Essex Highways wins award for employing serving and former forces personnel

ESSEX County Council’s partner in Essex Highways, Ringway Jacobs, has achieved the Armed Forces Covenant Silver Award for employing serving and former members of the armed forces.

Essex Highways employs 8 ex-Regulars and 4 Reservists and under the Armed Forces Covenant will look to offer other opportunities to former members of the armed forces. Nationally Ringway Jacobs employs 22 ex-Regular armed forces personnel, 8 people in the Reserves and a Cadet Force adult volunteer.

Councillor Kevin Bentley, Deputy Leader of Essex County Council and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, said: “Essex County Council has a long history of close mutual support to our Armed Forces, particularly given the important Army bases in Essex. We are proud to employ both serving and former service personnel at the Council. I am pleased that Ringway Jacobs have won this award for their work through the Armed Forces Covenant, which supports the Council approach.”

Mike O’Neill, Ringway Jacobs’ Managing Director, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that we have achieved the Silver Award. Ringway Jacobs supports the Armed Forces Covenant because we believe that morally it is the right thing to do.

“From a business perspective, we are a ‘values-based organisation’, and we see the armed forces as an excellent source of people with strong personal values as part of their DNA and transferable skills.

“I live in Essex and our Head Office is in Essex, so I am pleased we have so many people with a Services background working in Essex Highways.”

People in Essex will soon see Essex Highways vehicles with the Armed Forces Covenant Silver Award logo proudly displayed on them.

As well as a commitment to employing and developing ex-Regular armed forces personnel, Ringway Jacobs employs reservist members of the armed forces and offers reservists extra leave for their military commitments.