Valley Veterans wins excavator in national ‘Win Big’ competition

Valley Veterans is one of two winners of Finning UK & Ireland’s national ‘Win Big’ competition, receiving a brand-new Cat® excavator to power its project work forward.

Finning launched the free-to-enter competition, organised to mark Caterpillar’s 100th anniversary, with one winner in mind, however the high calibre of entries led to them naming two winners: Valley Veterans and the Colin Burt Reserve for Wildlife Conservation in Scotland.

Both winners were invited to Finning UK & Ireland headquarters in Cannock, Staffordshire to celebrate their win with the Finning team. During the day Finning provided training on mini excavators, as well as tutorial on how the new machine owners can get the very best from their new excavators with telematics. 

Valley Veterans, a charity based in the Rhondda Valley, was founded more than 20 years ago as an informal support group for PTSD sufferers and is now a vibrant hub with more than 140 active participants. Its Equi-Grow project includes the development of a purpose-built equine and horticultural space for activities supporting the mental and physical health and wellbeing of veterans. It has won a Cat 301.5 excavator to help get groundwork underway.

To mark Caterpillar’s centenary year in 2025, Finning hosted the giveaway on its website, asking participants: ‘How would winning a Cat machine or generator help you build something that lasts?’ 

Gary Megarrell, Managing Director at Finning UK and Ireland, said the high quality of the entries meant it was impossible to select just one winner.

He said: “The 100th anniversary of Caterpillar provided the perfect opportunity to gift our winners with the equipment they need to take their projects forward. The answers from the Colin Burt Reserve and Valley Veterans truly embodied the values we share at Finning around safety and inclusivity.

Caterpillar’s centenary and Finning’s desire to have a positive impact within the community “We are delighted both organisations are now the owners of mini excavators, and that this will make a real, tangible difference to their projects and to their visitors. This prize-giving has been a fantastic way to mark what has been a very memorable year celebrating the Finning partnerships.”

The winners were given the choice between a Cat 301.6 excavator or a Cat DE110E2 genset as their prize. They were also automatically enrolled in a set of monthly prize draws – with rewards up for grabs including a trip to Malaga.

Valley Veterans was last year honoured with the King’s Award for Voluntary Service. It has been presented with the centenary celebration Cat machine that was on display at Finning’s headquarters in Cannock during the anniversary year.

Nigel Locke, Secretary of Valley Veterans, said, “This recognition from Finning comes on the back of a remarkable year for us and inspires us to keep working to make a difference to veterans and their families.

“The Equi-Grow project will allow us to significantly increase our capacity to train and mentor members, while also extending support to a wider veteran and community audience across the South Wales Valleys.

“Having this excavator means we can accelerate the development of the site and support even more veterans in overcoming the challenges of isolation and loneliness.”

Photo caption: Representatives from Valley Veterans  were invited to Finning UK & Ireland headquarters to celebrate their win with the Finning team.