Frazer-Nash Aerospace Business Manager, Luke Bonnett, has been shortlisted for the Rising Star of the Year award at the Ex-Forces in Business Awards, rescheduled from 2020 to June 2021.
The awards – the world’s largest celebration of ex-military personnel in second careers – recognise the significant value that veterans and their service-gained skills add to businesses, as well as the employers who support the transition of service leavers.
The Rising Star of the Year category is open to professionals under 35 years of age, who show extraordinary business talent, demonstrate enterprise, innovation and flair, and have made measurable contribution to business growth.
Describing how the skills he gained in the forces have helped his seamless transition to technical consultancy and business development, Luke said:
“When I was an engineer officer in the Royal Air Force I had to routinely deal with different stakeholders with competing requirements and priorities. Whether it’s designing safe explosive storage areas for Forward Operating Bases in Afghanistan, managing a team of skilled technicians keeping a squadron of Eurofighter Typhoons protecting the UK’s skies or winning new work delivering innovative engineering services to a customer, I think the same skills apply.
“Building trust-based relationships, applying technical knowledge and working effectively as a team are as relevant to the world of business as they were when I was leading teams in the Royal Air Force.
“I’m really looking forward to taking part in the rescheduled awards ceremony in London on 23 June.”
Managing Director, Neil McDougall, said:
“I’d like to offer my personal congratulations to Luke on being shortlisted as Rising Star of the Year for the rescheduled 2020 Ex-Forces in Business Awards – it’s very much deserved. We quickly recognised Luke’s calibre when he joined Frazer-Nash five years ago as a Senior Engineer, and having developed a reputation through strong delivery of technical projects, he has moved on to winning business for himself and others to discharge, working with our clients in the aerospace and aviation sectors to offer solutions that meet their complex requirements.
“We number many ex-military personnel amongst our team here. We know that their skills, experience and knowledge can translate seamlessly into our commercial environment. Most recently this has served us well during the COVID-19 pandemic where we have been able to maintain continuity of support to our defence sector clients, but also bringing their leadership and vision of managing the response to rapidly changing and unpredictable environments to benefit our own business and in support of our commercial and industrial clients.”
