Nigel Seaman – Founder and CEO

Combat2Coffee was founded in 2018 by Nigel Seaman, a veteran from Ipswich, Suffolk.

After serving 12 years in the British Army with the Royal Anglian Regiment, Nigel worked as a firefighter and prison officer, before being medically discharged due to health issues.

This triggered mental health challenges and flashbacks to his days of service, resulting in a diagnosis of PTSD.​

Nigel was accepted onto a six-week trauma related course which assisted in his ongoing recovery from this debilitating mental health condition. During this course, he used his own machine to brew coffee for other members of his group. It was here Nigel discovered coffee was a great conversation starter which then led to the idea of Combat2Coffee.

Today Nigel is the CEO of Combat2Coffee, focussing on his areas of strength: making connections across the community, driving commercial growth, and ensuring those in need get support.

Nigel’s commitment to veterans has garnered local and national interest which has resulted in him and the project to receive the following accolades:

• Stars of Suffolk Awards – Armed Services Person of the Year 2019
• Suffolk Business Awards – Winner of Changing Lives Special Recognition Award 2021
• Suffolk Business Awards – Finalist of Business of the Year category 2021
• Soldiering on Awards – Award Winner 2021
• Points of Light Award – In recognition of exceptional service training veterans and offenders in barista skills issued by Prime Minister Boris Johnson 2022
• Armed Forces Covenant – Employer recognition scheme Silver Award
• The High Sheriff of Suffolk Certificate of Gratitude and Recognition  – 2023

Leadership Team

Operations Team

Outreach Team

Prison Education Team

Patrons