Meet the Judges at the English Veterans Awards

Peter Bates OBE – Regional Director ABF The Soldiers’ Charity

Peter Bates was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1979 and served the majority of his regimental career in the Airborne and Commando brigades, serving on operational tours during Op Corporate (the Falklands War), in Northern Ireland, the jungle, Bosnia and Iraq. In addition to Regimental duty he has been Chief of Staff of the UK Artillery Brigade and held many staff appointments, with the majority being in training and procurement environments. He has a BSc and MA and was appointed an OBE in the 2008 New Years Honours list.

In 2013, Col Bates left the army early and spent two years as Business Development Director at a group of schools in Bath, raising over £1.3Million in under two years. Despite the success this was short-lived incursion into the education sector and from September 2014 he worked as an army reservist virtually full time, coordinating and delivering all Ten Tors activity for three years. After relinquishing that role he worked as part of the Military Civil Integration Team on behalf of the Comd HQ SW before accepting his new job with  the Soldiers’ Charity, which is a vital, time-consuming and demanding appointment.  ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is the National Charity of the British Army. The Soldiers’ Charity began in 1944 as the Army Benevolent Fund and rebranded in 2010 to ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. With help from the public we support soldiers, veterans and their families who need our help, either by supporting individuals directly or through our partner delivery charities

 

 

Nick Wilson Co-founder of 360Wellbeing

A Mental Health support company providing a better understanding of Mental Health to the workplace, and founder of First Step Forward CIC, who provides Mental Health guidance and training to Veterans and Partners of Military service personnel. With an aim to empower individuals, to better manage their own symptoms and lives, whilst awaiting professional support.

Nick is also a Veteran, serving 14 years in the Army and deploying on multiple extremely demanding operations around the world. This is followed by eight successful years in business to date, which includes building a highly successful £1/4million Chauffeur company in his first two years in business.

Therefore, Nick is very aware of what it takes to transition from the military into society and further still into business, especially for those with additional struggles such as physical or mental injuries, with Nick himself managing Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and a debilitating spinal injury. He sees this as an opportunity to “Give back” to his comrades in arms, to celebrate them all, with every one of them being winners and heroes, and to say thank you to the employers who take the time to see the value in them.

Alex Williams and Victoria Beacham  Founders at Royal Educare.

Alex oversees the business development and the recruitment department, where Victoria manages the finance, back office and company accounts. We decided to be sponsors at this year’s English Veterans awards due to being a family of Military background, we understand the transition from Military life to Civvy Street can be difficult. We wanted to give recognition to those Veterans that have not only achieved and succeeded the transition but have gone on to achieve great things in their life. It’s a privilege to be part of such a rewarding event.

 

 

Nia –  Wyn Evans, Solicitor at Hugh James Cardiff

I am a solicitor at Hugh James, Cardiff. I work within the military team  representing military and ex-military servicemen and women.
Whilst speaking to military and ex-military personnel on a daily basis I am all too familiar with the difficulties veterans can face when leaving service.  I wanted to join the judging panel for the Veteran Awards to celebrate veterans who have made a successful transition from military to civilian life, whilst also assisting veterans who have faced difficulties when returning to civilian life as part of my role as a solicitor

 

English Veterans Awards Shortlisted Finalists Filming day at Clifton Observatory!

August 14th saw the Production Company Leek and Potato film our amazing shortlisted finalists over looking the Iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge and filmed at Clifton Observatory!

It was a true honour for our team to meet our shortlisted Finalists for the English Veterans Awards in support of the ABF The Soldiers’ Charity South West.  During the morning the all shortlisted nominees were issued with their finalist certificates by the Awards founder Mr Sean Molino BCA.

All our team can’t wait to hear about your inspiring journeys on the evening itself!

Huge thanks to all the amazing team at Clifton observatory for facilitating the filming and the fantastic production company Leek and Potato Productions.

All our team are so excited to celebrate your success!

Remember it’s you who act as role models for future service leavers!

Keep an eye out for the finalist videos that will hit your screens during September!

Welcome to our English Veterans Awards Finalists 2019!

The Veterans Awards are proud to announce our shortlisted Finalists for this years English Veterans Awards, due to be held at the Mercure Bristol Holland House on 25th  September 2019. Sponsored by Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes and in Support of The ABF The Soldiers’ Charity!

