The Scottish Ex-Forces in Business Awards are set to land in Glasgow for the fourth time next month, showcasing the tremendous talents of military veterans in second careers.
The Scottish edition of the Ex-Forces in Business Awards, the world’s largest celebration of military veterans in second careers, today reveals its fourth annual shortlist of finalists, an eclectic group of former servicemen and women whose skills and talents have created enormous value for employers across Scotland.
Transitioning from the military into a meaningful second career is known to be a notoriously difficult endeavour for many Armed Forces veterans. Awareness among employers of this unique talent pool and visibility of successful service leavers have historically been lacking. Overcoming both issues would not only increase veterans’ career prospects but also help companies solve skills gaps and productivity challenges.
The Ex-Forces in Business Awards were established in 2018 as a flagship, high-profile platform for showcasing the veterans talent pool and increasing visibility of business role models for service leavers across all sectors. The awards programme leads the way globally in promoting the vast array of talents that exist in the Armed Forces community.
The programme has celebrated the second-career achievements of over 1,000 veterans and reservists while demonstrating the huge value that military-gained skills and qualities adds to the UK economy. The award ceremonies, which are attended by up to 1,200 veterans and employers, have raised nearly £250,000 over the past several years for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, which is the official charity partner of the Awards.
“We are proud to once again be the official charity partner of this important awards programme which promotes the tremendous talents of the Armed Forces community to employers and increases visibility of business role models for servicemen and women,” said Lt. Gen. Sir Andrew Gregory, CEO at SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.
“As a former Chief of Defence People, I know just how important it is to have strong visibility both of the wide breadth of forces friendly employers and of veterans who have transitioned into meaningful second careers – these awards lead the way in amplifying that visibility.
“Our warmest congratulations but also sincere thanks must go to all of those who have been shortlisted for this year’s Scottish Ex-Forces in Business Awards for setting such a great example of how military-gained skills and values can be successfully applied across all sectors.”
The finalists of the 2023 Scottish Ex-Forces in Business Awards were whittled down from over 300 nominations. The winners are decided by an independent judging panel made up of 20 veterans and business leaders from major Scottish employers. Sponsors of the Awards include Barclays, Douneside Military Club, BAE Systems, FDM Group, Mott MacDonald, SP Energy Networks, Wood, Aspen and official airline partner Loganair.
Kevin Gartside, Head of Barclays Military and Veterans Outreach said: “As a leading employer of UK veterans, Barclays are extremely proud to sponsor of the Scottish Ex-Forces in Business Awards for the second year running, and we congratulate all of the finalists for being incredible role models to the wider Armed Forces community.
“Having recruited hundreds of veterans and supported thousands more through our Military and Veterans Outreach programmes, we are fully aware of how beneficial military-gained skills and values are, and Barclays is a better business because of our veteran and Reservist colleagues.
“These Awards play a crucial role in promoting the huge value that ex-forces personnel add in their second careers, both to their individual employers and to the economy as a whole. It is wonderful to see the veteran community come together in force and it’s inspiring to see the positive impact of veterans across the broad spectrum of industries.”
The winners will be revealed and celebrated at the prestigious award ceremony on 18 April in the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow’s Grand Ballroom. Broadcasting legend Sally Magnusson will host the event and introduce a programme of entertainment and guest speakers including Scotland’s first female Veterans Commissioner, Lt Cdr Susie Hamilton.
Rear Admiral Chris Hockley CBE, CEO of The MacRobert Trust which owns and runs Douneside House and its exclusive Military Club, said: “The Douneside Military Club, with its 1,200-plus military members from right across the Armed Forces spectrum, is both delighted and honoured to be sponsoring the 2023 Scottish Ex-Forces in Business Awards, as a celebration of the huge contribution that veterans can, and do, make to businesses of every kind.
