The Veterans Awards are proud to announce our shortlisted Finalists for this years Welsh Veterans Awards, due to be held at the Village Hotel Cardiff on the 5th July and hosted by Radio X’s Polly James. Our Awards are sponsored by GHN Property and Developments and in Support of The ABF The Soldiers’ Charity Wales and the Royal Navy Royal Marines 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 :

Role Model of the Year- Sponsored by Forces Employment Charity

Inspiration of the Year Award – Sponsored by Porters Estate Agents

The Community Awards – Sponsored by Vigilance

Contribution to the Welsh Fitness Industry and Society – Sponsored by Print Inc

Health & Well-being Award  – Sponsored by  Audi Sinclair 

Leader of the Year Award  – Sponsored by  Veteran Trees 

Entrepreneur of the Year- Sponsored by Pinnacle Document Solutions Group

Employer of the Year- Sponsored by AB Glass

Veteran Owned Business  of the Year- Sponsored by Educ8 Training

Volunteer of the Year –  Sponsored by Pathfinder Magazine

Lifetime Achievement – Sponsored by Hugh James

Reservist of the Year Award –  Sponsored by AB Glass 

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 filmed in the fantastic Location of The Firing Line Museum Cardiff Castle on Wednesday 15th June. These videos will then be used on our extensive media campaign and will also be played on the evening itself, you will also receive your finalist certificate and get a chance to network with other finalists on this fantastic morning.

All our Shortlisted Finalists / Supporters have the opportunity to secure your tickets between  6th June – 14th June.

All money above costs from our awards will put back into our  Veteran community via our small grants scheme for small grass routes Charitable organisations that support our Veteran Community and with a turnover of under 100k PA. Please see more here:  Veterans Awards Grants Scheme Proudly Supporting Charitable organisations across the UK! – The Veterans Awards 

For more details please get in touch.

Emma Davies,  Director of Joint Force Alba

Emma is the director for Joint Force Alba, a specialist ex-military recruitment company dedicated to the Scottish jobs market. 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’s Chair of the Board of Trustees for military charity Lothian’s Veterans centre and a board member for West Lothian Chamber of Commerce. In her personal life, Emma is married to a fellow Army Veteran and mum to 2 young boys.

Roy McLellan, Employer Engagement Director – Highland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association

My primary role within the business is meeting with employers to explain the benefits of employing Military Veterans / Reservists and the skills that they can bring to the workplace, promoting signing the Armed Forces Covenant and taking part in Defence Employer Recognition Scheme encouraging them to show publicly their commitment as an employer.

I have seen countless times the benefits that these people can bring to the workplace with their military skills easily transferring to civilian life, I was very keen to join the judging panel to see the fantastic showcase of achievements that former military staff have undertaken since leaving the armed forces.

Chris Gillan – Founder and Director of Heroes Drinks Company C.I.C

Chris founded Heroes Drinks Company in 2011, a multi-award winning premium alcohol producer and not-for-profit organisation that supports the military community.  Having served nine years in the Royal Air Force, with tours of Iraq and Afghanistan, Chris was discharged from service in 2010 with a minor injury that would impact his chosen career aspirations.  A sequence of events after his discharge, lead to him turn to the Armed Forces charities for help.  Chris founded Heroes Drinks to give back to these charities and to help promote awareness of their great work.

Chris is also a member of the Scottish Government’s Business Leadership Group, working alongside Scottish business leaders from various sectors to advise and support the Scottish Government’s Business Pledge, which was created for the purpose of supporting and encouraging high quality and fair work within Scotland based businesses.

“I am delighted and honoured to join the judging panel for the Scottish Veteran Awards; I have been an avid supporter of the Veteran Awards since its formation.  The awards do a fantastic job in highlighting the success and positive impact our veterans have in our local communities”.

Jason Hare – Director of Courses – Horseback UK

Jay studied engineering before entering the British Forces joining the Royal Marines Commandos. He served for over 14 years and was medically discharged in late 2014 due to life changing injuries.

