A diverse team of ex-military business leaders judged the awards
The judging panel included a series of diverse and high-profile business leaders from military backgrounds, including aerospace CEO, Peter Ruddock of Lockheed Martin, to PwC and Credit Suisse Executives, to fleet sector leaders, such as Head of Fleet Services at Royal Mail, Lyanne Maclean.Employer of the Year: Amazon comes up top trumps on CSR

Entrepreneur of the Year: Chris Gillan, Founder, Heroes Drinks

Gillan takes the burden off military charities via veteran hiring and 20% profits funding
By 2011, he founded Heroes Drinks with the precise aim to provide employment for injured veterans with limited career options. But the business also had another impactful string to its bow, it wanted to alleviate the burden of military charities who were relying on waning media exposure about Afghanistan to gain the funding they needed to help veterans transition to civilian life.– How did Gillan help? His vodka company pledges 20% of its profits to military charities.By 2013, Heroes Drinks launched its first vodka product, and today supports all three services equally, having formed a partnership with the Royal Navy & Royal Marine Charity, the Army Benevolent Fund and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.
Other big winners: Innovator of the Year and Inspiration of the Year

“He’s carved his own niche and his company is experiencing impressive growth,” commented judge and CEO of recruiting firm Staffline Group, Chris Pullen, in agreement with the rest of the panel.But the reason Kenna won the award was down to more than his sales based success, he is also making in-roads in the diversity and inclusion issue in business, which goes beyond his identity as a military veteran, added the judges…
Kenna proves that the military can be synonymous with diverse hiring
Kenna’s efforts promoting the inclusion of BAME and LGBT candidates in his business was also a key reason why he was selected as the category winner. “What he’s doing in the diversity and inclusion space is truly new, because he’s allowing talented candidates to enter the creative branding space, often for the first time. That’s new, and that’s innovative, pure and simple,” added Lockheed Martin’s Peter Ruddock.Kevin Alderton from Blind Veterans UK comes runner up in Innovator of the Year category
The judges also highly commended Kevin Alderton of Blind Veterans UK for making a real impact and inspiring others by providing rehabilitation and support services for blind veterans transitioning into civilian life.Inspiration of the Year: Tim Evers, CEO, Sapper Support
Tim Evers was named Inspiration of the Year for his vision to create Sapper Support, a veterans-staffed helpline for sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder. See the full list of the night’s winners here.Share this story