Soldiering On Awards 2026: GLRE Wins Business Scale-Up

GLRE (Glazing Refurbishment Ltd) won the Business Scale-Up Award in Partnership with LSEG Foundation at The Armed Forces Community Awards at Soldiering On 2026. The award was presented at a black-tie ceremony at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in London on 17 September 2026. It recognises a business from the Armed Forces community that has grown from its start-up years and is still majority-owned by its founders.

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As a veteran-owned commercial glazing contractor, this award means a great deal to us. And it belongs to every person at GLRE.

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What is the Business Scale-Up Award at Soldiering On?

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The Armed Forces Community Awards at Soldiering On are run by X-Forces (XF) CIC, a member of Cobseo, the Confederation of Service Charities. The awards celebrate the achievements of serving personnel, veterans, their families and the organisations that support them.

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The Business Scale-Up Award, in partnership with LSEG Foundation, honours people linked with the Armed Forces community who started a business more than two years ago and still hold at least 50% of it. The category looks at how a business has grown and how it supports the wider Armed Forces community.

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The 2026 finalists attended a reception at the House of Lords on 15 July, hosted by the Awards’ Patron, Major General The Rt Hon. the Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton. The winners were then announced at the September ceremony.

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Who made this win possible?

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This award is a team result. No single person scales a business. Every part of GLRE played a role:

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• Our rope access technicians, who work at height on some of the UK’s most complex buildings. Their skill makes rope access glazing a safe and cost-effective option for our clients.
• Our glaziers, who carry out commercial glass replacements, curtain wall repairs and glazing refurbishment to a high standard, every day.
• Our site teams, who plan each job, manage safety and keep buildings working while we are on site.
• Our office team, who manage enquiries, scheduling, compliance and accounts so that the teams on site have what they need.
• The veterans and service leavers in our team, who bring the discipline, planning and teamwork they learned in service to every project.

Our specialist teams now operate from eight locations across the UK. That growth came from the hard work of these people, and we thank each of them.

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Who would we like to thank?

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We want to thank the team at Soldiering On and X-Forces (XF) CIC for organising the awards, and LSEG Foundation for its partnership on the Business Scale-Up category. The awards give the Armed Forces community a real platform, and the event was run with great care.

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Thank you to the judges, led by Co-Chairs Lt Gen (Ret’d) Richard Nugee and Debra Allcock-Tyler, for the time they gave to every entry.

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Congratulations to our fellow finalists, Cloudhill Productions Ltd and Forensic Outcomes Ltd. It was a privilege to be shortlisted alongside two strong veteran-linked businesses.

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And thank you to our clients. Facilities managers, main contractors and building owners trust us with their buildings. That trust is what lets GLRE grow.

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What does being veteran-owned mean for GLRE?

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GLRE is a 100% veteran-owned company. We are members of Veteran Owned UK and we have signed the Armed Forces Covenant. Our military background shapes how we work.

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Our mission is: “To be the very best we can, with service & safety prioritised at all times above profit.” That comes from service life. We plan every job in detail, we put safety first, and we do what we say we will do.

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This approach shows in our glazing inspections, our emergency make-safe service and our rope access repairs. Clients get a team that responds quickly, communicates clearly and finishes the job safely.

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Being veteran-owned also means we value what service leavers bring to the construction sector. Skills such as working at height, risk assessment and leading a team transfer well to commercial glazing and building maintenance. If you are leaving the Armed Forces and want a career with us, see our careers page.

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What happens next for GLRE?

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We will keep doing the work that earned this award: safe, high-quality commercial glazing, rope access and cladding services for clients across the UK. The award gives the whole team a reason to be proud, and a standard to keep.

If you need a glazing contractor for a commercial building, contact GLRE to arrange a survey.

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Frequently asked questions

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What award did GLRE win at Soldiering On 2026?

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GLRE won the Business Scale-Up Award in Partnership with LSEG Foundation at The Armed Forces Community Awards at Soldiering On 2026.

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When and where were the 2026 Soldiering On Awards held?

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The ceremony took place on 17 September 2026 at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in London.

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Is GLRE a veteran-owned business?

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Yes. GLRE is a 100% veteran-owned company, a member of Veteran Owned UK and a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant.

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