The Officers’ Association is rightly proud of how they help serving and former officers develop new careers after leaving the Armed Forces, as is highlighted in their latest Impact Report…
In 2016-17, the OA Employment Team helped 4,782 officers – a 7% increase from the previous year. In addition, 1,757 new job seekers registered with the OA, an increase of 10% from the year before. The support included 780 career consultations, providing impartial and practical advice, and 1,532 people attended OA networking events.
Lee Holloway, OA Chief Executive Officer, said: “This year I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet serving and former officers at a number of OA events. Once again I was reminded of the talent, energy and drive the officer corps offers in their commitment to our Armed Forces. They deserve the very best support the OA can give.”
Vix Anderton, a former RAF officer the OA supported, said: “The OA really helped me to understand my career options. I felt more confident in my decisions, knowing I could ask for advice.”
The OA’s digital support expanded, with more than 900 jobs posted throughout the year on the OA Executive Jobs Board. 1,945 officers downloaded the Employment App, which gives you access to OA services anytime and anywhere. There were around 20,600 webinar views, which provided career advice and industry insights.
The organisation also ran their first Ex-Military in Management Virtual Careers Fair, with SaluteMyJob, a digital platform where attendees engaged with recruiters and employers, found job opportunities and watched presentations.
The OA worked closely with employers, helping to make the business case for recruiting veterans. Their workshops, forums and research provided opportunities for employers to connect with Service leavers. They worked with Deloitte and The Drive Project to highlight the key findings of their published research – Veterans Work.
The OA created three short films involving celebrities, business leaders and veterans to challenge stereotypes and perceptions of veterans.
