Welsh Veterans Mean Business

A technical sportswear manufacturer and aerial videographer are among businesses set up by Armed Forces veterans in Wales, showcased to celebrate ex-military entrepreneurs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Representatives from the Ministry of Defence, military charities, Welsh national and regional government and big business based in Wales came together in Caerphilly recently to celebrate enterprise as a credible career path for transitioning Service personnel and their family members. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The High Sheriff of Gwent, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Tuggey DL, met and heard the stories of ex-Service personnel who have set up in business since re-entering civilian life. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Since it was founded in July 2013, X-Forces – a social enterprise that nurtures entrepreneurial ambition in the UK’s Armed Forces community – has supported more than five hundred new businesses and facilitated over five million pounds in seed funding, as an official partner of the government’s Start Up Loans Company, and has a strong success rate of start-ups across the UK. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ren Kapur, Chief Executive of X-Forces said, “Every day we help more of the capable and hard-working members of our Armed Forces community to realise their dreams. From long-serving, decorated veterans to spouses that have made considerable sacrifices, male and female, they share an equally strong approach to business, with focus and drive that is seldom seen in business. These businesses are already contributing to the UK economy, providing employment and making opportunities. We know that there is great potential in Wales for more entrepreneurs to emerge, and we are here to support them.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Keith Reynolds, Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council added, “We know that during their time in the military, service personnel develop many varied and transferrable skills, which can often help support a credible career path as they transition into civilian life. Organisations such as X-Forces play a key role in supporting individuals throughout this transition, and we were delighted to host the launch of X-Forces in Wales here in Caerphilly county borough”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Each new business undergoes a stringent and critical planning process with their allocated business advisor, who remains alongside the candidate on their journey. Through unique corporate partnerships with industry leaders like EMC, RBS and Cisco, the new business owners are further supported with mentorship and networking. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Each week X-Forces receives one hundred new registrations. The event was sponsored by General Dynamics, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and Caerphilly County Borough Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​