Soldiering On Awards and telent Technology Services Honour 2017 Finalists at House of Lords

The 2017 Soldiering On Awards honoured 46 finalists in 10 categories at a reception at the House of Lords on 9 February. The evening of recognition was hosted by the charity’s patron, the Rt Hon Earl Howe PC, and celebrated individuals and organisations for their inspirational and outstanding achievements in support of the Armed Forces Community.

2016 Inspiration Award Winner Battling On CIC, CEO Nikki Markham spoke to guests about how much winning an award had helped the charity raise awareness and support for their work.

“Winning the Soldiering On Award opened doors for us which had previously been closed."

Five of the finalists were recognised in the Business Enterprise category, made possible by award sponsor telent Technologies Services Ltd.

telent CEO Mark Plato said: “Having seen the incredible impact that a Soldiering On Award can make to a very worthy organisation, we are delighted to be sponsoring an award category once again. This was certainly the case for last year’s Award for Innovation winner, Battling On, a charity we have seen go from strength to strength since winning.

“The work and support that this year’s finalists also provide to ex-service personnel and Armed Forces families is invaluable and it’s certainly going to be a very hard decision for the judges.”

The finalists for the Business Enterprise Award are:

• ex-militarycareers.com – The free-to-use jobs board helps ease the transition and resettlement process for former military personnel as they begin their journey of establishing a civilian career. Profits generated from Ex-Military Careers are reinvested back into the charity, making contributions to industry courses, travel, attire and various other employment solutions.
• Heropreneurs – Supporting members of the broad military family who wish to establish a business start-up company, Heropreneurs views ex-service personnel and their dependents as inspiring role models who, with targeted help, can make the transition to become successful businessmen and women in their next career.
• Huggable Heroes – The small dedicated team produce handmade personalised “Heroes” with a photo of the child's loved one printed into fabric and made into a cuddly toy. Huggable Heroes ensure that each child has their Mummy or Daddy to cuddle when they’re need the most, reducing separation anxiety and reinforcing those all-important bonds at the time when living/working apart.
• Supporting the Unsung Hero – the business start-up programme by the University of Wolverhampton supports dependents of the armed forces to achieve business success via a training programme and dedicated mentoring. To date the programme has helped 400 participants start their business journey.
• X-Forces – Free to the entrepreneur, X-Forces offers budding businessmen and women from the armed forces community with comprehensive access to start up loans, mentoring and support. Working with Service leavers, reservists, spouses, dependents, veterans and cadets, they provide business planning support and mentoring even after the business is launched.

Speaking on behalf of 2016 Award winner Battling On CIC, CEO Nikki Markham shared with guests how much winning the telent-sponsored award had helped the charity raise awareness and support for their work.

"Winning the Soldiering On Award opened doors for us which had previously been closed," said Markham.

Finalists were nominated by members of the public and more than 40 charities and not-for-profit organisations either representing or associated with the wider Armed Forces Community. Winners are selected by a distinguished Independent Judges Panel, co-chaired by General the Lord Dannatt GCB CBE MC DL and Debra Allcock Tyler, Chief Executive of the Directory of Social Change.

“The Soldiering On Awards recognise the amazing contribution that former members of the Armed Forces – and animal partners – continue to make to society and also those individuals, charities and groups in the wider community who support their journey,” said Earl Howe. “We believe that we are all part of one community and are stronger together supporting each other.”

This year’s winners will be announced at the 2017 Soldiering On Awards on Friday, 24 March at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel, London.

The Soldiering On Through Life Trust encourages support for the UK’s Armed Forces Community by nationally recognising the achievements of groups or individuals supporting this Community through the annual Soldiering On Awards.

Soldiering On Awards: National Recognition for the Armed Forces Community.

For highlights of the 2016 Soldiering On Awards visit: www.soldieringon.org