Heywood veterans’ charity announced as finalists for multiple awards

Heywood-based veterans’ charity, Veterans into Logistics – a charity that trains and mentors veterans into new careers as HGV drivers – has made the shortlist for three awards across two awards ceremonies.

Veterans into Logistics personally supports veterans and service leavers with training tailored to their individual needs, supporting them into logistics careers with their partners who include Asda, Mϋller and Stobart. It raises its own funds to cover HGV licence and training costs.

The charity has been named as a finalist by the prestigious English Veterans Awards in the Employer of the Year category. The awards were created to reward veterans who have gone above and beyond and excelled in their relevant fields. The English Veteran Awards say the winners will act as role models for future service leavers and they want to find the people who have excelled, even during the most difficult periods.

Winners will be announced on 21 September in Bristol at a ceremony hosted by Radio X DJ, Polly James.

 

 

Veterans into Logistics has also been named as a finalist for two awards at the first National Facilitator Awards. The charity’s founder and former Royal Artillery airborne gunner, Darren Wright, for the Inspirational Facilitator Award and the charity for the Values in Action Award.

The National Facilitator Awards are the UK’s only awards dedicated to celebrating excellence in training and facilitation, and the aim is to celebrate and elevate unsung industry heroes and to highlight the impact quality training can have.

Veterans into Logistics general manager, John Harker MBE said: “We are honoured to be finalists in both The English Veterans Awards and The National Facilitator Awards.

“This recognition is so important in raising awareness of the charity because training and mentoring veterans into new logistics careers is at the heart of everything we do.

“I’m proud of our ofunder, Darren Wright, being shortlisted for the Inspirational Facilitator Award. He goes above and beyond to help the veterans who come to the charity and the feedback he gets is remarkable. With Darren’s aptitude and foresight, the charity has supported hundreds of veterans over the last two and a half years and will continue to help hundreds more as they return to civilian life.

“I’d also like to thank our partners who return to us for their HGV drivers. They see how veterans who go through our training are ideally suited to careers in the logistics industry with their hardworking, professional, 'can do' attitude.”

Darren Wright said: “I’d like to say a big thank you to The English Veterans Awards and The National Facilitator Awards. I believe my role in life is to support veterans who have lost their direction after leaving the military, and recognition like this helps to highlight the important work of the charity I founded, Veterans into Logistics.

“Empowering veterans with our training, and seeing their confidence increase once they’ve got their HGV licence and into new logistics careers is an emotional and positive feeling, especially those who left the military not knowing how to find stable employment.”

Tammy Banks, founder of The National Facilitator Awards said: “This is the first year of these awards and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate brilliant facilitators from across the UK.

“The judging panel had a really tough job shortlisting the entries as the quality of the applications, nominations and the skills shown by the facilitators who entered was impressive and inspiring. I personally cannot wait for the awards ceremony when I’ll get to meet all the candidates who are taking our industry forward in the most exciting ways.”

The awards will be held at York Racecourse on 17 November 2023, where the winners of each category will be announced.