2018 FINALISTS – UK AWARDS
ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR
Chris Coghlan, Bibimoney
David Bruce, Global Cloud Xchange
Hugh Andree, ForceSelect
John Chantry, Barclays
Mark Parr, KPMG
Neil Porter, BAM
Richard Quellyn-Roberts, Mitmark
BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR
David Wilkins MBE, Goldman Sachs
Karl Havard, PA Consulting Group
Marcus James, CBRE
Mark Carnaghan, 2 Sisters Food Group
Mark Taylor, Taylor Consulting Group
Robert Hughes-Penney, Rathbone Brothers
Scott Lane, Day Webster
Scott Porter, Top Conker
EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
Balfour Beatty
Deloitte
Fieri
Jaguar Land Rover
Siemens
Transport for London
Yodel
ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
Daryl Flack, BlockPhish
Gavin Lumsden, Essential Teaching UK
Guy Richardson, EIGER Performance
Kevin Jefcoate, Blackhawk Network
Richard Turner, Turner Tech Consulting
Steve McCarthy, Hansei Technology
Stuart Pearce, SMARTech Energy
Tony Knights, Knights Group Worldwide
INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR
Che Armstrong Chingang, HSBC
Haig Tyler, Herbert Smith Freehills
John Flexman, Norton Rose Fulbright
Matthew Hopkinson, Didobi
Nicholas Mazzei, BT
Richard Gill, Drone Defence
Simon Davies, Spectra Group
Tony Reeves, Microsoft
INSPIRATION OF THE YEAR
Alex MacEwen, BlackRock
Ally Musthan, Artisan People
Christopher McDonald, Network Rail
Daniel Richards, Academies Enterprise Trust
Darren Smith, Curbside Gaming
Gareth Fulton, Experian
Paul Bensley, Tarmac Building Products
Rory Mackenzie, RM Speaking
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Andrew Whitehorn, Workplace Solutions
Collin Singer, Wagtail UK
Craig Summers, Sky News
David Dent, Parexel International
Dr Jon Lamonte, Transport for Greater Manchester
Gary Stockton, Komankra
Julian Knight, Dynamic Capital Management
Major Scott Kirkwood TD VR, Advocate Design
William McTavish Martin-Grayston, Sovereign FM
NEW SERVICE LEAVER OF THE YEAR
Adam Meyer, Awareness Response Training
Ben Davis, Barclays Investment Bank
Daniel Frost, Marks and Spencer
Iain Church, Moringa Miracles
Mark Willis, Goldman Sachs
Richard Shepherd, Bring The Game Over
Thomas Varty, J.P Morgan
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR
Andrew MacLeod, Hear Their Cries
Andy Lewis, Cadent
Craig Henshaw, MedaPhor
Darren Holmes, Wates
Edward Osborne, Virtualstock
Jordan Wylie, JWC International
Steve Marshall, Aldi
Steven Higgs, Mezzanine International
RISING STAR OF THE YEAR
Damon Tyler, NHS Calderdale CCG
David Edgar, Barclays
James Randall, Siemens
James Stafford Allen, Moody’s Investors Service
Jamie Wood, Harniss
Lee Leyland, CIS Security
Mark Wilson, ConocoPhillips
Morgan Scrase, Rarden Safety Solutions
ROLE MODEL OF THE YEAR
Craig Dunbar, Scania
Daisy Coleman, Coleman Racing
Jim Mathieson, Shell
John Allwood, Lead Forensics
Neil Denton, Home Office
Nick Onslow, Russell Ulyatt
Rowena Fell, EY
Sean Molino, Forces Fitness
SERVICE LEAVER OF THE YEAR
James Hawker, KPMG
Justin Jones, Thomsons Online Benefits
Lee Whitworth, A&E Harmonious Compliance Training
Pete Thornton, Bidfood
Peter Speight, Howdens Joinery
Raoul Mooyaart, Korn Ferry Hay Group
Scott Hardisty, Pirtek
Stephen Childs, Debenhams
TEAM LEADER OF THE YEAR
Bernard McPhail, Integral
Chris Hancock, Multrees Investor Services
Colin Sellars, Cornwall Council
Darren Lucas, Lambeth College
Gareth Evans, Cisco
Gary Moore, Annodata
Michael Ellul, Encon Insulation
Tim Eastwood, UBS
WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Angela Owen, Women in Defence UK and PA Consulting Group
Caroline Neil, RPS Partnership
Gemma Gardner, Holistic Dreamz Consultancy
Jane Wainwright, PwC
Rebecca Halliwell-Coutts, Foran Solutions
Sam Smith, KellyOCG
YOUNG LEADER OF THE YEAR
Adam Ottway, Ecolog International
Benjamin Bobroff, BlackRock
Christopher Parkes, Julius Rutherfoord & Co
Jamal Abbasi, UK Government’s Stabilisation Unit
James Bromfield, Barclays International Banking
Jon-Paul Brett, Burberry
Linsey Vance, Datapipe
Sudershan Dadlani, Kinara International
LATEST ARTICLES
REVEALED: The Top 50 Employers of Veterans 2026
The definitive national ranking of Forces Friendly employers showcases those setting the benchmark for meaningful pathways into high-value careers for the military community.
Finalists Revealed for 2026 British Forces in Business Awards
The world’s largest celebration of veteran talent returns for its ninth year, recognising the individuals and organisations shaping high-impact civilian careers after military service.
Finalists Announced for 2026 Scottish Forces in Business Awards
The flagship showcase of veteran talent and forces friendly employers is returning to Glasgow for another landmark celebration on 28 January – and today the finalists are revealed.


