Emma Davies,  Director of Joint Force Alba

Emma is the director for Joint Force Alba, the only Scottish ex-military recruitment consultancy. She is a Veteran herself, having served for 13 years in the British Army, working in tri-service and multi-national environments in Germany, Iraq, Afghanistan and the USA. Alongside that, she developed a career in HR and recruitment in Scottish businesses, focusing on SMEs. She gained her Chartered membership of the CIPD in 2013 having had to pause her studies whilst serving in Afghanistan. She’s an ambassador for X-Forces Enterprise and a board member for military charity Lothian’s Veterans centre as well as being a wife to a fellow Army Veteran and mum to 2 young boys.

Michelle McKearnon, Head of Engagement- Highland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association

Michelle is the Head of Engagement at Highland Reserves Forces and Cadets Association. She leads an engagement and communications team who work across the North of Scotland to promote the benefits of employing Reservists and Veterans to both the business and the wider communities.

Previously she was the Chief Executive of Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce, the first Chamber in the UK to win an MoD Gold award for being a supportive employer, and ran her own business for 6 years. She is a former member of the Institute of Directors and a member of the Association of Scottish Business Women

Nia-Wyn Evans  – Solicitor

I am a solicitor at Hugh James, now based at our London office. I work within the military team representing military and ex-military servicemen and women.

Whilst speaking with 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 those 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.

I have been fortunate to sit on the judging panel for these awards nationally since 2019. It is inspiring to learn of the positive impact that veterans continue to have on the wider community after leaving service. I am grateful for the invite to sit on the judging panel for Scotland this year and look forward to the awards in April.

John Gillie – Briefing & Liaison Officer ABF The Soldiers’ Charity – SCOTLAND

The role encompasses briefing a wide range of audiences both military and civilian on the work of the Charity to encourage support to regional fundraising, provision of fundraising support to the Regional Office and Events, including organising events, establishing and maintaining key relationships with Army units both Regular and Reserve and continual development of our volunteer fundraising.

John completed a 39 year exemplary career in the Army in 2020. He feels so privileged and honoured working as the BLO(Sc). As have many he has found the last 2 years extremely challenging but confident 2022 will bring a bit of light onto all within the service community. At last he is looking forward to getting out & about in Scotland & taking on the many challenges the role will bring. He hopes he can “give a little back” to a service which has provided him with so much. 

He is married to his wife of 34 years Sherrilyn with 3 sons, Liam (31), Danny (29) &  Ewen (24) all currently building their own careers. As a close family who enjoy socialising together & passionate about living life to the full.

 “I was very pleased to be asked to be a judging panel member for the second time. As a military veteran myself it makes me so proud & emotional to read the stories of what our veterans are doing out there for their communities. Once again, I’ll look forward to celebrating the success of our Scottish Military Veteran Community in April along with those companies that support us”

Colin Vooght, Head of Engagement- Lowland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association

Colin Vooght joined the Army as a Junior Tradesman and left, after more than 40 years of service, as a commissioned officer. On ‘retiring’ he established a Health and Safety Consultancy and stepped in as maternity cover for the Regional SaBRE Campaign Director at Lowland Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association. That one year contract became five, after which he was promoted into the role of Head of Engagement within the association and now has responsibility for the organisation’s engagement with employers and the wider community plus a communications department.

He is married to Maggie and they have two grown up daughters, one a radiographer, the other a phycologist. When not working, Colin is a Rotarian.

The Veterans Awards are proud to announce our shortlisted Finalists for this years Scottish Veterans Awards sponsored by Joint Force Alba, due to be held at the Village Hotel Edinburgh on the 27th April 2022. Hosted by Radio DJ BFBS Scotland presenter Mark McKenzie and in Support of The ABF The Soldiers’ Charity Scotland!

Well done to everyone who has been shortlisted as finalists. We had double the amount of  applications compared to last year 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 :

Role Model of the Year- Sponsored by Print Inc 

Inspiration of the Year Award – Sponsored by GHN Property and Developments

The Community Awards – Sponsored by Joint Force Alba

Contribution to the Scottish Fitness Industry and Society – Sponsored by The ABF The Soldiers’ Charity

Health & Well-being Award  – Sponsored by  GHN Property and Developments

Leavers to Leaders Award  – Sponsored by Leavers to Leaders

Entrepreneur of the Year- Sponsored by Hugh James

Employer of the Year- Sponsored by Joint Force Alba

Veteran Owned Business  of the Year- Sponsored by Pathfinder Magazine 

Volunteer of the Year –  Sponsored by  Terrestres Servo Coronas

Lifetime Achievement – Sponsored by Veteran Trees

Reservist of the Year Award –  Sponsored by Pathfinder Magazine

The Winners will be chosen by our Independent Judging Panel. The Judging panels names and profiles will be released over the coming weeks.

