March 12, 2019
Steve Cooke, from Kinross, set up his first business in 1995, which is still going strong today. His barber shop, ‘The Barbers Pole’ in St Andrews […]
February 19, 2019
After four tours of Afghanistan, becoming a father gave Ex-RAF Engineer Terry Holt a new perspective on his career, and he set about scratching the itch […]
February 8, 2019
Icarus Originals: Designed with heroes to be worn by legends. Alan Lock, from Shrewsbury, lost his eyesight while serving in the Royal Navy. As a […]
January 22, 2019
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
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 […]
January 8, 2019
At just 22, Bethany D’Inverno from London may be one of the younger entrepreneurs that X-Forces Enterprise (XFE) has had the pleasure to support, but she […]
December 20, 2018
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 […]
December 11, 2018
A new range of pet grooming, healing and pest treatment products branded ‘Cooper and Gracie’ has brought a cruelty-free offering to the pet care market. Still within […]
November 27, 2018
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 […]
November 20, 2018
Loved by his allies, hated by his enemies, the Sniper can have devastating effects on the battlefield creating fear and havoc in his enemies. Ainsley […]
November 13, 2018
After training as a chef in the Royal Navy, Jamie Savage (33) has now launched his first pop-up restaurant in Macclesfield, specialising in mussels. In ‘Savages […]
November 6, 2018
At just 31 Suzy Olivier has been at the helm of not one but four businesses. Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, where her father was […]
October 29, 2018
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 16, 2018
Pictured: Geotekk Founders James Sheppard (left) & Matt Leach (right) Falling victim to bike theft led former Royal Marine Commando and Doctor of Medicine, Dr Matthew […]
October 2, 2018
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 26, 2018
Karen Tracey from Shuttington, North Warwickshire, started her military career joining the Women’s Royal Air Force (WRAF) in 1983 in the Aerospace Systems Trade Group 12. […]
September 19, 2018
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
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
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 29, 2018
Steve Parnell who lives in Brackley, Northamptonshire joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1986 and served until 1991, where he worked as a steward in […]
August 22, 2018
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
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 10, 2018
In this blog we look at selecting an accountant to assist with your business compliance and reporting requirements. In the age of specialism, this is […]
August 8, 2018
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 […]
August 6, 2018
CS Healthcare is a corporate partner to X-Forces Enterprise and specialise in healthcare services and advice for the Military Community. This month they provided some thought […]
July 25, 2018
In September 2015, military spouse Katherine Jenner and her family experienced a massive fire on their farm in Hampton-in-Arden. Then, like a phoenix, the ashes in […]
July 18, 2018
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 […]
July 11, 2018
Richard Shepherd from Faringdon, Oxfordshire joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Flight Operations in March 2004. Upon completing his education, he had moved into various […]
July 4, 2018
The X-Forces Enterprise (XFE) team had the pleasure of spending time with some of our beneficiaries during Armed Forces week 25th – 29th June and Reserves […]
July 4, 2018
Royal Navy Reservist Neel Singh made the bold decision to take Dorking Brewery a brand new state of the art brewery to a brand new state […]
June 27, 2018
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 21, 2018
X-Forces Enterprise (XFE) had the pleasure of spending a full working day with Sir John Timpson MBE, Chairman, Timpson on Wednesday 6th June 2018. Sir John […]
June 20, 2018
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 […]
June 18, 2018
In a business determining which expenses are allowable is important, as these items are included in the taxation calculation each year. Key jargon: Tax deductible Tax […]
June 13, 2018
With a family history of two generations of relatives both serving in the military, Sophie Byrnes from Guisborough knew she wanted a career where she could […]
June 12, 2018
First Women UK are launching a free photography exhibition celebrating 100 fiercely phenomenal women from 20th July until 22nd August taking place in the Dyson Building […]
June 11, 2018
Accountancy tips – Clive Lewis, Head of Enterprise, ICAEW Choosing which company format is appropriate for your business is a key decision. But it has […]
June 4, 2018
X-Forces Enterprise was honoured to be alongside The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS), The British Army and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for a special Science, […]
June 4, 2018
Richard H Tucker MBE, originally from Cornwall, served for 20 years in the RAF where one of his tours included the first Gulf War. Upon leaving […]
May 29, 2018
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 21, 2018
After 22 years’ service as a Royal Air Force Avionics Engineer, 43-year old Scott Keegan from South Derbyshire decided it was time to put aside his […]
May 14, 2018
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
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 […]
May 3, 2018
