ABE salutes Marketing Derby’s Rising Star for 2024

Two Chevrons Group, which supports and empowers veterans and the blue light community, has been revealed as Marketing Derby’s Rising Star for 2024.

At the investment promotion agency’s Annual Business Event, the group, which comprises companies covering business services, property and projects and media, was announced as the winner of the competition, which aims to give a helping hand to upcoming business ventures.

Army veteran Joshua Leach-Aslam was among those who founded the business.

In 2009, Joshua joined the British Army at the age of 16 – and at the age of 17 became a sniper.

By the time he was 18 he had already served in Afghanistan. He became a full corporal (hence the two chevrons name) at just 20 years old.

But his burgeoning career in the military was cut short at 23 years old when Joshua was given a medical discharge.

He was passionate about giving something back, particularly to the veteran and blue light community, which is where Two Chevrons Group comes in.

Speaking at the Annual Business Event, Joshua said: “Today, I stand before you as a proud veteran.

“We help veterans and blue light staff make the transition to the civilian world.

“We partner with businesses, allowing us to focus on education, mentoring and transitioning. As a veteran, I have a first-hand understanding of the challenges you face when you leave the armed forces.

“At this moment, there are 5,000 ex-armed forces personnel who are currently homeless or live on the streets. And one in five in the blue light community will turn to drugs, alcohol or attempt to take their own life.”

Marketing Derby launched the search for its next Rising Star back in November.

The winner receives a complimentary year of Bondholder membership, along with local publicity and invitations to must-attend events.

Last year’s winner was Upbeat Clean, a commercial cleaning start-up, which combines a cleaning service with life-changing employment.

It was launched to enable refugee women to access training and rebuild their lives through real living wage employment.

After becoming the Rising Star, the social enterprise went on to secure a string of major partnerships with companies and organisations including Vaillant, Getinge and Derby Museums.

Michael Gladwell, head of Upbeat Clean, was at the Annual Business Event to announce Two Chevrons Group as the Rising Star for 2024.

He was accompanied by two members of his team, one from El Salvador and one from Ghana, who had both come to the UK as refugees.

Michael told the event: “It has been an incredible year, thanks to the support of the Marketing Derby team and the Bondholder community.

“We’ve doubled the number of people we employ because of the partnerships we’ve formed with companies.

“Those companies have come in the partner with us to transform lives through their cleaning contracts. It has made a massive social impact in terms of people’s lives.”

To find out more about Two Chevrons Group visit https://twochevrons.secureserversites.net/ .