Our Shortlisted  finalists will be invited to a FREE certificate giving and networking day at the Castle Club, Edinburgh Castle on Tuesday 15th March where we will film their story and videos. These videos will then be used on our extensive media campaign and will also be played on the evening itself. Our finalists will also receive their finalist certificate on this fantastic morning and get to network with the other finalists, sponsors and awards organisers.

All our Shortlisted finalists/family/friends and business colleagues will have the opportunity to purchase Tickets for the black tie award Ceremony due to be held at the Village Hotel Edinburgh on the 27th April 2022 between 1st March – 14th March. If we have any remaining tickets left they will then go on sale to our supporters.

For more details please get in touch.

The Veterans Awards

Rewarding Veterans, Serving Reservists and those companies that support us in the areas of Business, Fitness, Sport and the wider Community!

In support of The ABF Soldiers’ Charity and Now proudly supporting the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity

The Veterans Awards is a registered Not for Profit Organisation that promotes all the positives from our Military Community! We are extremely pleased to announce that we will be supporting the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity alongside our continued commitment to the ABF The soldiers Charity at this years English Veterans Awards!

The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity is the Principle Charity of the Royal Navy. The Charity Exists to support Sailors, Marines and their families for life!

Our Veterans Awards team are fully committed to supporting our Veteran Community. We celebrate the success and inspiring stories from our community by promoting them via our social media channels, networks and fantastic  media partners that include Pathfinder International Magazine and BFBS.

We have a Board of Directors and an Inspirational panel in place who operate in a voluntary capacity to run Veterans Awards CIC, ensuring all money raised above project costs goes back into our Veteran Community and is used to improve services or to run projects that will help our Veterans and Community.

In the UK, we have a huge number of highly successful Armed Forces Veterans that have made the transition from the Military to civilian life and we want to reward these veterans who have gone above and beyond and excelled in their relevant fields. They will act as role models for future service leavers. We want to find the people who even during the most difficult periods have excelled!

As such, we feel they should be given every opportunity to highlight their achievements and success, which is why the awards and our other projects have been created.

The Veterans Awards are open to all our Military Veterans that are doing great things in the UK, Reservists that are going above and beyond and those companies that go the extra mile to support or recruit from our community!

If you are a Company or Organisation that wish to become one of our Partners or Sponsors at our Awards or projects please feel free to get in touch. We have a number of fantastic companies that currently support us and we are so thankful to them because without these companies we wouldn’t be able to do what we do! We will ensure we work with you and your team or building a strong relationship and partnership.  To get in touch or find out more click here

If you have a positive story or journey please get in touch and we are happy to promote it via our social media sites through our media team!

Remember it’s you that will act as a role models for future service leavers!

Registration  number : 12249389

We would like to thank everyone who attended this years Scottish Veterans Awards, held at the Village Hotel and Leisure Club Edinburgh on the 6th October 2021.  The Awards were sponsored by TMT Construction and in Support of The ABF The Soldiers’ Charity! It was such a fantastic event with a great atmosphere in the room!

Well done to everyone who was shortlisted as finalists, we had a huge amount of applications and the shortlisting process was extremely difficult. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who put forward nominations, you are all doing amazing things in your relevant fields and you should be so proud of your achievements!

Extremely thankful and very Honoured to have the support from The Scottish Veterans Commissioner Colonel Charlie Wallace DL, Edinburgh Garrison Commander Lt Col Hugo Clarke MBE,  Garrison Sergeant Major Anthony Gibson, Charles Dunphie (ABF The Soldiers’ Charity Scotland)  and the fantastic former Special Forces Operator Colin Maclachlan.  A special thanks also has to go to the  Mini Pipe Band from the Army School of Bagpipe Music & Highland Drumming, Scots Guards and The Regimental Mascot of the Royal Regiment of Scotland Cpl Cruanchan IV

We are so thankful to all our supporters, volunteers and sponsors who helped put this amazing night together!

Some of the highlights of the night saw former Scottish International Footballer and now Sporting Director at Falkirk FC Gary Holt take home the Contibution to Scottish Sport Award, Gavin Neate from Neatebox become our Entrepreneur of the year award winner  and the fantastic Jason Hare of Horseback UK  who became our Inspiration of the Year winner and our Scottish Veterans Awards Champion. (Jason Received a special commissioned piece that was made by Dan a Military veteran and owner of Veteran Trees)

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

Our Winners are :

Veterans Awards Champion:  Jason Hare – Horseback UK

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our Shortlisted Finalists remember its you who inspire our future service leavers – Keep an eye out on Facebook for pictures of the evening coming soon over on our Facebook page!