under the Armed Forces Covenant, Employer Recognition Scheme, 1 of 47 North West businesses to have achieved the status in the current round.

The Employer Recognition Scheme was launched to reward employers who support defence people objectives and encourage others to do the same. This includes employing serving and former members of the armed forces community, and demonstrating flexibility towards training and mobilisation commitments for reservists and cadet force adult volunteers.

Commenting on the announcement of the 2024 Employer Recognition Scheme Silver awards; Jacob Knowles, director of Empine Group said: "We at Empine Group are delighted to have been recognised with the Silver Award. Although in the grand scheme we are a small employer, this evidences that we are a small employer with huge impact, ethos and values; including when it comes to supporting cadet forces, veterans and the whole armed forces family.

"People that know the Empine well, will likely have seen our work with Sea Cadets in particular but we are much more rounded in our support than that, also working with 4Lancs, SSAFA and others."

Commenting on the announcement of the 2024 Employer Recognition Scheme Silver awards; Colonel Mark Underhill, chief executive at the North West of England and the Isle of Man Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (NW RFCA), said: “On behalf of the Ministry of Defence we are honoured and delighted to be able to recognise the outstanding support and commitment given to the Armed Forces Covenant by businesses and organisations in the region, through the Employer Recognition Scheme awards.

"Each recipient has demonstrated not only that their support to the covenant and the wider armed forces community, but also that they are prepared to support their reservists, service leavers, spouses, veterans, cadet force adult volunteers and cadets in the workplace.”