Nottinghamshire and Nottingham’s Armed Forces community will be celebrated at the fourth Boots and Beret Awards later this year.

Officially known as the Nottinghamshire County Council Armed Forces Community Awards, the annual event will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Nottingham, in September.

The awards celebrate the tireless dedication, commitment and service within Nottinghamshire and Nottingham’s Armed Forces’ community and nominations are open to:

•    Local authorities and businesses who are signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant or who are in receipt of either the Bronze, Silver, or Gold Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
•    Parish and Town Councils.
•    Community groups.
•    Registered charities within Nottinghamshire.

Awards will be presented across eight categories: Inspiration Award, Employer Award, Employee Award, Health and Wellbeing Award, Veteran Community Award, Projects and Events Award, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer (CFAV) of the Year Award, and Reservist of the Year Award. 

More than 260 Armed Forces champions and dignitaries attended last year’s Boots and Beret Awards, which were launched in 2023.

Councillor Kelvin Wright, the County Council’s Armed Forces Champion, said the awards provide a ‘wonderful’ opportunity to recognise the contributions of those who support the military community in Nottinghamshire and Nottingham.

He said: “Nottinghamshire has a rich military history and, as the County Council’s Armed Forces Champion and a veteran myself, I am delighted that we will once again celebrate and honour the fantastic people who devote tireless support to those who have given so much for our country.

“It was a privilege to attend my first Armed Forces Community Awards as a county councillor last September and I am sure this year’s event will once again be an equally moving occasion as we come together to raise a toast to so many richly deserving organisations and individuals.

“It goes without saying that now nominations are open, you have a wonderful opportunity to shine a light on the colleagues, teams, and partners you believe have demonstrated exceptional performance towards supporting and helping Armed Forces personnel, both past and present, in Nottinghamshire and Nottingham.”

Tickets for Boots and Beret Awards 2026 will go on sale in May and more details about how they can be purchased will be announced in due course.

The closing date for nominations is Friday 1 May.

To find out more about Boots and Beret 2026 and how to make a nomination, simply visit the Boots and Beret Awards 2026 website.