Soldiering On: New name, but same exciting celebration of the military community
Against the iconic backdrop of one of Britain's most historic military institutions, Royal Hospital Chelsea, the newly named Armed Forces Community Awards @ Soldiering On 2026 have been officially launched.
Formerly known as the Soldiering On Awards, the Armed Forces Community Awards continue to be about visibility, validation and voice while shining a light on what works, highlighting positive role models and challenging outdated assumptions.
They show the Armed Forces community as it truly is – skilled, adaptable, compassionate and deeply embedded in society.
At the event were sponsors, corporate partners, distinguished judges, past nominees, nominators and winners who came together to mark the beginning of another year dedicated to honouring extraordinary achievement, resilience and community contribution across the Armed Forces family.
Ren Kapur, CEO of The Armed Forces Community Awards @ Soldiering On, said: "We are thrilled to launch The Armed Forces Community Awards @ Soldiering On in such a meaningful and emblematic setting.
"This event is more than a ceremony, it's a celebration of the courage, the camaraderie and the enduring spirit that radiates throughout the Armed Forces community, from serving personnel and veterans to families, supporters and organisations."
Throughout the afternoon, guests shared stories of remarkable impact, from career reinvention and charitable leadership to innovations in health, inclusion and community support.
This launch marks the start of a nationwide nomination campaign, inviting individuals and organisations to highlight the people whose achievements inspire and uplift across the UK.
Attendees also had the opportunity to connect with the independent panel of judges, reaffirming the awards' commitment to recognising excellence across a wide range of categories that reflect the diversity and breadth of service within the military community.
The nominations launch of The Armed Forces Community Awards @ Soldiering On was sponsored by PPL, the leading data and technology platform that serves the London Insurance market.
John Mason, CEO of PPL said: "PPL are delighted to be the nominations partner for this year's inspirational Armed Forces Community Awards @ Soldiering On.
"The awards shine a light on the incredible levels of determination, resilience and ambition of both individuals and teams in the Armed Forces community."
Nominations are now open across multiple categories, that reflect the diversity and impact of the Armed Forces community, including a new category for 2026, the Connecting Society Award.
Building on the legacy of the Family Values Award, this new category reflects a broader, whole-society commitment to the Armed Forces community and recognises the vital role that organisations, communities and families play in shaping a stronger, more connected society.
The search is now underway to uncover inspiring stories from across the Armed Forces community. If you know someone whose determination, leadership or service deserves to be celebrated, nominations can be made online at soldieringon.org/nominate
Awards categories
- Animal in Partnership Award in partnership with Pets at Home
- Employee Champion Award in partnership with Landmarc Solutions
- Education, Training & Development Award in partnership with Reed in Partnership
- Working Together Award in partnership with FiMT
- Business Start-Up Award in partnership with Barclays
- Healthcare & Rehabilitation Award in partnership with Redwood Technologies
- Business Scale-Up Award in partnership with LSEG Foundation
- Defence Inclusivity Award in partnership with Babcock International
- Community Impact Award in partnership with BAE Systems
- Inspiration Award in partnership with Natwest
- Lifetime Achievement Award in partnership with Oracle
- Connecting Society Award supported by Cobseo and the Ministry of Defence
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