Army - X-Forces Enterprise

Army

January 16, 2024

Accept and Respect Difference with The Berts

Childhood sweethearts Andy and Lotty Laverton have been together since they were 15, marrying in 1982. Lotty was an Army spouse throughout the whole of Andy’s […]
November 13, 2023

From Service To Ceremonies: meet the Army veteran turned self-employed Celebrant

Gill Charlton, a military spouse and a veteran, served 24 years in the British Army but swapped service for ceremonies to forge a new career as […]
October 9, 2023

Veterans And Start-Ups – It’s A Family Thing

  It could be said that working with Veterans and start-ups is the Bloomhill family business. For generations they have served in uniform, supported ex-military personnel, […]
March 22, 2023

From Recruitment to Red Leicester: Meet the Cheesemonger Who’s Supporting UK Food Banks Through British Artisan Cheese Subscriptions

Growing up in Middlesborough, Sam Elsdon had always visualised himself running his own business. He moved to London and enjoyed a successful career in recruitment sales, […]
November 28, 2022
Julie Miller

Battling Transphobia: Meet the Former Major Turned Consultant Courageously Commanding Audiences with Her Lived Experience

British Armed Forces officers are highly skilled in presenting and public speaking, a core part of initial training and subsequent leadership development, renowned for producing the […]
October 17, 2022
Adam-Duffield-Cyberjag

Driven by Digital: Meet the Reserve Soldier Who’s Fierce About Quality Online

Adam Duffield, from Doncaster, has been an Army Reservist in the Royal Corps of Signals since 2019, alongside his day job in IT. He was employed […]
September 26, 2022
Marc Bucci Social Socks

From Soldiering to Sustainability: Meet the Entrepreneur Helping the Planet One Sock at A Time 

Concerned about the climate crisis, Army veteran Marc Bucci embarked on a mission to help the planet… by selling socks.   The vision for Marc’s business, Social […]
July 13, 2022
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From Forces to Fiction: Meet the former Army Officer turned Published Author

Charles Cordell was brought up in Cornwall, near Falmouth, and spent time as an archaeologist before joining the British Army. He served in a range of […]
May 2, 2022
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From Drill to Detailing: Meet the Former Soldier That Turned His Hobby into a Business, in Partnership with His Fiancée

Andy Dawson and Trish Fyfe started their business Carfreqz together in 2019. Based in Kent, the couple offer valeting and detailing, as well as electronic installations, […]
April 11, 2022
Danielle-Corcoran-Marques-Hair-Salon-XFE

Launched in Lockdown: Meet the Salon Owner That Wasn’t Put Off by the Pandemic

The hair and beauty industry was one of the hardest hit during the pandemic. Restrictions would change overnight, and PPE was a staple throughout. This did […]
June 2, 2021
Harry Noel-Smith, Kinetic Kitchen

THE RISE OF MILITARY-LED, HEALTH-FOCUSED FOOD COMPANY – KINETIC KITCHEN

Kinetic Kitchen’s approach to their products is all about understanding what the client’s body wants and needs. Led by military-family member and Sports Science & Nutritionist, […]
April 20, 2021
Liam Gretton, British Army veteran and self-employed estate agent as part of eXp UK, continues to go from strength to strength as the Wirral Peninsula’s only bespoke estate agent.

XFE Business Captain and Veteran, Liam Gretton, Goes From Strength to Strength with Estate Agency Business

Liam Gretton, British Army veteran and self-employed estate agent as part of eXp UK, continues to go from strength to strength as the Wirral Peninsula’s only […]
February 8, 2021
British Army Officer Harry Boyt Sets Sights on Bespoke Kitchen & Interiors Business

British Army Officer Sets Sights on Bespoke Kitchen & Interiors Business

Meet Harry. After twelve years in the British Army, Officer and previous business-owner Harry Boyt has his sights firmly set on his next business venture, officially […]
April 30, 2020

Agile in a Crisis: Meet the former Soldier turned Drone Pilot that has overcome disability to steer his business through the Coronavirus outbreak.

