<p>Barratt Developments has been awarded gold status for its support of the Armed Forces.</p> <p>The volume housebuilder has achieved a gold award this year, the highest accolade possible through the Ministry of Defence, after receiving silver only a year ago. Barratt said this was proof of how highly it regarded its work with the Armed Forces.</p> <p>Barratt’s achievement is part of the Employer Recognition Scheme Awards, launched in 2014, which honour organisations that show support for the defence and Armed Forces community. The awards have three tiers – bronze, silver and gold – with only 353 other companies achieving gold so far, Barratt said.</p> <p>Since signing the Armed Forces Covenant in 2016, Barratt has increased its commitment to the Armed Forces community, it said, with the highlight of its achievements being the Armed Forces Transition programme. During the past three years more than 100 ex-Armed Forces individuals have been recruited onto the programme, which is now run by veterans for veterans.</p> <p>This year, Barratt launched a 5% deposit contribution scheme for Armed Forces personnel.</p> <p>David Thomas, Barratt’s ceo, said: “We know what great employees our ex-Armed Forces colleagues are which is why we recruit so many of them. To achieve …