REME Veterans Recognised

Scribe: Andy Allen MBE (Colonel Retired) - Head of Land Domain MBDA

What 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 only gather business leaders and veterans to honour the winners, but also bring together top companies Mark Smith (centre) receiving his Outstanding Achiever of the Year award on stage, with Nick Worrall (Barratt Developments) and presenter Jacqui Oatley MBE 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 military- range 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 Left to right: Andy Allen, Steve Lagadu, Jimmy Quinn excellence in all that we do. To share the evening with friends and colleagues as well as amazing

veterans and old friends from the Corps and army alike was an amazing experience. To have so many REME veterans nominated was again exceptional and to be part of that crowd made me particularly proud. It shows that in second careers we veterans thrive, deliver and show off the wonderfully diverse skills we possess in all that we do.”

Steve Lagadu (Lt Col Aviation) – Solutions Director Serco. Military Values in Business Award Winner

“I was deeply humbled to be selected for an award in the Military Values in Business Award category given the strength of the nominations across industry from companies like Amazon and Barclays. For me this award is a true testament to the values we in the REME family have of resilience and ingenuity where no problem is without its solution. To all those leaving remember you have these values as part of your DNA and, when the time to leave comes as it does to us all, Industry needs you.”

Whilst there were other ex-Army winners, as well as ex-RAF and exRoyal Navy, REME were the only Corps/Arm that received multiple awards. Moreover, there were many other ex-REME nominations/Shortlisted.

So, what a wonderful night of celebration for the Corps – Arte et Marte (serving and veteran!)

To find out more about the awards and how to nominate visit www.exforcesinbusiness.co.uk, there is also a video showing highlights from the Awards night itself.

Nominations for the 2022 Ex-Forces in Business Awards open in March and close in May. For the Nominations for the 2022 Scottish awards are open now and close on 18 February.

The Ex-Forces in Business Awards in 2021:

Left to right: Jimmy Quinn and Mark Smith