Jay has deployed on many operations globally and led men in some of the world’s most stressful and hazardous environments, including a tour of Northern Ireland and three tours of Afghanistan. During these tours he was injured twice, once by a suicide bomber and secondly by standing on an IED. Jay lost his left leg below knee, digits to his right hand, suffered extensive shrapnel wounds, lost his left eye and suffered significant facial disfigurement in which it took 11 operations to rebuild his facial features.

Deploying all over the world from desert, jungle, and mountainous areas to arctic regions on numerous occasions, Jay brings a wealth of knowledge of leadership, teaching, coaching and mentoring to any event. He has delivered motivational and inspirational talks to various leading oil and gas companies, charities, VIP’s, events, television, radio, business organisations and universities, as well as instructing and aiding in workshops for many of them all over the country.

Jay holds various certificates and awards in teaching, personal development, sports and recreation, assessing, coaching and mentoring and is also the first and most injured serviceman to conduct offshore oil and gas safety training as well as spending time on a platform in the North Sea.

Jay has worked for HorseBack UK since the beginning, having been seconded initially by the Royal Marines Commandos during his own recovery; he is now the Course Director within the organisation and a Royal Marines Support Network Officer for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

Jack Dickinson – Solicitor, Hugh James  

I am a solicitor at Hugh James, based at our head office in Cardiff. I specialise in providing legal representation and legal services for serving, and ex – forces individuals. I also spend a lot of time supporting veterans communities through various events and fundraising efforts.

I have attended the previous Scottish, Welsh and English Veterans awards and enjoyed these thoroughly. I look forward to meeting all the finalists, and celebrating veterans who have made a difference, and all their incredible achievements after transitioning to civilian life.

David Dent MBE, CMgr, CCMI, FIoD, is an Executive Director and Head, Market and Business Development, EMEA  at Parexel Biotech

David  is an Executive Director and Head, Market and Business Development, Co-Leads of Global Disability Steering Committee and Honorary Professor at the University of Stirling and Entrepreneur in Residence at the Hayden Green Institute University of Nottingham.  He is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and a Chartered Companion of the Chartered Management Institute.

He is a former winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award and Champions Award.

He in addition to his  work in business and education has competed Internationally in disabled veterans sport specifically in field athletics and Highland games where he is current world champion and record holder in Shot Put and an official at Scottish Athletics.

He served with the Army Medical Services mainly as a battlefield trauma specialist and critical care nurse and Regimental Nursing Officer in the 1990’s, he is a war disabled veteran after sustaining combat injuries himself, and in 2022 received and MBE for services to Students People with Disability and Veterans

The ability to see and be part of a process that recognises the significant role veterans play in life community and business  is an important way for us to show our appreciation and recognise the service sacrifice and contribution to our society at the same time as raising awareness of the extant challenges faced by these individuals.

Gavin Nunn (MD – GHN Property & Developments & Founder of Ridgesteel)

The Veterans Awards

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

In support of The ABF Soldiers’ Charity and the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.

The Veterans Awards are a Not for Profit Organisation that promotes the positives from the Veteran Community and those organisations that support us. It’s been put together by Veterans for Veterans in what has become our home nations national awards with three separate award ceremonies taking place in England, Scotland and Wales, we also support the Northern Irish Awards. During our awards evenings we fundraise for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity alongside the ABF The soldiers Charity.  Any money above and beyond costs is then distributed via a small grants scheme to smaller CIC’s and Charities who work at grass routes level within the veterans community and have a turnover of under 100k per annum! 

This year has seen our organisation issue grants to multiple Charitable Organisations that support our community across the UK, from 30 places on an all inclusive retreat for Military Veterans, events that bring veterans and their families together, health and well-being training and also supporting local breakfast hubs that are the beating heart of our community!  

Our running total including donations, from our Auctions, raffles and our grant giving is sat at a fantastic

£23,920.25

Thank you for everyone who supports our Awards, from sponsors, attendees, nominators, donators to finalists you are all really making a difference to our community!

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is the Army’s national charity, here for soldiers, past and present, and their families for life

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 our 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!

CIC Registration  number: 12249389

Jon Carter. Business Development Manager for Company X Consulting Ltd.