A desire for a change of career from policing and motorsport engineering took partners Tom Richardson and Ollie Boulton on to a totally different path – […]
April 23, 2018
London April 2018. The 2018 Soldiering On Awards ceremony took place on Friday 20th April at London’s Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel. These awards are a […]
April 19, 2018
Natalie Trezise had spent enough time as a Services spouse – seeing families pack, move and settle down in new posts – to know that there […]
April 18, 2018
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 28, 2018
Following a medical discharge after 16 years with the Royal Navy, 37-year old Alexander Scott from Lee-on-the-Solent in Hampshire knew exactly what he was going to […]
March 21, 2018
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
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
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 26, 2018
Care Force Consulting Limited uses an Integrative and Functional Medicine approach to patients with the aim of getting to the root cause of their chronic health […]
February 14, 2018
After graduating from University in 2015, Royal Marines Spouse Jo just couldn’t picture herself in a conventional job working for someone else. I had the ambition […]
December 4, 2017
In autumn 2017 Royal Marines military spouse Olivia Smith launched Olivia & Pearl, an accessible, luxury pearl jewellery brand and online retailer. Providing collectable, classic and […]
September 19, 2017
Resilience, ambition, leadership, persistence, teamwork, organization, courage – all words and characteristics that come to mind when thinking of our armed forces. The brave men and […]
September 13, 2017
On Monday, September 11, X-Force’s CEO, Ren Kapur MBE, joined the Minister for Defence People and Veterans, Tobias Ellwood for a charity networking breakfast. Ren along […]
June 27, 2017
The launch of the 2018 Soldiering on Awards, took place at the Ministry of Defence on Thursday 15 June 2017. The event was sponsored by Thales, […]
June 16, 2017
In 2016, RAF veteran Steve arrived for the first day of a Business Experience programme hoping to turn his part-time massage work into a business he […]
June 12, 2017
Part 1: The Business Plan By Clive Lewis, ICAEW, in conjunction with X-Forces A new series of articles – courtesy of X-Forces, in conjunction with the […]
May 19, 2017
For many small businesses choosing the right strategy for marketing can often be a big headache, not knowing which form will be best for their […]
May 5, 2017
One of the first decisions a start-up business must make is what business format to trade under. There are three basic formats sole trader, limited company […]
April 7, 2017
Are you thinking about self-employment but don’t necessarily want to take on the risks associated with starting a completely new business? Whilst going self-employed can involve […]
April 5, 2017
Identify the Profit or Loss Many businesses do not have adequate systems for identifying the profitability of different products and services, or even by the business […]
March 31, 2017
RecruitME was founded as a start-up in 2015 by friends and veterans, Chris Buck (front middle) and Howard Rudder (front left). In the 2 years they […]
March 22, 2017
With a background in the Royal Air Force Fire and Rescue Services, Shaun has a history of dealing with traumatic situations. Now going in to business […]
March 17, 2017
Having had another successful week in Brighton visiting Blind Veterans UK, we have had the pleasure of meeting some very inspirational people. We have been lucky […]
March 15, 2017
Digital marketing is primarily defined as the marketing of a product/service to a consumer using a digital medium. The marketing effort can take many forms and […]
March 8, 2017
For exporters the longer lead times between providing the goods or services and getting paid can present particular financial problems. There are a range of alternative […]
March 1, 2017
Deciding to not have fixed premises can be daunting. You may worry that without fixed premises, your business may not seem as professional or that customers […]
February 14, 2017
X-Forces has supported several couples to launch their business ventures together! Hear why they love working together! Tree, Two, One – Cornwall “My Husband & I […]
February 8, 2017
What is a franchise? When you are buying a franchise, you are buying the right to run a smaller, similar, version of an established business model […]
February 5, 2017
Why is cash flow important? Most businesses are funded with cash from the proprietor, which is sufficient until the business starts growing. Problems often start when […]
January 28, 2017
Thank you for tuning in to the final part of our ‘Meet the Entrepreneurs’ series! In this Blog, we meet Alex, former Grenadier Guard from Surrey. […]
January 27, 2017
Find out more about 2 more of the #XFSuccess businesses who we met last week! Dorking Brewery Neel, Royal Navy Reserve from Surrey Neel Singh, […]
January 27, 2017
As a tradesman it can often feel difficult to execute on marketing activities when you are always on the move and working away from an office. […]
January 26, 2017
Last week X-Forces were joined by five entrepreneurs that we have supported since our launch in 2013. These business owners come from varying Armed Forces backgrounds, […]
January 11, 2017
A start-up business should prepare a business plan to map its progress to profitability. For start-ups the sales forecasts are critical – particularly how the new […]
January 6, 2017
On Monday Londoner’s across sectors will be considering working from home as the Underground grinds to a halt, however, for Start Ups and Self Employed freelancers […]
