Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company’s incredibly striking picture of former Scots Guard, Gary Jamieson working heavy machinery has rightfully won the Let’s Create A Fairer Future category.

The judges of the 2020 Impact Funding Partners Photo Competition were blown away by the imagery of the photograph and felt it was a very powerful image of the relationship between person and machine.

Describing the story behind the photograph, Nicholas Wesson from Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company said: “The photo sees former Scots Guard and triple amputee Gary Jamieson operating a state-of-the-art waterjet cutter. Gary was trained on the machine as soon as he arrived at the factory in 2018 – his role saw him go on to train other injured veterans joining the social enterprise.”

He went on to say: “Gary embodies what Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company is all about. We are here to provide crucial, flexible employment and training opportunities to those individuals who, unfortunately, are too often overlooked.”

Based in Bishopton in Renfrewshire, the company is a social enterprise providing manufacturing opportunities to Scottish Armed Forces veterans which a particular focus on those with life changing injuries as a result of their service.

Their main purpose is to move veterans towards greater independence through re-training and upskilling in manufacturing. This program sees the veterans work in a factory helping to produce road signs, print, mail and fulfilment services on top of bespoke engineering products.

“We look to develop the veterans at their own pace easing them into typical civilian employment after what may have been a difficult transition from the Armed Forces”, Nicholas went on to explain.

When asked if the organisation have any plans on what to do with the £500 prize donation from winning the Fairer Future category, Nicholas said: “At this difficult time, the prize money is very greatly appreciated. As a factory which reinvests 100% of its surplus to provide greater employment opportunities to support veterans into employment, we are committed to see every penny go towards support our beneficiary group.”

To find out more information about the inspiring work of Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company, click here.