Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) has been awarded the prestigious Silver Award under the Ministry of Defence's Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), acknowledging the organisation's exceptional dedication to supporting the Armed Forces community.

As a long-standing signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, SLE has consistently shown its commitment to service personnel, veterans, reservists, cadet forces adult volunteers, and their families. This Silver Award specifically highlights SLE's proactive efforts to be a "forces friendly" employer, surpassing the commitments outlined in its Covenant pledges.

The ERS programme celebrates employers who actively support the Armed Forces community through various initiatives, including flexible employment practices, awareness training, and engagement with defence-related programmes. The Silver Award is reserved for organisations that not only promote the values of the Armed Forces Covenant but also demonstrate meaningful action in their recruitment, retention, and development of Armed Forces personnel.


SLE has cultivated strong relationships with organisations such as Officers Association Scotland, enabling a deeper understanding of the unique needs and valuable strengths that the Armed Forces community offers. The organisation recognises the diverse and transferable skills that both active reservists and service leavers bring to the workplace, from leadership and adaptability to strategic thinking and teamwork.

Sarah-Jane Laing, Chief Executive of Scottish Land & Estates, expressed immense pride in the achievement: "We are immensely proud to receive the Silver Award under the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. At SLE, we firmly believe in the value that veterans, reservists, cadet forces adult volunteers and their families bring to the workplace. Their dedication, professionalism, and transferable skills are an asset to any organisation. We also know that many of our members have served in the armed forces and make an outstanding contribution to the rural businesses we represent in Scotland."

Laing added: "Signing the Armed Forces Covenant was an important step for us, and this award reflects our ongoing commitment to making our sector and organisation as welcoming and supportive as possible to those who have served. We are also proud to work alongside organisations such as Officers Association Scotland, which provide invaluable support to service leavers and employers alike."

This recognition places Scottish Land & Estates among the more than 12,400 organisations across the UK that have publicly pledged their support to the Armed Forces community. By offering flexible working arrangements and fair treatment for service families, SLE is actively contributing to ensuring that veterans and reservists can thrive in civilian life.