Ex Servicemen and Women In Business Start-ups | ex servicemen business
Being an ex serviceman myself and being in business I was interested to see the announcement earlier this year about funding for ex service men and women business start ups. I wonder how many have taken advantage of the funding and where they are now some 6 months down the line.
On the 17 March it was announced by the UK Government that former members of the armed forces will receive £5 million in loans and grants to assist with the costs of starting a business.
Lord Drayson, department for business minister, says: ‘Ex-service personnel are under-represented when it comes to start ups and self-employment. This scheme puts that right, helping former servicemen and women to be their own boss and go on contributing to our society.’
The Royal British Legion will provide up to £5 million in enterprise support, which can include training, funding to help meet initial costs or financing to help grow a business established within the past two years.
Ex-service personnel, who have been discharged since 7 October 2001, will be able to apply for a loan of up to £30,000 and grants of up to £7,500 through the scheme.
Paul Kyriakides, owner of plant-growing business Kyrian Plants, says: ‘I started my business last year with the help of the Royal British Legion and I’m glad that more people will benefit from their support.’
I’m getting more and more nervous about the number of service men and women who have been in combat in the middle east and who now find themselves in ‘civy street’ without any viable means of support and in effect an isolated underclass with some very powerful and potentially destructive memories and behaviour. I believe that we have a responsibility to care for these brave men and women, even a duty, to look after them and help the find their feet. Charity is all well and good in the short term but longer term these men and women deserve much better. In my experience they are looking for personal dignity. We should be looking at many ways of helping them on their way. Once they find their feet they have incredible potential to learn new skills and once settled work harder than anyone I’ve ever known.
So what do we do? I’d love to hear your thoughts?
Tags: 5 Million, Brave Men, Business Start Ups, Enterprise Support, Expere, Former Members, Initial Costs, Kyriakides, Loans And Grants, Lord Drayson, Men And Women, Personal Dignity, Royal British Legion, Self Employment, Service Men, Uk Government, Underclass, Ups, Ups Employment, Women Business, Women In Business
