Ofcom
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-10)

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 Ofcom 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 Ofcom 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:

Employment support to members of the Armed Forces Community: Ofcom partner with JobOppO, an organisation offering employment support and advice to service leavers and veterans. Ofcom advertise all live vacancies with JobOppo, extending outreach through their various networks to spouses, partners, and dependants. Ofcom advertise all live roles with the Career Transition Partnership. Ofcom advertise all live tech roles with TechVets, a not-for-profit organisation supporting veterans and service leavers into information technology careers. Ofcom believes that its colleagues are its most valuable asset and is committed to attracting and retaining the very best, diverse talent. Ofcom recognises the importance of helping colleagues balance their work and home life and that flexible working arrangements can provide benefits to both colleagues and the organisation. We are committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in our recruitment process. Our goal is to attract applicants from a wide talent pool including those who may class themselves to be disabled; we ensure that any candidate wishing to enter an application under the disability confident scheme, who meet the minimum criteria for a role, are interviewed and considered based on their abilities. At Ofcom we aim to have a selection process that is fair and equitable and based solely on the applicants abilities and individual merit assessed against the criteria for the job. Ofcom provides 15 days of paid leave allowance for Armed Forces Reservists to complete their annual camp (a requirement of reserve service). Promoting the Armed Forces: Through our partnership with JObOppO, Ofcom will be; building a profile page to introduce Ofcoms employer brand to potential ex- military colleagues. Publishing all live vacancies to JobOppO community (consisting solely of service leavers and veterans (and their spouse). Communicating success stories including profiles relating to Ofcom employees who are themselves service leavers or veterans. Delivering a podcast in partnership with JobOppo to highlight success in recruitment of service leavers and veterans and their spouse. Ofcom advertise all roles via CTP Ofcom has previously advertised roles using BFRS (British Forces Resettlement Services). Ofcom advertise all technical roles with TechVets, a not-for-profit organisation supporting veterans and service leavers into information technology careers.. Communications, engagement and outreach: Communications scheduled externally celebrating partnership with JobOppO March 24. Launch of new blue light community group for ex-military/ forces/ veterans and ex-police force colleagues scheduled for 2024. Promotion of AFC and JobOppO partnership internally within Ofcom via the Hive (intranet) and Good Morning Ofcom (all colleague weekly update call). Promotion of all live opportunities with CT, Techvets and JobOppo. Participation in JobOppo events including job fairs, podcasts and webinars to be scheduled in 2024 promoting Ofcom as a career destination of choice for ex-military and veterans. Health Ofcom offer a Wellbeing programme (Thrive) to all of our colleagues including: Access to trained mental health first aiders (Ofcom colleagues) operating within the business. Access to 24-hour employee assistance programme provided by Health Assured. Health Assured offers cover for you and your immediate dependants*, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year: Life support: Unlimited access to counselling for emotional problems and a pathway to structured telephone counselling or face-to-face counselling sessions (employees only) at your convenience. Legal information: For any issues that cause anxiety or distress including debt management, accountancy, lawsuits, consumer disputes, property or neighbour legalities (employees only). Bereavement support: Health Assured offers qualified and experienced counsellors who can help with grief and related stress plus a team of legal advisors to help with legal issues. Medical information: Qualified nurses are on hand to offer advice on a range of medical or health related issues. They cant diagnose but can offer a sympathetic ear and practical information and advice. CBT online: We recognise the value of self-help tools in dealing with a range of issues, which is why we have a range of CBT self-help modules, informative factsheets and invaluable advice videos from leading qualified counsellors. *Health Assured define dependants as immediate family members (spouse/partners) and children aged 16 to 24 in full time education, living in the same household At Ofcom, we aim to ensure everyone has access to fair and effective care and support. All Ofcom colleagues have Private Medical cover unless colleagues opt out of this benefit through Choices. Free access to the Calm app. All Ofcom employees are eligible to receive an annual Health Screening/Assessment currently provided by Nuffield Health. We recognise that colleagues may need to take planned time off for reasons related to a disability, or long-term condition. Managers have the autonomy to approve Disability Management Leave as a workplace adjustment. Disability Management Leave is designed to support pre-planned absences relating to disability, or long-term condition. This time off may be to undergo treatment or therapy, assessments, attend regular medical appointments, or to recover from treatment, linked to disability or long-term condition. Education: Ofcom recognises the value of joining a professional body for the help it can offer colleagues in their work. In some instances, professional membership is an integral part of a colleagues license to practice, but other benefits of professional membership can include: Approved training and qualifications at a reduced rate Keeping current on developments in the professional field Receiving regular updates, information, and reports Free or reduced-rate conference invitations, Access to the bodys website, database, and discussion forums Generally, Ofcom will pay for a colleague to join one appropriate professional body if membership of the professional body is an essential requirement for the colleagues role. At Ofcom, colleagues have a wealth of learning resources freely available to them. If there is a specific individual or team development requirement, which cannot be met by the resources available on the Workday Learning or LinkedIn Learning, the following steps should be followed by the colleague, CPM and L&D Rep to authorise an external development request. Full access for all colleagues to LinkedIn learning and Workday learning portals Civic responsibilities: Promoting the Armed Forces: o Ofcom aim to raise awareness of the contributions of Service personnel, reservists, veterans, and military families through the introduction and launch of a blue light community group. Employment Support: o Ofcom are proactively promoting opportunities for service personnel, reservists, veterans and military families via partnerships with JobOppo and CTP o Ofcom have implemented supportive HR policies for reservists, veterans, and the spouses/partners of those serving in the Armed Forces including 15 days of paid leave allowance for Armed Forces Reservists to complete their annual camp (a requirement of reserve service). Partnerships: o Ofcom engage with the armed forces community through events such as webinars and day in the life articles via its partnership with JobOppo and CTP. Flexible Leave Policies: o Ofcom provides 15 days of paid leave allowance for Armed Forces Reservists to complete their annual camp (a requirement of reserve service). o Ofcom offer flexible working options to all applicants from day 1 of employment Skills and Training: o Through Ofcoms comprehensive catalogue of internal training (available via LinkedIn learning), we encourage and support all colleagues with further training and skill development. Health and Well-being: o Ofcom support mental health initiatives for veterans and their families through our HR policies, procedures and wellbeing and benefits programmes. Charitable Initiatives: Ofcom regularly raise money for Remembrance Sunday, in 2023 Ofcom sold Poppys from their head office in London raising a total of £294.21 for the Poppy Appeal 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 Armed Forces Community and our customers on how we are doing. Ofcom plan to publicise their commitment to Armed Forces via its social media channels and via its partnership with JobOppO. Ofcom recently used their LinkedIn feed to publicise the launch of the recently announced partnership with JobOppo. Ofcom careers site (including ED&I statements appearing with all live job descriptions) will be updated with information of the commitment to ex-military candidates and colleagues including JobOppO logo and subsequent Armed Forces Covenant logos. Information pertaining to Ofcoms community group open to ex-military and blue light services will be publicised via Ofcoms all colleague Good Morning Ofcom series and via the intranet (Hive).

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.