Hello all,
I hope that by now many of you know me, I’m Nathan, the veteran owner and operator here at Award. I wanted to share some of the ins and outs of 2025 so far: the successes, the challenges, and what’s been happening since I took over Award Medals in June.
The transition from working as a consultant to becoming a business owner was never going to be easy. But as a Veteran myself, the motivation to serve this community is what drives me every day.
I won’t pretend it’s all been smooth. There have been some teething problems. The handover from the previous owner wasn’t a long, carefully planned process, in fact, I only knew I was going to buy the business five days before I actually took over.
So the biggest headaches at the start were, frankly… most things.
People and early challenges
The first and most important challenge was staff. I was incredibly fortunate to be able to call upon former team members in those early days, who came back to support me on a voluntary basis. Their understanding and compassion were extraordinary, and it all stems from their commitment to you, our customers.
That kind of dedication often sounds like corporate jargon, but in this line of work it’s real. We’re not just providing a professional service; we’re often walking alongside people on their journey to wear or present their pride, whether that’s medals, badges, or awards that mean a great deal personally.
After rebuilding the team, the next big task was sorting through unfulfilled orders: sourcing stock, personalising items, and despatching them as quickly as possible. At the same time, we were reconnecting with suppliers and tradespeople to stabilise the flow of materials we need to operate properly.
Evolving how we work
We’ve had to look closely at how the business runs behind the scenes. That’s meant:
• Reviewing and evolving our IT systems and providers
• Establishing a marketing system and team so we can better communicate the services we offer
• Making sure our operations can support both current demand and future growth
These aren’t always visible changes from the outside, but they’re vital to keeping things running smoothly.
You - our customers
I continue to be amazed by our fantastic customer base, and I’m genuinely grateful for your support. The frustration and disappointment of missing a deadline or facing a hiccup are always outweighed by the daily and weekly messages we receive from you.
A few recent comments that really meant a lot:
“I’m writing to let you know that I’ve received my medals back today, and they’re mounted exactly as requested. They look fantastic, and I really appreciate the great service and quick turnaround.”
“I just wanted to drop an email to say a huge thank you for the Shield. It turned out absolutely fantastic. It is now hung up in our Squadron bar and looks brilliant. So, thanks again for another great product and quick delivery.”
Feedback like this reminds us why we do what we do!
Highlights of the year
Taking over in June was, in many ways, perfect timing. With VE Day and Armed Forces Day on the horizon, I was able to reconnect with my military and Army roots. Attending multiple events that honoured our Armed Forces was an early highlight for me.
After a strong summer, we moved straight into a frantic and hectic Remembrance and Christmas period. These too passed without too many glitches, another first for me as the new owner. I was able to volunteer for the Royal British Legion here in Shrewsbury, only manning the stall for a few hours at a time, but a fantastic way to give back to one of the amazing charities that supports our veterans. Also at this time, its great to see our team of five staff work so hard to meet as many orders and requests as possible, often with a turnaround of just one or two days (for the less prepared among us!) was amazing to watch.
Looking ahead to the New Year
From 1st January, Award Medals has moved into a new office space to better support our operations and the future growth of the business.
The move places us in a workspace that’s better suited to what we do and will help us continue delivering the high level of service you expect. Thankfully, we haven’t moved far from our previous location, so it’s very much business as usual.
Our new address is:
Award Medals
Unit 28, Atcham Business Park
Shrewsbury
Shropshire
SY4 4UG
Thank you
Above all, I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year and to thank you sincerely for your continued support.
We truly appreciate every single customer and every order, large or small. We look forward to hearing from you in the coming months for all your medal, award, and presentation needs. Sue and Ruth will be on hand to help in any way they can, and the whole team is committed to serving you with the care and dignity you deserve.
With gratitude,
Nathan & all at Award Medals
