UK military charity, Heropreneurs has announced the finalists of its 2022 annual awards, celebrating the country’s top veteran and military spouse-owned businesses and entrepreneurs.
Established in 2018, the awards highlight exceptional entrepreneurial and business talent. The finalists have all shown the drive, determination and ambition required to make a success of their fledgling organisations, and built the required commercial understanding and networks to realise their potential.
Among the finalists are actresses, book editors, cocktail makers, experts in the circular economy, products such as smart rings to record workout data and pro-military employers such as leading retailer Asda.
Becci Parriss, CEO of Heropreneurs said:
"The finalists are truly inspirational, disrupting their industries with brilliantly run organisations and offering innovative products and services, all while tackling global issues such as communicating across the globe and reducing the impact we have on the environment.
“I’m in awe of what each of these finalists has achieved, often with the odds stacked against them – you should be too.”
This year's winners will be announced on 10 November 2022 at the awards ceremony being held in London’s Imperial War Museum. The awards ceremony follows the charity’s new Next Level Conference, set to be the first of its kind, offering the Armed Forces community in business access to unique opportunities to learn, grow, and network.
Shortlisted finalists:
ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR - sponsored by Goldman Sachs
Recognising an individual who has demonstrated significant success with a demonstrable entrepreneurial spirit.
Jennifer Barry - Jenny's Jerk Chicken
Jessica Brown - Jessica Kate Brown Editor (MCN Member)
Matthew Roberts - arcX
Ciaran Robinson - Lhouette Studios Ltd
HEROPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
Recognising a mentee who has truly embodied the community spirit of Heropreneurs during this past year.
Jessica Brown - Jessica Kate Brown Editor (MCN Member)
Emily McGuirk - Small Steps, Big Vision
Bhim Tamang – The Gurkha Centre
WARWICK BUSINESS SCHOOL (WBS) BURSARY
The WBS Award is an outstanding opportunity for a member of the military community to study a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) or an Executive Diploma with this prestigious educational establishment.
Luke Parker
Tristan Burwell
Sasha Kirkham
Katie Muldoon
PRODUCT OF THE YEAR sponsored by Brigantes
Recognising the best products coming to the market from the military business community.
START-UP OF THE YEAR sponsored by Barclays Eagle Labs
Recognising a business in the early stages of its inception, which is successfully transitioning from an idea to an operational business.
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by Branding Science
Recognising a business that focusing on sustainable, ethical practices, without compromising their bottom line.
TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by Amazon Web Services
Celebrating a business whose core area of operation is in technology – either the development and manufacturing of technology or providing technology as a service.
VETERANS’ FOUNDATION AWARD sponsored by Veteran’s Foundation
Recognising an organisation that has given outstanding support to veterans in need. The winner receives a £30,000 grant from the Veteran’s Foundation.
EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
Recognising a business that actively seeks to employ members of the military community.
Want to know more about Heropreneurs?
Why not head over to our Members Area and read our blog
Heropreneurs is a military charity, founded in 2009, that supports the entrepreneurial business ventures of the military community. Over ten years ago, we recognised that those leaving the Armed Forces had the drive, determination and ambition required to make a success of a fledgling business but lacked the commercial understanding and networks to realise its full potential.
'Creating a new business is one of the top six career aspirations of people leaving the Armed Forces' - GOV.UK. Heropreneurs directly supports the ambition of many current and former military personnel or their partners through one-to-one mentoring and hands-on guidance, given freely, by some of the country's most successful business leaders. The number of beneficiaries of the mentoring programme grows by 40% year on year and we look to maintain that trajectory. Many more have been helped through digital channels, networking events and workshops.