An Evening with the Army: Insights, Innovation, and Inspiration

Earlier this week, Acres Engineering had the pleasure of attending An Evening with the Army at the Kingsway Army Reserve Centre in Derby. Organised by the Derbyshire ABF Committee, the event brought together members of the public, businesses, reservists, and regulars for an engaging and insightful evening in support of the Army Benevolent Fund.

The evening featured a powerful keynote from Brigadier Adam Fraser-Hitchen ADC DL of 3 (UK) Division, also known as The Iron Division. His strategic overview of the UK defence landscape gave us a compelling look at the challenges and innovations shaping the Army’s future. One of the most impactful moments was hearing how the UK has trained over 54,000 Ukrainian soldiers—from ‘zero to hero’—a staggering achievement that reflects both dedication and urgency in the face of global conflict.

  

We were also struck by the sobering reminder that around 8,000 people are dying each week in Ukraine—a number equivalent to the entire population of Ashbourne, Derbyshire. It put into perspective the very real consequences of conflict and the importance of resilience, readiness, and solidarity.

Brigadier Fraser-Hitchen also reminded us that “we are all leaders”, regardless of our rank, role, or title. Leadership, he noted, is most clearly demonstrated not when others are watching, but when they’re not—a sentiment summed up by the principle: “Do the right thing when nobody is watching.” It’s a value we hold closely at Acres Engineering and something we aim to practice every day in our own work culture.

It was a fantastic opportunity to engage directly with the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (REME)—the technical heartbeat of the Army. Their hands-on approach to innovation, maintenance, and rapid problem-solving under pressure is a constant source of inspiration. As engineers ourselves, we found a real kinship in their ethos and adaptability.

The informal setting allowed for valuable conversations with both reservists and regulars. From shared interests in engineering and technology to discussions around teamwork, discipline, and purpose, the evening was a great reminder of how much the civilian and defence sectors have to learn from each other.

This wasn’t just a networking event—it was a moment of reflection, connection, and renewed appreciation for the people working behind the scenes to protect and serve. We left with a deeper understanding of the Army’s mission, and plenty of food for thought about how we, as a company, can contribute.

A heartfelt thank you to the organisers and the Army Benevolent Fund for such a memorable and thought-provoking event. We look forward to continuing to support our Armed Forces community—and being part of the conversations shaping the future.

For Soldiers. For Life.

 

Acres were awarded Gold last year for their support of the Armed Forces Covenant. We aim to provide exceptional support through different levels of commitment, going above and beyond to achieve our pledges. Ensuring that those who serve or have served and their families are treated fairly.

The team are extremely proud of the company of all of the recognition they receive from the Armed Forces.

 

 

Acres have a range of standard products but also support clients with custom machinery and medium-high volume products such as trolleys, stillages etc. 

We have manufactured lots of different tables / workstations / workbenches for various industries.

We also manufacture access platforms, jigs and fixtures and many other types of production support solutions / products. 

Talk to us today about your requirements: [email protected] / 01332695240 / Contact Us Form

 

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Want to know more about Acres Engineering?

We are based in the UK from our Headquarters in Derbyshire, England and have a European office in Malaga, Spain within the EU.

 

Find out more about where we have been and what we have been up to by checking out our latest blog posts.

Take a look at how we support of the Armed Forces, STEM/Schools and Charities. 

As a world leader in our field, we offer a range of information guides sharing best practice with our clients.

We make it easy to engage with us, we are approved on: EcoVadis (external) / JOSCAR (external) / AVETTA (external) / COUPA (external) / SAP ARIBA (external) / DEEPSTREAM (external) ….you can download our BSI / Insurance certificates here.