Scottish veterans to be celebrated for their business prowess
The finalists for the third annual Scottish edition of the Ex-Forces in Business Awards have been revealed - highlighting the value that military-gained skills and values bring to employers.
It is the world’s largest celebration of ex-military in second careers and brings together business leaders and veterans to not only honour the winners, but also encourage a dialogue between the military community and top companies.
Thousands of servicemen and women leave the British Armed Forces every year, ready to offer their well-honed military skills and values to a new employer on civvy street.
However, establishing a meaningful second career can be challenging for many veterans.
Since launching in 2018, the Ex-Forces in Business Awards, of which BFBS is a media partner, has led the way in promoting veterans as outstanding assets to employers across all sectors while increasing the visibility of business role models for service leavers.
Last year, the programme highlighted the second-career achievements of 450 veterans and reservists at high-profile award ceremonies in London and Glasgow, attended by more than 2,100 business leaders and 700 employers. Both events raised almost £70,000 for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, which is the official charity partner of the awards.
Each year, SSAFA helps more than 73,000 people from the Armed Forces community get on their feet including those currently serving, reserves, veterans and their families. Support is there for people at any stage in their military career; from the youngest recruit to the oldest veteran.
The finalists of the 2022 Scottish Ex-Forces in Business Awards were whittled down from more than 250 nominations. The winners will be decided by an independent judging panel made up of 22 veterans and business leaders from major Scottish employers such as Addleshaw Goddard, Barclays, JPMorgan, Police Scotland and the Scottish Government.
Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Gregory, SSAFA the Armed Forces charity CEO, said: "As a former Chief of Defence People and now CEO at SSAFA where one of our services is the provision of mentoring to assist those service leavers who need support during their transition, I am very aware of the challenges during the move into Civvy Street and just how crucial role models are.
"It is heartening to see such a large volume and breadth of employers acknowledging the skills and values of those who have served their country.”
The winners will be announced and celebrated at a glamorous ceremony on 25 May in the Hilton Glasgow’s Grand Ballroom.
TV presenter and Invictus Games gold medallist JJ Chalmers will host the ceremony and introduce a programme of live entertainment and guest speakers including Keith Brown MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans.
Ben Rossi, the founder of the Ex-Forces in Business Awards, said: "The large variety of companies and sectors represented on this impressive shortlist of finalists speaks volumes to the vast breadth of talent in the veteran's talent pool.
"Savvy employers across all industries are getting wise to the exceptional value that veterans and the wider Armed Forces community offer and we’re very proud to lead the way in showcasing that value."
Who are the finalists?
Advocate Of The Year
Christopher Bailiff, Drive X Mil
FDM Group
Jacqueline Bell, Barclays
Matthew Pybus, LinkFORTY2
Paul Gilligan, BT
Sharon Gilchrist, Barclays
Business Leader Of The Year
Harvey Carruthers, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum
James Thomson, Seapeak
Jimmy Wilson, FARE Scotland
Neil Pickthall, Blackadders
Scott Murray, Core Drilling Specialists
Tony Banks, Balhousie Care Group
Engineering Excellence Award
Abraham Lockyer, Hilton Instruments
Christopher Lister, Openreach
Edward McLellan, Subsea7
Martyn Douglass, Northburn Oils
Ryan Newman, Perth and Kinross Council
Scott Findlay, Galliford Try
Entrepreneur Of The Year
Brian Coyle, Bumblebee EV
Duncan Maclean, Candle Shack
Ian McGowan, Barrier Networks
John Jones, SEM Energy
Mark Laird, Lairds of Troon
Shane Crozier, Highsparks TCS
Innovator Of The Year
Caroline Overton, EMSOL
David Farquhar, Intelligent Growth Solutions
Jess Fishwick, Barclays
Luke Harrington, University Of Aberdeen / Wolfram Research
Michael Weir, The Scottish Parliament
Simon Maryan, Consultant
Inspiration Of The Year
Alan Bell, The Scottish Centre for Personal Safety
John Carson, Barclays
Lesley Speedie, Blackwood and Kirkmuirhill Resilience Group
Philip Bilton, FDM Group / Sky Media
Scott Simon, Scotland Rugby League
Stuart Roberts DL, National Records of Scotland
Military Values In Business Award
Billy Adams MBE, Barclays
Ewan Bouch, Eli Lilly
Ian Drysdale, Carbon60
Lee Madigan, ORE Catapult
Michael Mclean, Schiebel Aircrafts
Neil Russell, FDM Group
Paul Stevenson, Baillie Gifford
New Service Leaver Of The Year
Christopher Rice, FDM Group
Glen Simpson, Barclays
Jack Torrance, Baillie Gifford
Kris McLernon, Wilkins Chimney Sweep Lanarkshire
Lewis Gardiner, ARB Wind
Thomas Twaddle, Road Haulage Association
Outstanding Achiever Of The Year
Claire Lowe, University of Glasgow
David Allen, Boeing Defence UK
Iain Gibbs, Babcock International
Jamie McMillan, Barclays
Kevin Young, RED ICT Design Consultancy
Mark Arthur, Benchmark Space Systems
Reservist Of The Year
Bernard Cresswell, Seapeak
Gordon McLellan, Barclays
John Reid, Seapeak
Mark Hynes, NHS National Services Scotland
Mike Kennedy, FNZ
Role Model Of The Year
Andrew McGuire & Terry Lowe, Primrose Path Tattoo Society
Craig Bones, Love Travel Adventure
Graham Clark, ManpowerGroup UK
Grant King, ESS
Stuart Wedge, Infor
Tom Nash, Search & Rescue Aerial Association - Scotland
Service Leaver Of The Year
Alyson Russell-Stevenson, Scottish Enterprise
Andrew Rankin, Olympus KeyMed
Ian McCabe, Bristow Helicopters
Menbahadur Gurung, IBM
Robert Brown, The Scottish Government
Tony Carlin, Curia Global
Tony Wringe, CCL Logistics & Technology
Team Leader Of The Year
Charlie McClure, William Grant & Sons
David Carrick, Tarmac
Edward Gough, MV Commercial
Gavin Slater, Galliford Try
Graham Little, Cyan Forensics
Jordan Robertson, Babcock International
Tim Wigham, Exceed
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