Scottish Ex-Forces in Business Awards reveal this year’s finalists

The shortlist of outstanding finalists for the fifth annual Scottish edition of the Ex-Forces in Business Awards, the world’s largest celebration of veterans in second careers, has been revealed. 

Since 2018, this flagship award ceremony’s mission has been to shine a light on the many and varied talents of the Armed Forces community to employers. 

The awards promote a positive and more accurate presentation of veterans than their stereotypical portrayal in mainstream media, which can negatively influence hiring decisions. 

A third of UK hirers told a SSAFA study they would feel reluctant to hire a veteran.  

Increasing awareness of this underrated talent pool is not just important for ‘levelling up’ job opportunities for people who served their country, but also helping companies solve long-standing economic challenges such as skills shortages and productivity gaps. 

The Ex-Forces in Business Awards lead the way globally in spotlighting the economic opportunities that exist in taking advantage of veterans’ talents. 

In recent years, the awards have recognised the business achievements of more than 1,500 veterans and reservists while also raising about £300,000 for charity partner SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. 

Every year, SSAFA helps more than 73,000 people from the military community – those currently serving, reserves, veterans and their families – in need of physical or emotional care to get the help they need. 

The finalists of the 2024 Scottish Ex-Forces in Business Awards were whittled down from more than 300 nominations. 

The winners are decided by an independent judging panel made up of 24 veterans and business leaders from major Scottish employers such as Addleshaw Goddard, Barclays, JPMorgan, Edrington, SSE and the Scottish Government.  

This year’s winners will be revealed on 14 March at a sparkling awards ceremony which has become a firm fixture in Scotland’s business calendar. 

Hosted by broadcasting legend Sally Magnusson in the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow’s Grand Ballroom, the evening includes a programme of entertainment and guest speakers including Graeme Dey, Veterans Minister and Lt Cdr Susie Hamilton, the Scottish Veterans Commissioner who said: “People who serve in the Armed Forces gain world-class skills and values which are highly transferable into every sector. 

“Yet while the business case in hiring veterans is strong, it’s not always well understood. 

“I applaud the work of the Ex-Forces in Business Awards in demonstrating this business case in the best way possible – by showcasing the business achievements of this tremendous talent pool as well as the Forces Friendly companies across Scotland which actively seek to employ from the Armed Forces community. 

“I send my warmest congratulations to the finalists of this year’s Scottish Ex-Forces in Business Awards, which once again display the sheer breadth of talent in this community. 

“They are all fantastic role models for service leavers and represent on an exceptional level the value that veterans are able to bring to Scottish employers and the wider economy in their post-military careers.” 

THE FINALISTS  

Advocate of the Year  

Andrew Geelan, BAE Systems  

John Bassett, Risk Evolves  

Kimberley Tonner, Barclays  

Levi Charlton, British Gas / Centrica  

Officers’ Association Scotland 

Professor Gerri Matthews-Smith, Edinburgh Napier University  

Russ Fyfe, Mott MacDonald  

Business Leader of the Year  

Alastair Orr Ewing, Pufferfish  

Brian Cooper, Hitachi Solutions Europe  

Caspar MacRae, The Glenmorangie Company  

David Farquhar, Intelligent Growth Solutions  

David Wood, Drumfork Nursery & Forest School  

John Edwards, Oltec Group  

Mark Haley, OneSubsea  

Employer of the Year  

Barclays  

FDM Group  

Intelligent Growth Solutions  

Mott MacDonald  

Stagecoach

Engineering Excellence Award  

Dale Ashworth, Intelligent Growth Solutions  

Daniel Livingstone, Peak Scientific  

Ian McInnes MBE, Babcock International Group  

Kevin Robertson, Acumen  

Louis Johnson, JSG  

Neil Murray, RSE  

Richard Barclay, ExxonMobil  

Entrepreneur of the Year  

Cameron McNeill, The Clean Factor  

Jock Boyle, OIS Inventions  

Liz Taylor, Tkm Consulting (Craigellachie)  

Lyall Colvin, Q Electrical Industrial Services  

Samuel Morris, Datum Attitude Brewing Co  

Sylvester Herman, IslandSlice  

Terry Lowe, Coalfields Restaurant / Primrose Tattoo Studio  

Innovator of the Year  

Colin Meikle, CAN Group  

Craig Douglas, Waste Cloud  

Iain Johnston, Blackwired  

Jonathan Wood, C2 Risk  

Kieran Hope, Air Control Entech  

Mark McLauchlin, FDM Group  

Michael Weir, The Scottish Parliament

Inspiration of the Year  

Alan Bell MBE, The Scottish Centre for Personal Safety  

Dave Allen, Elgin Sports Community Trust  

David Jarvis, FDM Group  

Gary Brown, APEM  

Gary Tolometti  

Lee Hollis, St James’s Place  

Rab Wallace, Rosa Service Organisation – FCDO  

Lifetime Achievement Award  

Gregor Millar, Intelligent Growth Solutions  

Ian Stewart, Lothians Veterans Centre  

John Mulvany, TAQA Bratani  

Malcolm Sutherland, Caledonian Concepts  

Mark Mortimer, Glenalmond College  

Professor Brian Howieson, The University of Limassol  

Stan Ahmed, Lion & Gazelle  

Military Values in Business Award  

Alexander Campbell, FDM Group  

Ian Drysdale, Carbon60  

Jordan Simpson, Ecolab  

Julia Barr, Mott MacDonald  

Roddy McNab, Baillie Gifford  

Russell McKay, QA  

Wendy Dair, Sight Scotland Veterans

New Service Leaver of the Year  

Craig Laughland, Barclays  

David Swanson, Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum  

James Letford, Intelligent Growth Solutions  

Jodie Burnett, Sight Scotland Veterans  

Karen Campbell, FDM Group  

Michael Goodfellow, BGEN Technology  

Nick Robson, Wine Guy on Skye  

Outstanding Achiever of the Year  

Craig Watson, AISUS Offshore  

Harrie Bell, The HALO Trust / Let ‘Em Aff dog parks  

Kevin Ball, Davies Group  

Kyle Manns, Balhousie Care Group  

Liz Baldwin, Mott MacDonald  

Richard McKinstray, Barclays  

Scott Cant, ScottishPower  

Reservist of the Year  

Alex Bird, Alstom  

Chris Hawkins, Baillie Gifford  

Christian Jetuah, Abrdn  

James Harmer, FDM Group  

Megan Davis, OneSixty Fundraising  

Richard Ryan, BAE Systems Electronic Systems  

Stephanie Grieve, Scullion LAW  

Thomas Bird, Intelligent Growth Solutions

Team Leader of the Year  

Chris Gunter, FDM Group  

Ian Fraser, Sodexo  

James McLaren, Chapelhouse Motor Group  

Kieran Craig, Securitas Security Services  

Rhys Christie, Mott MacDonald  

Stephen Williams, Laing O’Rourke  

William Holloway, Extrinsica Global