This Remembrance Week let us encourage all employers to champion our veterans

The new Office for Veterans’ Affairs can be an ideal vehicle to communicate the benefits of employing ex-forces personnel, but it requires strong cross-party support, argues Lee Holloway, Chief Executive of the Officers’ Association. This week we will take time to reflect 0upon the ultimate sacrifice that men and women have made in the conflicts […]

14th November 2019

Support for Veterans

A new focus to the Government’s approach to supporting veterans is positive but it should capitalise on existing support frameworks, suggests Lee Holloway, Chief Executive of the Officers’ Association in letter to The Daily Telegraph. Last week’s announcement that Colonel David Richmond, who served in Iraq and was injured in combat in Afghanistan, will lead […]

22nd October 2019

Officers Explore Self-Employment in New Workshop

The first Self-Employment Discovery Workshop, designed for former Armed Forces officers and their spouses, has been met with positive feedback from attendees. The workshop was delivered by X-Forces Enterprise (XFE) in partnership with the OA. The one-day events help attendees kick-start their business ideas and discover if working for yourself is a viable career move. […]

15th May 2019

North East Firm TSG Marine Honoured for Work Recruiting Veterans

TSG Marine has won the 2019 Officers’ Association (OA) Employer Recognition Award, in recognition of its commitment to providing veterans with innovative and sustainable job opportunities in the North East of England. The OA is the only Tri-Service military charity dedicated to helping the officer corps transition into civilian life. It awards the OA Employer […]

10th May 2019

Supporting the Next Generation of Veteran Entrepreneurs

The OA and X-Forces Enterprise (XFE) are to launch a series of self-discovery workshops for officers and their spouses keen to launch their own business ideas. The one day workshops will help attendee’s kick-start their business ideas and discover if working for yourself is the right next career move. As well as giving an insight […]

27th March 2019

Over 5,400 Officers Helped By OA Employment Services in the Last Year

We have increased our support to serving and former officers developing their post-military careers, as highlighted in our latest Impact Report. The OA Employment Team provided 1,125 one-to-one career consultations and CV reviews. In addition, over 1,100 jobs were posted onto the OA Executive Jobs Board. Gemma Jones is one officer the OA supported, who […]

19th March 2019

Officers’ Association Supports New Non-Executive Development Programme for Senior Service Leavers

OnBoarding Officers is an accelerated non-executive training programme established to help transitioning and former officers hone their military leadership skills in readiness for Non- Executive roles in UK organisations. Participants will be provided with a critical insight into the commercial world, whether their aspirations are to take a Non-Executive Director (NED) role immediately, or at […]

4th February 2019

We Are Not Damaged Says Minister and Veteran

Minister for Defence People and Veterans Tobias Ellwood MP says we must challenge false perceptions of veterans. Tobias Ellwood, a former Army officer, said: “That is a real challenge that we have, because too many people out there think because we served we are damaged.” The Minister made his comments at the Officers’ Association Careers […]

11th December 2018

New Data Dispels ‘Negative Stereotype’ About Veterans

A major new study released today by the Veterans Work consortium, reveals that military service is likely to improve your chances of finding employment. The study found that, contrary to what many believe, veteran employment rates at 81% are far higher than the national average of 75.5%. The report, titled ‘Veterans Work: Moving On’, surveyed […]

28th November 2018

Here’s Why Our CEO Believes that Veterans are Good for Business

By Lee Holloway, CEO at the OA.  Recruiters have an opportunity to celebrate and benefit from the experience and skills honed during military service every single day of the year. Tapping into the talent pool of military veterans can ensure that Britain’s businesses make full use of the training that has been invested in those […]

9th July 2018

OA Sponsors Elite Inter-Services Triathlon

30th Inter-Services Triathlon brings top athletes together to compete for the coveted Team Cup. Organised this year by the Royal Navy Triathlon Association, the Army, Navy and RAF will compete at the annual event, taking place on 25th July 2018. There are individual and team categories, including Male, Female and Veteran. In addition, the Fire, […]

22nd May 2018

OA Awards Prize to RAF Cadet for Outstanding Charity Work

OA’s Chief Executive Officer, Lee Holloway, was delighted to present Flying Officer Carla Robinson with the charity award at RAF Cranwell’s Graduation Dining-In Night on Friday 4th May 2018. The OA provides the ‘Work in the Community’ award in recognition of the work carried out by cadets supporting a charitable cause, whilst undergoing officer training […]

17th May 2018

OA Provides Employment Support to More Than 4,700 Officers

We are proud of how we help serving and former officers develop new careers after leaving the Armed Forces, as highlighted in our 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 […]

4th April 2018

Veterans Work Film to Showcase at National Employer Conference

The series of Veterans Work films highlight the benefits of recruiting veterans, and aims to challenge misconceptions surrounding the recruitment of Service leavers. ‘What does an idea sound like?’ is one of the three films created, featuring Matt Barber, Clare Balding OBE, ‘Judge’ Robert Rinder, Richard Wilson, Nick Knowles, Larry Lamb and Joanna Lumley OBE. […]

15th March 2018

CEO Visits Veterans Village

Lee Holloway, OA CEO, saw at first-hand how the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) supports the Armed Forces community. The RBLI is a leading employment charity for veterans, especially those with disabilities. The RBLI village in Kent provides housing, training, career opportunities, welfare support and care to more than 300 people. Its facilities include a […]

23rd November 2017

Stars Rally for Veteran Employment

Joanna Lumley, Ray Winstone and Richard Wilson are some of the celebrities starring in three short films promoting military veteran employment. The celebrities highlight the skills veterans can bring to employers, and some of the barriers that need to be overcome for them to secure new fulfilling careers when they leave the military. Other celebrity […]

27th October 2017

Veterans Minister to Promote ‘Military is Good for Business’

The Rt Hon Tobias Ellwood MP will outline why business should recruit former officers, at an OA event in London. As Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for Defence People and Veterans, Mr Ellwood will highlight that ‘Military is Good for Business’. As a former Army captain, he understands the career challenges officers face […]

5th October 2017

OA Chief Executive, Lee Holloway, is Swimming in the OA Triathlon Team

Lee Holloway, the Officers’ Association (OA) Chief Executive, is swimming for the OA in the OA Inter-Services Triathlon at the end of July. We interviewed him to find out more. This year the triathlon is organised by the RAF Triathlon Association and sponsored by the OA. The Army, Navy and RAF will compete at the […]

25th July 2017

Defence Minister Visits OA London Office

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Tobias Ellwood MP, met OA staff and volunteers, while visiting several military charities in London on Thursday 6th July. The Minister, who is responsible for Defence People and Veterans, spoke to Lee Holloway, OA Chief Executive Officer, and Nigel Hare, OA Head of Benevolence, about how we support […]

13th July 2017

Officers’ Association Sponsors Inter-Services Triathlon

The Officers’ Association (OA) is proud to sponsor the OA Inter-Services Triathlon for a second, consecutive year. Organised this year by the RAF Triathlon Association, the Army, Navy and RAF will compete at the annual event in the end of July. There are individual and team categories, including Male, Female and Veteran. In addition to […]

6th July 2017