British Army veteran Chris Flannagan from Wiltshire had set his sights on a new career as a drone pilot, but found few employment opportunities due to […]
March 19, 2020

Innovation after injury: When business becomes the focus to rebuild a life beyond Service

After serving in the British Army for eight years, with 24 Commando Royal Engineers, Tom Foster was forced to pull the pin on his military career.  […]
January 9, 2020

Taking Cookery Online: meet the master pastry chef making courses more accessible

Master pastry chef Ben Mariner recognised the cost and geographic barriers in cookery tuition and built an innovative online school to share his expertise.   Still […]
August 28, 2019

From education to enterprise: Meet the military spouse changing science kits for kids

Military spouse and teacher Michelle Williams understood that all parents want to see their child have opportunities to be happy and successful, and applied her knowledge […]
August 21, 2019
Irene-Smith-Pothead-Panface-feat

From barracks to bistro: meet the Army veteran’s spouse at the helm of a thriving family business

The British picnic is a national passion, but one ex-military couple have taken it one step further in their bistro in Tidworth. At Pothead and Panface, […]
July 26, 2019
PJ Farr - UK Connect

Meet The Former Soldier that Built a Multi-Million Pound Communications Firm

PJ Farr (31) recalls how he was fascinated by the Army’s ability to deploy to some of the most remote locations in the world and quickly […]
July 18, 2019

From Air Despatch to Airstream Events: meet Leeds’ house music mogul who is hitting the road

Jacob Kelly, from Leeds, has a new woman in his life.  Dottie is American, a little older than him and they plan to travel together to […]
June 21, 2019

Blind Army Veteran Starts New Chapter as Self-published Children’s Author

Being diagnosed with a visual impairment in his 50s didn’t hold John Bennett back from pursuing a dream to share the stories passed down through his […]
May 2, 2019
Bringing Communities Together

The Conscious Coffee Company Grown out of Combat Trauma

Former soldier Nigel Seaman started his business Combat2Coffee in response to the rehabilitation and support he received for PTSD, which Nigel says “saved his life”.   […]
April 23, 2019
Forces Wives Challenge

Teamwork with a purpose: Uniting the Forces community through adventure and challenge

On 8th March 2019, in harsh conditions, a group of military wives summited the world’s highest volcano, Ojos del Salado, standing at 6893m in Chile.  This […]
April 15, 2019
Honey Business Sinah Common Honey

Army Service Leaver celebrates expansion of his Local Honey Business

John Geden joined the British Army in 1983 as an officer in the Royal Military Police at just age seventeen. After his military service, John joined […]
January 22, 2019
Ex-Army Entrepreneur Takes Off in Drone Industry - X-Forces Enterprise

Ex-Army Entrepreneur Takes Off in Drone Industry

Steve Witchwood-Green from Castle Cary, Somerset has built on his experience in aviation to launch his first business in a growth industry. Steve (58) has almost […]
January 15, 2019
Tommy-Lowther-X-Forces Enterprise

Meet the man behind the charity changing veterans’ lives

When Tommy Lowther enrolled on the Business Experience course in 2016, run by X-Forces Enterprise (XFE) for Help for Heroes, he made an immediate impression on […]
December 20, 2018
Fat Penguin Improv

From Combat Medic to Comedy Improv Director

Fat Penguin Improv is an improvised comedy school, delivering workshops and shows at several venues across Birmingham, primarily at the Patrick Kavanagh Pub in Moseley.  It […]
November 27, 2018

From Royal Artillery to Vehicle Arresting System

Roderick Burton-Chambers spent 12 years as a Bombardier in the Royal Artillery where his interest in specialist security began.  In 1990 he left the Armed Forces […]
October 29, 2018
Timeless Auto Trim Custom Classics

From Military Motors to Custom Classics

  Iain ‘Fin’ Finlayson served 23 years in the British Army as a vehicle mechanic in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, for the most part […]
October 2, 2018
Royal Windsor Tours Padd McNeill

From Royal Guardsman to Royal Tour Guide

Former British Army Royal Guardsman, Paddy McNeill, found his business idea just beyond the wire inside which he used to serve, in his home town of Windsor.
September 19, 2018
Natural survivor -woodlands header image

From 28 Years Service to Walking on the Wild Side of Nature

Mark Beckham from Suffolk served a long career in the HM Armed Forces; 1990 – 2000 in the Army and 2000 – 2018 in the Royal […]
September 12, 2018
Explorer Coffees

