Nominations for our Inspirational Woman in Defence Award are now open

To celebrate International Women’s Day (Wednesday 8 March), Defence Discount Service has announced its third annual Inspirational Woman in Defence campaign - celebrating the achievements and efforts of women working within the armed forces. 

As part of the campaign, all members of the British defence community are invited to nominate friends, family or co-workers for The Defence Discount Service Inspirational Woman of the Year 2023 award. 

Open to every woman who works in any area of defence - including those in the armed forces, reserve forces, MoD civil servants, cadet forces, NATO personnel serving in the UK and veterans - the award looks to mark the achievements of women who advocate for change and work to make the industry a better place for all.

Participants are invited to send their nominations, along with a few lines about why they believe their chosen nominee should be named Defence Discount Service Inspirational Woman of the Year, to [email protected].

Entries are open from Wednesday 8 March to Friday 31 March

Previous winners include LCpl Natasha Day RAMC, who was the inaugural award winner in 2021. Natasha launched the Defence Breastfeeding Network to provide a safe space for new mothers to feed their children in the military. Former British Army Major and Physiotherapy Officer, Sally Orange, took the title in 2022. Sally’s extensive fundraising efforts have raised over half a million pounds for mental health charities, including WWTW (Walking With the Wounded) and Ripple Suicide Prevention. 

The winner will be announced on Monday 24th April and is  set to receive a £500 Virgin Experience Days voucher.

Tom Dalby, CEO of Defence Discount Service, said:

“For the third year running, we’re thrilled to celebrate those women who have gone the extra mile over to improve the lives of others. We’d like to encourage all members of the defence community to nominate the amazing women who inspire them and others, joining us in celebrating the hard work of incredible armed forces personnel.

“Women play a vital role in the armed forces and have taken extraordinary strides since first being allowed to sign up in 1948. This award is the perfect opportunity to reflect on how hard the women in our UK defence services work each and every day to keep us all safe.”