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An Arbroath firm has been named winner of the Business Scale Up Award during this year’s Soldiering On Awards.

The virtual ceremony was hosted by actress Vicki Michelle MBE of ‘Allo ‘Allo and Strictly Come Dancing’s JJ Chalmers.

Ex-Royal Marine Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Ian Clark and Paul Barrett set up IED Training Solutions in 2015.

In 2009 Paul stepped 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 Ian and Paul’s experience of risk management in hostile environments, IED Training Solutions offers a wide range of accredited training and consultancy services with the primary focus placed on Health & Safety, mental health and trauma management.

Ian 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 than 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.”

Strictly’s JJ Chalmers reflected on his memories of Business Scale Up Award winner, his former comrade and fellow Marine Paul Barrett: “I remember the day that he was injured, hearing that information back as I had guys on the ground serving with him, but it wasn’t until years later when I was injured myself, and the lads of 45 Commando sent Baz to my front door to reassure me that actually there was a life beyond injury.

“And the moment at which, knowing how badly injured he’d been, as soon as I saw him standing in my front door, I knew everything was going to be alright, I knew there was a future.

“It’s great to take that natural inspiration he has, give it a business influence, which is also helping to develop and train other veterans.”

The Business Scale Up award honours a business that was established over two years ago (before October 1, 2017), started by an individual linked with the armed forces who still retains a minimum of 51% interest in the venture.