January 5, 2017
One of the most frequently asked questions in X-Forces training, workshops and coaching is, what do I need to understand about VAT? In this month’s blog […]
December 24, 2016
We have arrived at the time of year when after the Christmas rush is over, things are winding down, we can take time to pause and […]
December 13, 2016
Accounting records to satisfy the tax authorities Legally you have to keep accounting records for your business. This is so you can fill in your tax […]
December 2, 2016
Our Founder and CEO, Ren Kapur, has received her MBE today following recognition in Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday 2016 Honours List. Ren Kapur’s services to Entrepreneurship […]
November 25, 2016
Investment The Government will invest £400 million into the British Business Bank to help support the growth which is good news for both startup and ensuring […]
November 7, 2016
“Will I need finance to set-up my business?” is one of the first questions a start-up business must answer. This might be to fit-out a premises, […]
October 31, 2016
Last week X-Forces joined Lord Young of Graffham and Chelsey Baker, founder of National Mentoring Day at the House of Lords to celebrate the inspiring relationships between Mentors […]
October 19, 2016
The Beard and Sabre Cider Company, the Cotswold’s revolutionary craft cidermakers, hosted a live community pressing on Saturday the 1st of October 12-6pm. The aim of […]
October 3, 2016
What business format a start-up adopts will affect the amount of tax the start-up pays. It will also impact other areas such as liability for losses, […]
September 29, 2016
X-FORCES 3RD ANNIVERSARY – MEET OUR 3RD BIRTHDAY SMALL BUSINESS PANEL! X-Forces supports entrepreneurs from across the Armed Forces Community, from various backgrounds and all with […]
September 27, 2016
X-FORCES 3RD ANNIVERSARY – OUR SMALL BUSINESS SUPPLY CHAIN! On Wednesday night we brought together the inspiring stories of some of our 700+ entrepreneurs and deployed […]
September 8, 2016
Reserves Day has arrived! Today celebrates the commitment and contribution of our Reserve Forces throughout the UK. Providing approximately a sixth of our Armed Forces Personnel, […]
August 19, 2016
Determined to produce and provide an alternative to the influx of cured meats being produced abroad, Adrienne has set up her own business to produce her […]
August 8, 2016
This week we asked Anthony from Tree Surgery Business, Tree Two One to guest blog for us, and he has given aspiring entrepreneurs some top tips! […]
August 8, 2016
BUSINESS ADVICE AND MARKETING FOR ARMED FORCES ENTREPRENEURS: LONDON Another successful workshop for Ex-military Entrepreneurs took place in London yesterday supported by ABF The Soldiers’ Charity […]
August 7, 2016
In conjunction with ICAEW’s support of X-Forces 3rd Anniversary, we will be releasing a series of articles supporting entrepreneurs and small business owners by answering some of […]
July 20, 2016
Struggling to understand what to write in a business plan? This week we asked our Credit Manager, Simon, for 10 top tips of features he looks […]
July 7, 2016
Passion leads to great things Passion usually leads to great things and the story is no different for James Hunter of Monkey Wrench Bespoke. Having a […]
July 1, 2016
In this Officer’s Association Webinar, X-Forces offer an introduction to Enterprise and what to consider before making the leap into Self-Employment. As we know, starting up your […]
May 23, 2016
Twyfest is a community event in the small Berkshire village of Twyford that runs for 10 days between 27th May – 11th June. There will be […]
May 10, 2016
This week the Invictus Games landed in Florida, USA as our first Self-Employment and Enterprise Workshop is being delivered at the Hasler Naval Service Recovery Centre […]
April 29, 2016
X-Forces were at the Royal British Legion’s Annual Conference at the University of Warwick this week to talk to the Operations staff, Case Officers and senior […]
April 21, 2016
Last week X-Forces were in Brighton visiting Blind Veterans UK. We were shown around the amazing building that overlooks Brighton and the English Channel. Blind Veterans, […]
March 21, 2016
On Friday we hosted our first Military Spouses in Enterprise workshop in Central London. Supported by ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, these workshops are specifically tailored to […]
March 8, 2016
Sophie Jones joined the Officer Training Corps whilst at university, and credits the motivational skills that she leant as key to her success in launching her […]
December 22, 2015
We were delighted to host a workshop to discuss in further detail the work of X-Forces introducing the visiting parliamentarians to our partners; The Start-Up Loans […]
October 11, 2015
At X-Forces we support our candidates by providing their businesses with the best opportunities for success. We do not just offer the financial backing, we offer […]
October 8, 2015
The countryside has been an integral and defining part of British culture for many years. The countryside provides us a place of solace and tranquillity as […]
October 8, 2015
Blogging is a powerful way to drive traffic to your site, and your business. Not to mention, a fun way to record the journey of starting […]
October 8, 2015
Introducing the Company of Makers The Company of Makers focuses on assisting veterans and their immediate families in and around Hampshire as well as establishing a greater […]
September 11, 2015
Is there anyone better placed to teach us about digital business, than google? X-Forces are delighted to be a partner with Google, working with other stakeholders to […]
