The Winners!

Healthcare and Rehabilitation Award

Winner: The Poppy Factory

Founded almost 100 years ago to provide employment for Veterans injured in the First World War, The Poppy Factory has made millions of Remembrance products for the Royal British Legion and the Royal Family at its factory in Richmond-upon-Thames. It is also the nation’s largest employability service for veterans with disabilities – helping former personnel to find meaningful jobs in the public, private and voluntary sectors.

Sponsored by: Redwood Technologies Group

Award presented by: Surg Cdre Fleur Marshal

Deirdre Mills, Chief Executive of The Poppy Factory, said: “We are delighted and honoured to receive this award. It recognises not just the efforts of our own highly dedicated team but the hard-won success of every veteran who, with the support of The Poppy Factory, has stepped forward into a new job or career.

The Poppy Factory’s employability programme has been running for as long as the Soldiering On Awards, and in those nine years we have helped more than 1,100 veterans with physical and mental health conditions back into meaningful and sustained employment. Demand for our expertise continues to rise, and we look forward to helping thousands more veterans fulfil their potential outside the armed forces.”

Martin Taylor, Deputy CEO of Redwood Technologies Group, said: “We are delighted to sponsor the Healthcare & Rehabilitation Award for the third year running, and the Awards Night is a fantastic celebration of the continuing professionalism and devotion of serving and former members of Britain’s Armed Forces. The stories of hard work and dedication by the winners and all those who were nominated are truly inspiring and humbling. The Poppy Factory is a deserving winner, and demonstrates an ongoing support to the military community, which is of significant importance to the whole of the country. Congratulations to them and all they represent.”