We are delighted to welcome Minister for Defence People and Veterans Johnny Mercer MP to speak at the Heropreneurs Awards this year.
Prior to a career in politics, Johnny followed the family tradition of enrolling in Sandhurst and after graduating in 2003 he served from the tactical to the strategic level throughout a career across the globe with several tours of duty, including multiple combat operations before leaving the army in 2013.
In October 2013 Johnny was selected by the Conservative Party to fight his local marginal seat of Plymouth Moor View and won the seat in the 2015 General Election.
His political ambitions stem from displeasure at how his cohort of military personnel and veterans were treated by the governments of the day. His appointment in July 2019 as the Minister for Military Personnel and Veterans in the Ministry of Defence and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs in the Cabinet Office demonstrates his commitment to veterans’ affairs.
Having the ministerial support of someone who understands the Armed Forces and veteran community from a personal level as well as in their role of influence is invaluable and we are honoured that Johnny is putting his name to the Heropreneurs Awards to help us raise the profile of veterans’ in the public mind and change the perception of that a veteran is.