Local Milton Keynes business owner, Ryan Evans, has been announced as a finalist for the Soldiering On Awards 2024.
The Soldiering On Awards, now in their 14th year, celebrates excellence within the Armed Forces community across twelve distinct categories, ranging from Business Start-Up to Family Values, and Animal Partnership. These awards aim to highlight ordinary individuals accomplishing extraordinary feats.
Leading the selection process, Co-Chairs of Judges Lt Gen (Ret’d) Richard Nugee CB CVO CBE and Debra Allcock-Tyler, CEO of the Directory of Social Change, guided a distinguished panel of independent judges. They meticulously selected 36 finalists from an exceptional pool of nominees, one them being Milton Keynes’ very own, Ryan Evans, director of MK Loft Boarding, who has been announced as a Business Scale-Up Award finalist.
After leaving the Army in 2013, Ryan didn’t find the business that would transform his life until 2019. After boarding the floor of the loft in his new property, Ryan started providing the service to his friends, family, and local community. Ryan took the plunge and decided to go down the self-employment route in 2020, despite the abrupt changes brought by the pandemic, which saw the creation of MK Loftboarding Ltd.
Ryan took the bold decision to launch his own company with determination, and in just three years, MK Loftboarding Ltd grew from a one-man operation to a company with fourteen staff and a projected turnover this year of £1M. From its base in Milton Keynes, Ryan and his crew have expanded to cover areas from London to Peterborough, Oxford to Cambridge, and all points in between. To further highlight Ryan’s accomplishments, military-learned leadership, and influence on the local community, is the recently bestowed title of Milton Keynes’ Entrepreneur of the Year.
Describing himself as a confident, forward-thinking Rifleman, Ryan credits the Army for teaching him the transferable skills he needed in the civilian world and allowing him to consistently strive to be the best.
A private reception at the House of Lords in July, hosted by Awards Patron the Rt Hon Earl Howe GBE PC, will honour the finalists. The winners will be announced at a spectacular black-tie event at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge on Wednesday, 16th October 2024, hosted by special guest presenter Jeremy Vine.
Soldiering On Awards Patron, the Rt Hon Earl Howe GBE PC said, "With immense pride, I am delighted to announce the finalists of the 14th annual Soldiering On Awards. These remarkable individuals, projects, and organisations have demonstrated unparalleled passion and unwavering dedication to excellence, truly embodying the core values cherished by our Armed Forces. They are deserving recipients of this prestigious recognition, and we wholeheartedly applaud their outstanding achievements."
Online voting will open on 23rd July and close on 26th August at www.soldieringon.org.
