Soldiering On Awards 2024: Honoring Excellence in the Armed Forces Community

Now in their 14th year, the Soldiering On Awards continue to celebrate outstanding achievements within the Armed Forces community. Spanning twelve categories, including Family Values, Business Start-Up, and Animal Partnership, these awards recognise the extraordinary contributions of ordinary individuals.

The selection process, led by Co-Chairs of Judges Lt Gen (Ret’d) Richard Nugee CB CVO CBE and Debra Allcock-Tyler, CEO of the Directory of Social Change, involved a distinguished panel of independent judges who meticulously selected 36 finalists from an exceptional pool of nominees. Each category has three finalists.

Ryan Evans, director of MK Loft Boarding Ltd, is a finalist for the Business Scale Up Award, which is presented in partnership with the LSEG Foundation. This award honours individuals or groups within the Armed Forces community who launched a successful new business venture before January 1, 2022, and still maintain at least 50% interest in the enterprise.

Ryan, who left the Army in 2013, began offering loft boarding services in 2019 after installing one in his own home. By 2020, he became self-employed and founded MK Loft Boarding Ltd. In just three years, his business grew from a one-man operation to a company with 14 employees and a projected turnover of £1 million in 2024. Ryan attributes his success to the transferable skills he gained in the Army and his drive to excel in every endeavour.

The finalists will be honoured at a private reception at the House of Lords on July 23, hosted by the Awards Patron, the Rt Hon Earl Howe GBE PC. The winners will be announced at a black-tie event at the Park Plaza, Westminster Bridge, on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, with special guest presenter Jeremy Vine. Public voting will determine the winners in two categories: the Animal Partnership Award and the Inspiration Award.

Online voting will open on July 23 and close on August 26 at www.soldieringon.org.

Support Ryan Evans, who recently won the Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the 2024 MKBAA Awards in Milton Keynes, by casting your vote.