From House Husband to Business Owner

Neil Hallsworth left the Army in 2004, opting to take on a business straight away and ran his own pub for two years. Sadly the pub […]
September 5, 2018
Metalsmith General Engineering Ltd

Ex-Army Transitions to a Metalsmith Engineer

Paul Bateson aged 40 originally from Darwen, Lancashire now based in Farnborough, Surrey and is married with three children. Paul served in the Army and was […]
August 22, 2018
Milifix image

Ex-Army to running an ex-military property maintenance firm

Edward Colver aged 41 from Sheffield, South Yorkshire longed for a new venture closer to home. Edward joined the Army in 1999 and was commissioned into […]
August 15, 2018
Thoughtify Mental health Training for Business

Former Rifleman Diagnosed with PTSD setup a Mental Health First Aid business

Father-of-two, Tom Fox from Coulsdon, Surrey was a former rifleman diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and is now using his personal experience to help […]
August 8, 2018
Keith May Accounting Services

From Forces to Career Transition to Accounting Guru

Keith May originally from Skegness joined the Army in 1996 initially as a military clerk before completing his Management Accountancy training in 2012. Keith was a […]
July 18, 2018
Local Global Marketing Support

Ex-Army Veteran Develops Entrepreneurial Portfolio

Ex-Army Veteran and craftsman Tony Grant from Lincoln is not someone who lets obstacles stand in his way, not even in business. Soon after losing his […]
June 27, 2018
Model photography shoots

From Army Man to Starting a Photography Business

Dean Paget, husband to Trish and father to Brylee, joined the Army in 1993 at the age of just 21 after being attracted by the opportunity […]
June 20, 2018
Combe Valley Campers

From the Army to Camper Vans Business Owner

Since leaving the Army in 2008, Leigh Hicks from Bexhill-on-Sea had various successful jobs, however as he put it “nothing quite scratched that itch” or satisfied […]
May 29, 2018
Douglas Creighton London Sans

How to set up a Graphic Design Consultancy?

With Douglas Creighton, 42, from Maida Vale, the military was part of his life. Born into a military family of several generations, with a father who […]
May 14, 2018

From Dealing with Military Intelligence To Understanding Human Performance

A desire for a better lifestyle and financial independence were the triggers which helped Ben Price make up his mind and set up The Fitness Masters, a business where he could pursue his passion for understanding human performance and rehabilitation.
May 9, 2018

From Military Service to becoming a Guiding Light

In September 1976, Richard Marsden joined the Scots Guards for adventure and to follow in the footsteps of many members of his family who had also […]
April 18, 2018

Scottish Ex-Army Logistics Engineer Sets Up JJC Logistics

A second child on the way was what gave 33 year-old Joseph Ryan from North Ayrshire in Scotland the push he needed to think about starting his own […]
March 21, 2018

Ex-Army carpenter James makes new strides building his carpentry business

James Metcalf joined the British Army in 2009 at age 23. He served for eight years in construction, and during his time serving, he worked in […]
March 11, 2018

From Post to Pest – Army Veteran Joe Starts New Business Venture!

Joe Davies, a 28 year old Army Veteran from Southampton, joined the Royal Engineers in 2005 but was forced to leave only five years later after […]
March 6, 2018

A Successful Ex-Army Move To Setting Up A Mobile Tattoo Removal Clinic

In 2005, 24-year old Brian Handley from Stourbridge in the West Midlands, was finding life hard. At that time, his options were limited – working in […]
February 12, 2018

From the Falkland Islands to the Isle of Wight!

James, 32, made the decision to join the Royal Engineers in 2006. I was influenced by some great guys in my youth who were ex Sappers. […]
January 22, 2018

Fitness Fanatic Ex-Army Man Jon Left Unable to Run for Almost Three Years

It was a freak accident that forced Jon Heslop to leave the Armed Forces and it was two and a half years before he could even […]
November 22, 2017

100th Wounded, Injured and Sick X-Forces and Help for Heroes Beneficiary Sets Up Two Businesses

British Army veteran Carl Marsh is the 100th X-Forces and Help for Heroes wounded, injured or sick entrepreneur with not only one but two enterprises – […]
August 30, 2016

Lets go Doggy Day Care

Times of hardship or life-changing events can sometimes lead to bigger and better things. In 2015 former Army Private Laura Sellars was diagnosed with Epilepsy, leaving […]

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