News
September 6th 2023
Boots & Beret Awards: Nottinghamshire County Council celebrates Forces friendly organisations
Organisations and individuals who support the Armed Forces in Nottinghamshire were recognised at the County Council’s inaugural Boots & Beret Awards ceremony.
140 Armed Forces champions were invited to the black-tie dinner, which was sponsored by VIA East Midlands, Arc Partnership, and Scape, at the City Ground.
The winners were as follows:
- Employers Forces Hero: Gillian Welch, Armed Forces Covenant Lead Officer at Ashfield District Council.
- Employer Forces Hero: Experian and Newark & Sherwood District Council.
- Community Together: Nottinghamshire Police.
- Legacy Award: Col (Rtd) Tim Richmond DL.
Ashfield District Council, Experian, Newark & Sherwood District Council, and Nottinghamshire Police are all holders of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award.
The inaugural winners of the Boots & Berets Awards
Councillor Keith Girling, Armed Forces Lead for Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “Boots and Berets is about recognising and celebrating what Veterans and Reservists contribute to the business community – because they contribute a lot via owning or working in businesses.
“As far as I am aware, we are the only local council to organise an awards ceremony especially for the Armed Forces.
“Next year we’re going to revise the awards, put some more categories in, and make it bigger and better to really celebrate these people because they deserve it.”
Two special awards were handed out at the close of the night by Brigadier (Rtd) Stuart Williams OBE, Chief Executive of East Midlands RFCA, to two individuals who have passionately championed the Armed Forces for a number of years: His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire Sir John Peace; and Cllr Keith Girling.
Hundreds of pounds were also raised on the night for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.
