Shropshire/Midlands contractor McPhillips has been recognised by the Ministry of Defence for its sustained commitment to supporting the armed forces community.
The Telford-based civil engineer and construction company is one of 331 in the UK to receive a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award for 2026.
The award celebrates employers who are actively creating supportive environments for reservists, veterans, the cadet movement and military families.
Roger Cox, procurement manager at McPhillips, said: “This is something of which we are genuinely proud. When we signed the Armed Forces Covenant we weren’t just putting our name to a piece of paper, we wanted it to mean something real for the people who work here and the wider community we are part of.
“The men and women who serve, or who have served, bring an enormous amount to civilian life and to businesses like ours. We want McPhillips to be a place where that is properly recognised, whether that is through how we recruit, how we support our reservists day to day or how we invest in the communities around us.
“That is why our McPhillips Community Fund has focused specifically on men’s mental health and veterans’ support across Shropshire and Telford. It felt like the right thing to do and it sits at the heart of who we are as a company.”
The silver award builds on McPhillips’ formal signing of the Armed Forces Covenant in October 2024, through which the company made a series of pledges to the armed forces community.
These include supporting the employment of veterans and service leavers, working with the Career Transition Partnership, granting additional leave for reservist training and mobilisation, supporting employees who volunteer as cadet leaders and backing Armed Forces Day and Remembrance activities.
Major General Marc Overton, commenting on the national award, said: “Congratulations to all organisations receiving the ERS silver award this year. These employers are making a meaningful contribution to Defence by supporting those who serve, while recognising the enormous value that reservists, veterans and military families bring to the workforce.
“In today’s increasingly uncertain global environment, strong partnerships between Defence and employers are more important than ever. The commitment shown by this year’s silver award holders helps ensure the UK maintains resilient, capable and adaptable armed forces for the future.”
As Shropshire’s largest construction company, McPhillips has long demonstrated its commitment to the communities it serves.
In 2026 the company pledged a further £20,000 through the McPhillips Community Fund, run in partnership with Shropshire Community Foundation, with a specific focus this year on improving the mental health of men in the region, particularly veterans, directly underpinning its role as a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant.
McPhillips is also a proud supporter of Mates in Mind, the charity working to improve mental health across the construction industry and related sectors.
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