Les finalistes de la sixième édition annuelle des British Ex-Forces in Business Awards, la plus grande cérémonie de remise de prix de la communauté des forces armées britanniques, ont été dévoilés aujourd’hui par un nombre record de nominations.
Amongst the finalists was veteran-founded social impact company, WithYouWithMe, which was nominated for Diversity and Inclusion Initiative of the Year for the 15,000 Futures initiative.
15,000 Futures is a rallying cry to all UK employers to support Ex-British Armed Forces servicemen and women through their transition to civilian life by offering them opportunities to undertake digital roles. Once an organisation commits to hiring veterans, WithYouWithMe provides candidates with digital skills training to ensure they are capable, confident and job ready.
Enriched by the experience of serving their country and equipped with skills and values that employers in other sectors crave, the individuals who leave the British Armed Forces each year form a unique and highly capable talent pool. But an awareness gap and a lack of visible role models have presented barriers to service leavers hitting the ground running, while depriving companies of a superb way to fill their skills gaps.
Established in 2017, the Ex-Forces in Business Awards have led the way in showcasing the second-career achievements of over 1,200 UK veterans and reservists at events which have been attended by thousands of employers and engaged with by millions more online. By promoting the vast breadth of achievements by veterans in second careers, the prestigious awards programme, which is the largest of its kind globally, shines a light on the veteran talent pool while also increasing visibility of business role models for service leavers, giving them the confidence to pursue their own post-service aspirations.
This year’s awards programme, which returns to London for the sixth time on 29 June has attracted more than 1,100 nominations. Each one, in its own right, exhibits the business case of hiring from the ex-forces community.
Lt. Gen. Sir Andrew Gregory, CEO at SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, said: “As a former Chief of Defence People, I know just how important it is to have strong visibility of forces friendly employers and of veterans who have transitioned into meaningful second careers. These awards lead the way in amplifying that visibility, which makes us very proud to once again be the official charity partner of this important awards programme.
“Our warmest congratulations and sincere thanks go to all those who have been shortlisted for this year's British Ex-Forces in Business Awards. They set such a tremendous example for how military-gained skills and values can be successfully applied across all sectors."
The winners of this year’s British Ex-Forces in Business Awards will be announced and celebrated at a glittering awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House hotel’s prestigious Great Room on Park Lane. TV presenter and broadcaster Jacqui Oatley MBE returns as the host to welcome over 1,100 business and military leaders to the landmark event.
Sponsors of the British Ex-Forces in Business Awards include AECOM, BAE Systems, Barclays, Capgemini, FDM Group, Galliford Try, Kier, QA, Santander, Serco and Vistry Group. The winners are decided by an independent judging panel of business leaders from organisations including Boeing, EY, Irwin Mitchell, Knight Frank, Lloyds Banking Group, MBDA, the Ministry of Defence, the NHS, Serco and Provident Financial Group.
Ben Rossi, founder of the British Ex-Forces in Business Awards, said: “Six years ago we set out a vision for a grand showcase of veteran talent to promote to all UK employers the business case of hiring from the Armed Forces community, while also giving service leavers the confidence to dream bigger. Each year we are even more blown away than the last at the response to this programme. The extraordinary achievements displayed through the 800-plus nominations received for this year’s British Ex-Forces in Business Awards should leave no doubt in anybody’s mind that the veteran talent pool must never be overlooked.”
About the British Ex-Forces in Business Awards
The Ex-Forces in Business Awards is the world’s largest celebration of military veterans in second careers. Taking place in London and Glasgow, the awards are dedicated to providing a much-needed platform for uncovering and showcasing the business achievements of ex-military, presenting them as role models to service leavers, and recognising the employers that support current and former members of the British Armed Forces. The prestigious events promote the huge value that military-gained skills and values add to the UK economy in their second careers.
About the 15,000 Futures Initiative
Each year in the UK, 15,000 Armed Forces personnel and their spouses leave rewarding military careers and return to civilian life. While there is a complex system of care on offer, with policies for housing, healthcare and pensions, there is a huge gap in offering resettlement job opportunities with career progression. Given veterans’ ‘non-traditional' employment history, many of them struggle to find meaningful careers, despite their broad capabilities.
The 15,000 Futures initiative – launched in August 2022 shortly after WYWM signed the Armed Forces Covenant – is a rallying cry to all UK employers to support servicemen and women through this transition by offering them opportunities to undertake digital roles.
