Peoples Stories
REME Veterans Recognised Scribe: Andy Allen MBE (Colonel Retired) - Head of Land Domain MBDA
W
hat a night at the British Ex-Forces in Business Awards – especially when three REME Veterans win awards! On 2 December 2021, the fourth annual British ExForces in Business Awards took place in the InterContinental London – The O2’s spectacular Arora Ballroom, bringing together 1,000 business leaders for the world’s largest celebration of veterans in second careers. Host of the Awards, TV presenter Jacqui Oatley MBE, welcomed keynote addresses including Lt Gen Sir Andrew Gregory KBE CB DL, CEO SSAFA and Neil Watkinson, Deputy Director of the Office for Veterans Affairs. The Ex-Forces in Business Awards is the world’s largest celebration of ex-military in second careers – recognising the value veterans add to businesses as well as the employers that support the transition of servicemen and women. Founded in 2017 by Disruptive Media Group, and with annual events in London and Glasgow, the Ex-Forces in Business Awards is the flagship platform globally for providing that visibility by celebrating the achievements of veterans in the wider workforce and promoting the strong synergies between military values and business excellence. The awards highlight the military-gained skills and qualities that have helped enable their business achievements and recognises the organisations that have supported them. There are 20 impressive award categories. These exciting, high-profile awards ceremonies not Mark Smith (centre) receiving his Outstanding Achiever of the Year award on stage, only gather business leaders and veterans to honour with Nick Worrall (Barratt Developments) and presenter Jacqui Oatley MBE the winners, but also bring together top companies and other stakeholders to advance dialogue and share As a Panel Judge (and 2021 presenter of the Engineering in best practice around the benefits of ex-forces employment Excellence Award on the night), the quality of submissions from a initiatives, and ultimately promote the significant value that militaryrange of companies or organisations (large and small, profit and notgained skills can provide to the UK economy if better utilised across for-profit) gainfully employing ex-military is overwhelming. To be the workforce. truthful, each nomination is a worthy winner in their own right as its clear evidence of the value each individual is making to their organisation. And that’s why it was even more impressive when three REME Veterans won awards in their individual categories: Mark Smith (Workshop Sergeant Major, Master Welder) - Head of QHSE and Business Improvement at Red7Marine. Outstanding Achiever of the Year Winner “It was an absolute honour to have received the Outstanding Achiever of the year Award out of such a strong cohort of finalists. I hope this event’s result of multiple REME Veterans success inspires and reassures future REME personnel transitioning out of service life that we do possess the skills, resilience and ability to thrive and succeed in our second careers. Arte et Marte.” Jimmy Quinn (Sergeant Major, Regimental Duty) - Senior Health and Safety Manager at Multiplex & Immediate Past President IOSH. Advocate of the Year Winner “A wonderful evening to be surrounded by so many worthy winners and nominees not forgetting all the amazing sponsors of this world beating event which truly awards veteran excellence in all that we do. To share the evening Left to right: Andy Allen, Steve Lagadu, Jimmy Quinn with friends and colleagues as well as amazing 16 craftsmaneditor@reme-rhq.org.uk
