Thames Valley Chamber Of Commerce And Industry
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 Thames Valley Chamber Of Commerce And Industry 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 Thames Valley Chamber Of Commerce And Industry 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
- UK Cadets
- Armed Forces Day
- Reserve Forces Day
- Armed Forces Charities
We also pledge the following:
Promoting Armed Forces-Friendly within our organisation, to our staff, members, customers, and the wider public including our website and our communications. Alongside being a possible employer, TVCC aims to support service leavers through opening channels of training & networking with recruiters and specialist organisations in need of the skills veterans hold. Working alongside the Military Career Transition Partnership TVCC hope to FastTrack ex-military personnel into the workplace through communicating with members, organisations, event employment fair representation. In addition to this working closely to our local Garrison, stations military representatives and RFCA. (Reserve Forces & Cadets Associations). Offering bespoke training to improve commercial awareness in the competitive fast paced business environment and international markets. Aligning projects with future support for armed forces mental health charities with support of our mental health trained employees. Recognising the need to also support the employment of service spouses, partners, and their families including Forces Families Jobs. (FFJ) Continuing career development, promoting military transferable skills, project funding and dis-counted opportunities. Actively participating in National Events supporting Armed Forces Day and the Poppy Appeal Day remembrance activities. Supporting and advocating the employment of Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers including granting additional leave, where possible, for annual training.
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.