Business Scale Up Award 

Sponsored by London Stock Exchange Group

About this Award…

An award to honour an individual or group of individuals linked with the Armed Forces Community who have started a successful new business venture more than two years ago (before January 1st, 2019) and who still retain a minimum of 50% interest in the venture.

The judges will be looking for evidence of:

• An engaging story behind the business, the identified needs and quantified demands for the product or
• What scale-up challenges (both business and personal) have been faced and how they have been overcome.
• The evolving viable commercial business model; the provision of excellent customer service and value.
• Lessons and skills taken from military service that have been translated to the business world and what makes this nomination special.

It is anticipated that the established company will have signed and pledges to the Armed Forces Covenant.

This award is suitable for a person, group or team.

Meet our 2020 Winner!

IED Training Solutions Ltd

IED Training Solutions was set up in 2015 by two former Royal Marines SNCOs, Ian Clark and Paul Barrett. Both were serving in 2009 when Paul suffered ‘the ultimate workplace injury’ – stepping on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), causing catastrophic life changing injuries. Ian was responsible for calling in the helicopter that saved Paul’s life.

Using their experience of risk management in hostile environments, the company offers a wide range of accredited training and consultancy services with the primary focus placed on Health & Safety, mental health and trauma management.

IED is regularly commissioned to develop sector/client specific courses, workshops and wellbeing strategies, and the team has returned to Afghanistan, becoming the first UK training consultancy to deliver Institution of Health and Safety (IOSH) approved safety training there.  Here in the UK, its customer base is increasing and includes transport, shipping and local authority clients. Ian and Paul’s military background was key when The Gamekeeper Welfare Trust (GWT) approached them after two young keepers had committed suicide. In collaboration with GWT, IED developed the STAG program (Set Goals, Take Action, Awareness, Get Talking) and this wellbeing workshop has now been delivered to 20 major sporting estates throughout the UK.

IED has grown steadily and now employs 11 staff, including several Veterans. The company revenue has increased by up to 65% each year without any loan assistance or external investment.

Ian Clark from IED said: “Thank you so much it’s just an incredible feeling, we didn’t expect it but thank you. When we left the Royal Marines we set up the company in 2015 called it IED; but rather dwell on the negative it’s now Inspire, Educate and Develop and that’s the ethos the company follows.

“We’ve got 12 in the IED team just now, everyone is from a uniformed service background, you won’t be surprised to know there are quite a few former Royal Marines in there! The team are absolutely fantastic, and we wouldn’t have won this without them, that’s for sure.

Previous Winners:

2019 – UK Connect

2018 – Strongmind Resiliency Training Ltd

2017 – “Business Enterprise Award” – X-Forces