Oyster Partnership
We, the undersigned, commit to honour the Armed Forces Covenant and support the Armed Forces Community. We recognise the value Serving Personnel, both Regular and Reservists, Veterans and military families contribute to our business and our country.
The Armed Forces Covenant
An enduring covenant between the people of the United Kingdom, Her Majesty’s Government and all those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces of the Crown and their families
The first duty of Government is the defence of the realm. Our Armed Forces fulfil that responsibility on behalf of the Government, sacrificing some civilian freedoms, facing danger and, sometimes, suffering serious injury or death as a result of their duty. Families also play a vital role in supporting the operational effectiveness of our Armed Forces. In return, the whole nation has a moral obligation to the members of the Naval Service, the Army and the Royal Air Force, together with their families. They deserve our respect and support, and fair treatment.
Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.
This obligation involves the whole of society: it includes voluntary and charitable bodies, private organisations, and the actions of individuals in supporting the Armed Forces. Recognising those who have performed military duty unites the country and demonstrates the value of their contribution. This has no greater expression than in upholding this Covenant.
Section 1: Principles of the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant
1.1 We Oyster Partnership will endeavour in our business dealings to uphold the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which are:
- no member of the Armed Forces Community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen;
- and in some circumstances that special treatment may be appropriate especially for the injured or bereaved.
Section 2: Demonstrating our commitment
2.1 Oyster Partnership recognises the value serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families bring to our business. We will seek to uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, by pledging to the following:
- Armed Forces Friendly
- UK Service Veterans And Leavers
- UK Service Spouses And Partners
- UK Reservists
We also pledge the following:
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Armed Forces employment initiatives and awareness.
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Actively encourage clients to consider suitably skilled Armed Forces candidates for relevant roles.
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Support candidates in translating military experience into skills and achievements that are meaningful within civilian sectors.
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Provide guidance throughout the recruitment process, including CV advice, interview preparation and career discussions.
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Challenge misconceptions about employing candidates with military backgrounds and highlight the value they bring to organisations.
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Share relevant job opportunities with members of the Armed Forces community.
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Support candidates in identifying roles that align with their skills and career goals.
-Engage with organisations and networks that support Armed Forces employment.
- Encourage clients to consider Armed Forces candidates for suitable roles.
-Promote inclusive recruitment processes that recognise transferable skills.
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Share insights and guidance on the benefits of hiring from the Armed Forces community.
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Promote understanding of the experiences and challenges faced by Armed Forces families.
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Ensure our employment practices support fairness, inclusion and equal opportunity.
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We want our team to have the knowledge and confidence to support members of the Armed Forces Community effectively.
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Promote awareness of the Armed Forces Covenant across our business.
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Provide guidance to our consultants on working with Armed Forces candidates.
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Share our commitment externally through our website, marketing and client communications.
2.2 We will publicise these commitments through our literature and/or on our website, setting out how we will seek to honour them and inviting feedback from the Service community and our customers on how we are doing.