Business Awards Celebrating Talent Of Veterans Reveals Line-Up Of Finalists

Finalists have been revealed in the second annual Scottish edition of the Ex-Forces in Business Awards which showcases the value that military-gained skills and values bring to employers in Scotland.

The event is considered the world’s largest celebration of veterans in second careers and gives employers a picture of the vast array of talent and skills avaible to the civilian sector from those with an Armed Forces background and training.

Thousands of servicemen and women who leave the Armed Forces each year create a rich pool of talent for employers, yet transitioning back to civilian life and establishing a meaningful second career can be challenging.

Visibility of role models across different sectors is often lacking, and while organisers suggest that some depictions of veterans in the media can fuel misconceptions. 

In a SSAFA study, three in ten UK hirers expressed reluctance at hiring a service leaver.

Since launching in 2018, the Ex-Forces in Business Awards has become a crucial initiative for promoting a more positive narrative of veterans as assets to employers across all sectors and has led the way in increasing the visibility of business role models for service leavers.

Last year’s awards showcased the second-career achievements of 300 veterans and Reservists at events in London and Glasgow attended by more than 1,400 business leaders and 450 employers while raising more than £60,000 for military charities. 

Following delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the prestigious awards programme is back on track. The 2020 edition of the British Ex-Forces in Business Awards took place in the O2 Arena on June 23, 2021, and the Scottish Ex-Forces in Business Awards will return to the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow’s Grand Ballroom on August 19, 2021.

It will be the first gathering of Scotland’s veteran community in 18 months. 

Ben Rossi, the founder of the Ex-Forces in Business Awards, said: 

“We’re delighted that we’re now able to reignite our campaign to promote the exceptional, yet often overlooked, talent pool formed by military service leavers, and bring together the veterans and business communities once again, in a COVID secure environment, to showcase the huge value our veterans add to Scottish business and the wider economy.” 

The finalists were whittled down from more than 260 nominations, and the winners will be decided by an independent judging panel made up of 20 military veterans including Charlie Wallace, the Scottish Veterans Commissioner, Tim Allan, President of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, and senior business leaders from major Scottish employers such as Edrington, Wood, BAE Systems, Addleshaw Goddard and Edinburgh Airport.

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, is the official charity partner of the awards. 

Lt Gen Sir Andrew Gregory, CEO at SSAFA, said: 

“I am very aware of the challenges that can be faced by service leavers during their transition, with employment a significant issue for many. 

“Hence it is very heartening to see so many employers acknowledging the skills and experiences of those who have served their country.” 

And the finalists are: 

ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR 

Air Navigation Solutions  

Andrew Farquhar, Amey 

Daryl Benson, Talent Heroes / Squad 

Emma Davies, Joint Force Alba 

George Ross, Scottish Widows 

Stuart Vine, BlackRock 

BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR 

Alexander Murray, Heriot Watt University 

Billy Myers, DTGEN 

Bruce Thornton, North Air 

Craig Strachan, BORR Drilling 

Derek Petterson, PGC Group 

Jim Yorston, Key Facilities Management International 

William Filson, Baker Hughes 

ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE AWARD 

Duncan Robertson, Renewable Oil Services 

Matthew Pendle, Marley  

Paul Cartmail, Tayside Aviation 

Richard Robinson, Mott MacDonald  

Ryan Ciesielski, National Grid 

Stephen Buchan, EV Offshore 

Tim Sullivan, Roughan & O'Donovan 

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR 

Brett Townsley, Omniscient Safety Innovations  

Debbie Strang, Shetland Distillery Company  

Ian McGowan, Barrier Networks 

Mark Armstrong, MA Ventures 

Matthew Wardner, Inverroy Crisis Management 

Richard Edwards, The R&D Community 

Scott Weir, Pillow Property Partners  

INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR 

Anthony Duncan, Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership 

Craig Douglas, Simple Media Solutions 

Douglas MacLachlan, Falcon Foodservice Equipment 

Jeremy Pemberton-Pigott, Talent Strengths 

Robert Diver, Praesidio 

INSPIRATION OF THE YEAR 

Christopher Boyle, Ensafe 

David Mossop, E.ON 

Kevin Downie, KDPS 

Louise Ross, Dumfries and Galloway Council 

Michael Burgess, Loganair 

Michael Weir, The Scottish Parliament 

MILITARY VALUES IN BUSINESS AWARD 

Alec Mackenzie, Delta Management Group 

John Duncan, Total Exploration and Production UK 

Lynden Haywood, Fujitsu 

Niven Phoenix, Kura Human Factors 

Peter Yetton, Glasgow Caledonian University 

Rennie Mitchell, Babcock International 

Ross Richardson, Roadwise Driver Training CIC 

Tim Wigham, Exceed 

NEW SERVICE LEAVER OF THE YEAR 

Gus Macloud, JPMorgan Chase 

Hayden Grant, HJG Removals  

Joshua Fernie, Gardline 

Kevin Stocks, Johnstons of Elgin 

Liam Clarke, PayPal 

Robert Charrington, DHL Parcel 

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR 

Alix Capper-Murdoch, Miss Auto Know 

Brian McCarry, Flender 

Craig Coupar, Edge Testing Solutions 

Derek Roy, Brightsolid 

Ian Jones, University of Aberdeen 

Paul Gibson, Coretrax

Wes Boulstridge, University of Strathclyde

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR 

Alan Dunkley, Emerson Automation Solutions 

Ben James, Baillie Gifford 

Dave Riley, Wincanton 

Gareth Earle-Payne, Caledonian Sleeper 

Kevin Young, Red ICT 

Martin Wood, We Buy Any Car 

Stephen Turner, ATL Turbine Services 

ROLE MODEL OF THE YEAR 

Brian Mercer, Semco Maritime 

Justin Trick, CAE Defence and Security 

Mark Hughes, DHL Parcel 

Scott Findlay, Galliford Try 

Shaun Moat, Moray Digital 

Stephen Higginbottom, Viridor 

TEAM LEADER OF THE YEAR 

Brian Banks, Mowi Consumer Products 

David Falla, M-Four  

Derek Jenkinson, RB Safety Consultants 

Graham Redpath, HSO 

Paul Johnston, Air Navigation Solutions 

Rachael Pacey, Solab IT Services 

Symon Needham, Clyde Training Solutions 

YOUNG LEADER OF THE YEAR 

Duncan Mackintosh, KTL 

Nadia Wilson, Nordea Bank 

Ross Day, Baker Hughes 

Stephen Offord, Gael Force Group 

Theo Jaeger, Assured Group