I am the BDM For Company X Consulting Ltd, a veteran owned Small to Medium Enterprise Consultancy, and previous winners of Business of the Year & Employer of the Year at the English Veterans Awards. I have worked alongside the military during my 20+ year career supporting MoD and Industry, before joining CXC Ltd in 2018.

My role as one of the 5 CXC Ltd Mgt Board members is head of all externally facing Business to Business and client relationships, lead for Strategy and Growth, and Head of Recruitment as a key element of this growth.

CXC Ltd has a strong affinity with the armed forces, services leavers and veterans, being a holder of a Gold Armed Forces covenant award and staffed by over 90% veterans across all 3 services. We actively support veteran organisations, a number of transition support functions (including Forces Transition Group, Officers Association and CTP), as well as sponsors of a number of Veteran focused causes and activities (including local sports, Women Into Employment, and the Royal Signals institute). We are there to support those service leavers who are considering a career in Consultancy with no obligation advice and guidance.

Darren Fuller – FDM Group – Regional Manager South, Ex Forces Programme

I am The Regional Manager South for FDM Groups Ex-Forces Programme, my day-to-day role sees me helping Ex-service personal of all ranks into successful careers within Tech or Business and continuing to support them whilst on that journey.

I had a full military career myself, spending over 20 years in The Parachute Regiment, those 20 years were some of the most exciting years of my life giving me memories that will last a lifetime. This time also helped me, gain considerable skills and experience that whilst at the time I might not have realised are highly sought after and transferable into the civilian job market. On leaving the forces in 2014 I settled in Colchester with my wife and children.

During the past 8 years I have stayed within the force’s community working for military charities gaining experience in employment, Fundraising, Governance and Welfare, before starting in my current role with FDM.

I’m really looking forward to being on the judging panel for the 2022 English Veterans Awards, to play a small part in Celebrating the talent and success that Ex-Forces bring to their communities is something I’m honoured to do.

Richard Dorney MBE, MStJ, MSc – Director Strongmind Resiliency Training 

Richard is the Director of Strongmind Resiliency Training. Strongmind provides training around Mental Health, Resilience and Trauma Risk Management to a wide range of organisations at home and abroad. The company specialises in supporting those in the toughest jobs from the NHS, police and many other public sector bodies. Strongmind is the lead provider of these services to the UK Government Campus. Our core team of trainers and admin staff are all veterans or military spouses.

Richard served almost 39 years in the British Army as a soldier, Warrant Officer and late Entry Officer. He was responsible for establishing the British Army Trauma Risk Management Training Team and was the subject lead for some years. He also worked in the Army Recovery Capability where he was responsible for the policy relating to wounded injured and sick personnel. Since leaving the Army in 2015 his company has trained thousands of public and private sector staff in mental health, trauma and resilience. He holds an MSc in War and Psychiatry and is himself a recipient of the English Veterans lifetime achievement award.

Nia-Wyn Evans  – Senior Associate Solicitor

I am a specialist military solicitor at Hugh James, based at our London office. I work within the military team representing serving and former military personnel.

Hugh James have proudly sponsored the Veteran Awards since its launch in 2019. I have been fortunate to be invited as a panel member for the awards since its launch and continue to be taken back by the incredible nominations submitted.

I look forward to further celebrating the success and contributions of the military community at the English Veterans Awards towards the end of this month.

Samuel T Ready, Entrepreneur, Director and Author:

 Amelia Davis – Paralegal within the military team at Hugh James

I am a Law student at Cardiff University and have recently completed a placement year with Hugh James. I work as a paralegal within the military team at Hugh James, assisting military and ex-military servicemen and women who have sustained injuries in service.

 My role at Hugh James has highlighted how difficult the transition from military to civilian life can be for some individuals. To gain additional experience and to apply this within the veteran community, I have recently completed my training as a SSAFA volunteer mentor, which will enable me to offer one-to-one support to recent service leavers.

 I am really excited to get involved with this year’s English Veteran Awards and hear all about the achievements of the finalists.

Jason Gillard – Director of Mercury Fitness and Founder of Veterans Awards Northern Ireland