NHBC staff sell poppies at Euston as insurer builds on Gold Armed Forces award

Twenty-six NHBC employees sold poppies and collected donations at Euston Station on Thursday 29 October for the Royal British Legion's London Poppy Day, the warranty and insurance provider said on 13 November.

NHBC said colleagues from across the business took part in what the Royal British Legion (RBL) describes as the flagship event of its annual Poppy Appeal, raising funds for the Armed Forces community.

Among the volunteers was James Starr, who leads NHBC's Armed Forces Circle, a group the company said connects employees with links to the Armed Forces community. NHBC's news release describes him as a former Army close protection officer; a separate NHBC case study gives his role as Building Inspector and says he previously served in the Royal Military Police.

In that case study, Starr said he spent nine years in the Army before joining NHBC in November 2021. On the company's Armed Forces Covenant commitment, he said: "It means a lot to me as a veteran as I believe NHBC can support service leavers and make the most of their skills."

Remembrance Day

NHBC said staff at all of its office locations later gathered for reflection on Remembrance Day. An 11:00 silence gave colleagues the chance to pause work and honour the Armed Forces, their families and others who lost their lives through conflict or terrorism, the company said.

According to the RBL, London Poppy Day is a one-day collection across the capital in which volunteers collect alongside more than 1,000 currently serving personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. The 2026 event took place on 29 October.

Gold award

The volunteering follows NHBC's move up the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). NHBC announced on 24 July 2026 that its status had been upgraded from Silver to Gold, the highest level available, and said it was one of 162 organisations to achieve a Gold Award this year.

Craig Pocock, Chief People Officer at NHBC, said: "Achieving Gold status in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme is an outstanding achievement and a powerful endorsement".

NHBC said its Armed Forces support is also helped by Roger Morton, its Director of Business Change, who is a veteran with 30 years' experience.

The MoD announced on 15 July 2026 that 162 employers had received the ERS Gold Award. To qualify, it said, employers must provide at least 10 days' additional paid leave a year for Reservists, have supportive HR policies for reservists, service families, veterans and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, and actively promote the Armed Forces Covenant while encouraging others to support defence.

Covenant background

NHBC first signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2015 and reaffirmed its support in 2022, according to its corporate Covenant page. The same page says the business employs more than 30 ex-forces personnel, mainly in inspection and technical roles.

That page still describes NHBC as holding the ERS Silver Award, whereas the company's July release and its 13 November announcement both report the upgrade to Gold.

NHBC describes itself as a company limited by guarantee with no shareholders.

Lucy Inskip, Director of the RBL's Poppy Appeal, said the appeal brings the nation together and helps the charity raise funds. The RBL's London Poppy Day collection for 2026 was held on 29 October.