Well done to everyone who has been shortlisted as finalists. We had 100’s of applications and the shortlisting process was extremely difficult. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who put forward nominations.

We want to Inspire our future service leavers that great things can happen. Its you who will act as role models and in some cases mentors, remember Positivity breeds Positivity.

Our Finalists are :

 

Inspiration of the Year Award – Sponsored by Ridge Steel

 

  • Leon Stokes                        -Pals Battalion CIC
  • Anthony Lock                    -Author Broken by War
  • Edward Preen
  • Major Ken Hames MBE    -Community Self Build Agency
  • Andrew Phelps                  -1st Stoke Gifford Scouts
  • Martin Diver                      -Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Role Model of the Year – Sponsored by Print Inc 

Print Inc Logo

  • Martin Hunt           – MPCT
  • David Powell          – NHS TILS Midlands and East Veterans Service
  • Samuel T Reddy    – Tri Exforces ltd
  • Duncan Smith        – TFL Training/ Pegasus Awards CIC
  • Steve Butterworth – Veterans in Communities
  • Lyndsey Khan       – Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

The Community Award- Sponsored by Royal Educare

  • Brian Richardson MBE       – MPCT
  • Tony Wright                        – Forward Assist
  • Richard Dolan                     – Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
  • Terry Morley                       – Groundwork MSST
  • Darren Horsnell                   – Veterans in Communities
  • Bryan Stacey                       – Community Mentoring and Support CIC
  • Dave Smith                          – Veterans in Sefton Service

Contribution to the English Fitness Industry and Society 

ABF-The-Soldiers-Charity-Logo

  • James Boardman     –  The Dad Coach
  • Tom Blackwood       –  Forces Fit
  • Cain Leathem           –  GB Fitness
  • Robbie Harris           – Gymit

Entrepreneur of the Year- Sponsored by Hugh James Solicitors

  • Richard Gwilliam  –  Geollect Ltd
  • Sandra Murphy     –  Equidiet UK Ltd
  • Lian Kirton             – K9 Pet Services
  • Steve Thornton      – Forces Cars Direct Ltd

Lifetime Achievement – Sponsored by David Wilson Homes

David Wilson Homes Logo

  • John Scivier            -Veterans Outreach Support
  • Neil Shuttleworth
  • Dave Beresford      -Weston College
  • Cain Leathem        – GB Fitness
  • Robert Ferguson   – Royal Marines Association

Employer of the Year- Sponsored by 360 Well- being

  • Weston College
  • Company X Consulting Ltd
  • Services to Film
  • FM Conway

Business Leader of the Year- Sponsored by Venture Risks Ltd

  • Steve Thornton      – Forces Cars Direct Ltd
  • Samuel T Reddy    – Tri Exforces ltd
  • Richard Gwilliam   – Geollect Ltd

Volunteer of the Year – Sponsored by Terrestres Servo Coronas

  • Mr Terry Whitty             – Royal Naval Association
  • Mr Alan Thomas MBE  – SSAFA
  • Elizabeth Davies            – Veterans in Communities
  • Ian Robinson                  – Type 42 HMS Birmingham Association
  • Tim Evers BCA               – Sapper Support
  • Jeff Williams                  – Veterans United Against Suicide

Veterans Business of the Year Award – Sponsored by  The Sandbag Times and Team Dynamics Motor Sport

SBC Dynamics Logo

  • Forces Cars Direct
  • Ruff Walkers
  • Ravenwood Locksmiths Ltd
  • Redcoat apparel
  • Company X Consulting Ltd

Contribution to English Sport & Society- Sponsored by  Barratt Homes – Honorary Award, Delivered to a Very Special Sports Person who has achieved some fantastic things whilst serving and also upon leaving the Military competing at a professional level .

Barratt Homes Logo

The Winners will be chosen by our independent Judging Panel who’s names will be released over the coming weeks.

Our Shortlisted  finalists will be filmed in Bristol on August 14th, these  Videos will then be used on our extensive media campaign and will also be played on the evening itself!

All our Shortlisted Finalists will have the opportunity to purchase tickets between 6th August – 13th August. If we have any remaining tickets left they will then go on sale to the General public.

For more details please get in touch via our Contact US page!