The finalists for each category in the 2019 Soldiering On Awards, celebrating the best of the Armed Forces Community, have been announed…
The Awards President, General the Lord Dannatt and his Vice-President Debra Allcock-Tyler led a distinguished panel of judges as they had to choose from an outstanding field of nominations, with twice as many submissions being received than the previous year.
Two of the categories, the People’s Choice Award sponsored by Thales and Pets at Home Animal Partnership Award, will be decided by a Public Vote, which will open at 20.00 on the 13th February. Voting will take place at www.soldieringon.org
The 2019 Awards include two new award categories: The Defence Inclusivity Award and the Education, Training and Development Award. There are also a number of individuals and organisations who have been selected for Special Commendation.
Awards President and Head of the Judging Panel, General the Lord Dannatt, said: “The 2019 Soldiering On Awards Finalists represent the wonderful work of the Armed Forces and all that they stand for. The Awards recognise those who have gone above and beyond what was required, time and again, an ethos learned for many of our Finalists in the service of their country.
“As Chair of the Judging Panel this was the most difficult year to date, due to a doubling in the number of nominations and the high calibre of all the nominees. Each and every one of these Finalists is deserving of their recognition and we look forward to celebrating their journey with them when the winners are announced in April”.
In 2018 three new business categories were added, to acknowledge the exceptional entrepreneurship of veterans and their families. Following the outstanding success of a partnership with X-Forces Enterprise (XFE), the Awards have now become a fully integrated brand of XFE, further extending the scope of the Awards to embrace the entire Armed Forces Community.
Ren Kapur, Founder and CEO X-Forces Enterprise says: “There is an ethos and set of values by which the military community live and work; leave no-one behind and work together as a team. Those values are exemplified in the amazing achievements of this year’s Soldiering On Awards Finalists who are all outstanding ambassadors for the Armed Forces Community and winners in their own right.
“The 2019 Awards have seen a record number of high quality nominations being received from across the Armed Forces Community and beyond. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all those people who selflessly took time out to put someone forward for recognition; demonstrating the support and collaboration that exists throughout the community”.
All the Finalists will be invited to a special private reception at the House of Lords on the 13th February, hosted by Lord Dannatt and attended by Awards Patron the Rt Hon Earl Howe PC and a number of special guests. The Winners will be announced at a prestigious black tie event at the Westminster Park Plaza on Friday 5th April 2019.
Read the full list of finalists here.
