The founder of the UK’s most innovative security guarding company is going for gold after being named a 2023 Celebrating Forces Families Awards finalist.
David Stubbs, CEO of Swindon-based SSGC, has been shortlisted for the Exemplar Forces Friendly Employer accolade thanks to his long-term commitment to improving the lives of the military community nationwide.
The awards event is organised by members of the MOD Partner Employment Working Group – a group of military organisations that work together to support the Armed Forces Community – and celebrates the work of those supporting military families.
SSGC, which signed the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) in April 2020, has excelled in its efforts to provide the community with employment opportunities and 50 per cent of its shares are owned by veterans.
At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, SSGC joined forces with the Yorkshire Regiment to recruit 600 ex-military personnel and their families to man testing sites across the UK.
In 2022, the company earned the coveted Gold award from the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme and became the first company in the security industry to appoint a veteran engagement officer, underlining its ongoing support of the ex-military community.
Major (Retd) Pat Ralph MM has been appointed to the role to oversee its work with service leavers and build on its close link work with motorsport charity, Mission Motorsport.
To date, the company has raised more than £100,000 to support the charity, which uses motor racing as a recovery activity for armed forces veterans and service personnel who have been affected by their service.
Maj Ralph said: “David Stubbs is incredibly deserving of this award, as he has done so much for the families of veterans and is fully committed to providing training opportunities and new jobs for ex-forces personnel.
“Overnight, David secured new roles for service leavers who had lost their jobs due to the pandemic or were looking for their first civilian deployment since leaving the forces, placing 600 people in new jobs at Covid-19 testing centres.
“As a veteran himself, he has gone to great lengths to ensure those with PTSD or disabilities can access rewarding careers in civilian life.”
David Stubbs added: “I am proud to have been recognised and shortlisted for this award, as our work with veterans is core to the ethos of our business.
“This nomination is testament to all the hard work our team puts into ensuring veterans and their families receive the care and support they need when they return home.
“We are very proud of our achievements as a company and look forward to celebrating our collective successes with the forces community at this event.”
The winners of this year’s Celebrating Forces Families Awards will be announced on Friday 28th April.