“We recognise that this is done not only through direct use of the knowledge and experience gained from their time in the forces, but also as a result of their innate spirit, energy, compassion, determination and dedication. Every award category nominee is deserving of our applause and admiration as excellent examples of the hugely varied and immensely valuable contributions that veterans can make.”
Scottish Ex-Forces in Business Awards 2023 – The Finalists
ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR
Claire Biggar, Edinburgh Napier University
Craig Murney, NHS Scotland
David Robertson, Centrica / British Gas
Gen Dit Network
Simon Tramalloni, Stagecoach
Wood
BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR
Andy Beautyman, RB Safety Consultants
David Spink, MacGregor
Malcolm Norman, Wood
Martin Smith, CyberPrism
Simon Evans, Waterstons
Steven Maclaren, The National Robotarium
ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARD
Cory Fayle, Vertical Aerospace
John Noble, Seapeak
Martyn Douglass, Flexitricity
Paul Binnie, Wood
Richard Sleigh, Peak Scientific
Ross Bingham, University of Edinburgh
ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
Danny Gemmell, Be-inn Unity
Patrick McElhinney, My Highland Photography
Richie Nicoll, GalloGlas Group
Steve Regis, Palaemon
Steve Smith, Ductbrite Ventilation Services
INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR
Benn Sievewright, R Cubed Technology
Cameron Johnston, Riixo Recovery
Christopher Walker, Tradegraft
Jock Boyle, OIS Inventions
Lee Rosen, Think Orbital
Mark Haley, Aker Solutions
MILITARY VALUES IN BUSINESS AWARD
Barnaby Johnson, G4S
Corry Sutherland, EnerMech
David Devenney, Community Veterans Support
John Rigby, DNAStream via FDM Group
Lisa Heffernan, Levenseat
Neil Raeburn, Phoenix Group
NEW SERVICE LEAVER OF THE YEAR
Adam Gordon, Barclays
Daniel Weddle, Centrica / British Gas
Jamie Dalton, FDM Group
Lynn Collins, Ingenico UK
Mark Peachey, Chase People
Paul Price, Aspen Insurance
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR
Andrew Geelan, BAE Systems
James Duncan, Barclays
Mike Needham, Wood
Ralph Phillips, Baker Hughes
Scott Simon, Snowsport Scotland
Terry Lynch, Hitachi Rail
RESERVIST OF THE YEAR
Alexander Bayley, Sky Media via FDM Group
Amberle Gregory, SSEN Distribution
Gary Seath, Forces Children Scotland
John Sinclair, Fugro
Stephanie Grieve, Beltrami and Company
Stephen Campbell, Baillie Gifford
RISING STAR OF THE YEAR
Crawford Hume, XLCC
Dale Smith, Babcock International
Joe Cooper, NatWest via FDM Group
Katie Hislop, Mott MacDonald
Lewis Taylor, Barclays
Rhys Jones, Stagecoach
ROLE MODEL OF THE YEAR
Andrew Smith, CNRL
Laura Sarkis, Wood
Nick Merrin, Lloyds British
Roger Sherratt, Pertemps
Rosslyn Beattie, HSBC and Lloyds BG via FDM Group
William Hendry, Scottish Ambulance Service
SERVICE LEAVER OF THE YEAR
Chris Bound, Northrop Grumman
Hamish Maxwell, Baillie Gifford
Ian Drysdale, Carbon60
Lee Thomas, Levenseat
Kenny MacKenzie, Kohler Old Course Hotel & Spa
Mike Riddell, Scottish Fire & Rescue
TEAM LEADER OF THE YEAR
Andrew Harbison, LifeScan Scotland
Christopher Rice, NatWest via FDM Group
Ian Fraser, Sodexo
John Fotheringham, Amberstone Security
Li Stark, BAE Systems
The Ex-Forces in Business Awards is the world’s largest celebration of military veterans in second careers. Our mission is to showcase, highlight and promote the huge value that ex-servicemen and women bring to employers in all sectors and the wider economy, often enabled by the skills and values they gained during their time in the military. Click here for more information.
