The magnificent Drapers’ Hall in London set the stage for an unforgettable evening of celebration, purpose and generosity, as more than 150 guests from the construction, infrastructure, and property sectors came together to raise over £23,500 in support of Building Heroes, the multi-award-winning charity dedicated to helping Armed Forces service leavers, veterans, reservists and military family members retrain for careers in construction.
Held on Wednesday 15 October, the Building Heroes Annual Gala Dinner and Awards Evening brought together corporate sponsoring partners, supporters, and graduates for a night that celebrated shared purpose, industry collaboration, and the enduring strength of the Armed Forces community.
The evening was supported by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Richard Tucker MBE, Patron Major General (Ret’d) Rich Spencer, and the charity was honoured to welcome The Rt Hon Alistair Carns MP, Minister for the Armed Forces, who addressed attendees as guest of honour, praising the charity’s impact in transforming lives through skills, confidence, and opportunity.
“The generosity shown at this year’s Gala Dinner will directly fund new training places for veterans and service leavers looking to transition well into new careers within construction,” said Chris Charles, Chief Executive Officer of Building Heroes. “Each pound raised represents a step towards a stronger community — one where those who have served can turn their military experience into a second career with purpose. We are incredibly grateful to every guest, partner, and supporter who made this evening such a success, allowing us to continue delivering lasting impact for those who have dedicated their lives to service.”
This year’s event also marked the introduction of the Building Heroes Community, Impact & Collaboration Awards, created to recognise the exceptional individuals and organisations whose leadership, advocacy and compassion make the charity’s mission possible. Recipients were recognised in the following categories:
- Armed Forces Network – Allies of the Year: Multiplex Construction
- Industry Advocate of the Year: Charlotte Olver, Vistry Group
- Inspirational Tutor Team of the Year: Reaseheath College Tutor Team
- Veteran Community Champion: Mark Hill MBE, RESHAPE Magazine
- Industry Inspiration Award: Lovell Partnerships Ltd
- Strategic Partnerships Excellence Award: Davidsons Homes
These awards celebrated excellence across the Building Heroes community — from tutor teams and employer partners to veterans who continue to serve by helping others transition successfully from military to civilian life.
Building Heroes would also like to extend sincere gratitude to its dedicated event sponsors Multiplex, Wickes TradePro, Lovell Partnerships Ltd, and Vistry Group whose ongoing commitment exemplifies the industry’s belief in giving back to those who have served. Building Heroes also extends heartfelt thanks to the many companies and individuals who donated prizes for the live auction and raffle including Chasetown Civil Engineering, SkyDive Netheravon, Forest School Training UK, The Ritz, Browns of Mayfair, and A Star Experience, and to Drapers’ Hall for their excellence in service and continued partnership in hosting the event.
The funds raised are vital to the charity’s mission. The £23,500 raised will go directly towards supporting Building Heroes programmes, providing support for at least 15 members of the former Armed Forces community to access barrier-free training, new qualifications, employability support and wraparound pastoral care, leading to opportunities for second careers in the construction industry. And each learner’s journey helps address the UK’s construction skills gap while honouring the Armed Forces values of discipline, teamwork and resilience.
Building Heroes continues to call on industry partners to Recruit – Reskill – Redeploy members of the Armed Forces community into rewarding second careers.
For partnership or event enquiries, including next year’s Gala Dinner on Thursday 8 October 2026, or if you would like to support Building Heroes, please get in touch to find out more about their incredible work:
