Gold standard: Lincolnshire NHS partners celebrated at Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme awards ceremony

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT) and NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) are celebrating after receiving the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award at a special ceremony in Derbyshire.

Recognising our commitment to the Armed Forces community

The ERS Gold Award is the highest badge of honour for employers who support the Armed Forces community and uphold the Armed Forces Covenant. The scheme recognises employers who go above and beyond in supporting those who serve or have served, including veterans, reservists, service leavers, cadets, cadet adult force volunteers, military spouses and military families.

The two organisations were presented with their awards by Louise Sandher-Jones MP, Minister for Veterans and People, in a ceremony held at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing factory in Derbyshire on Thursday 20 November 2025.

This year, more than 200 employers nationally have received the Gold Award, with LPFT and NHS Lincolnshire ICB among just 12 organisations recognised in the East Midlands region.

Caption: L-R Jacqui Bunce, Programme Director and Armed Forces Lead, NHS Lincolnshire ICB, is presented with the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award by Louise Sandher-Jones MP, Minister for Veterans and People.

Together, the organisations now join their Lincolnshire NHS counterparts – United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust, plus East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust, as Gold Award holders. This collective achievement makes Lincolnshire one of the first areas in the country where the ICB, mental health, community and acute trusts have all reached Gold status, underlining the county’s outstanding commitment to the Armed Forces community.

Since April 2023, LPFT has also been the lead provider for the Midlands Op COURAGE Partnership, working with its partners to support the mental health and wellbeing of more than 3,000 veterans, service leavers, reservists and their families across the region.

Representing their organisations at the ceremony were Doug Wing (RNMH), Midlands Op COURAGE operational lead at LPFT, and Jacqui Bunce, Programme Director – Strategic Partnerships, Planning & Estates and Armed Forces Lead at NHS Lincolnshire ICB.

Doug, who served in the Army before joining the NHS, said:

“It’s a real honour to accept this award on behalf of LPFT. Seeing our commitment to the Armed Forces community recognised is a proud moment. Huge thanks go to all our colleagues whose dedication continues to make a difference to those who serve, and those who have served.”

Jacqui said:

“We are honoured to receive the Gold Award, recognising our commitment to and advocacy for the Armed Forces community in Lincolnshire. From our initial Bronze Award in 2022 and through the Silver Award in 2023, this achievement reflects the progress we have made together. I extend my sincere thanks to our colleagues and partners for their unwavering dedication to improving the lives of the Armed Forces Family across the county.”

Read more about the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme, including the award criteria, on the UK Government website.

NHS Lincolnshire ICB and the Armed Forces Covenant – Lincolnshire ICB.

Top photo: L-R Doug Wing (RNMH), Midlands Op COURAGE operational lead at LPFT, and Jacqui Bunce, Programme Director and Armed Forces Lead, NHS Lincolnshire ICB, with their respective organisations’ Gold Awards.