A GROUP of Armed Forces widows are set to develop their business ideas thanks to a bespoke course run by start-up X-Forces Enterprise Community Interest Company (XFE).

The idea came about when X-Forces founder and CEO Ren Kapur was invited to speak at a gathering of the Army Widows’ Association (AWA).

When AWA chairman Helen Townend explained there was interest in the type of training that XFE offers, they teamed up with the Forces Pensions Society to fund a tailor-made course.

Katy Clark, who runs Little Grey Dog Design, signed up for the course to learn about the legal and financial aspects of running a business.
“I wanted to become a freelance graphic designer but didn’t know how to make it a reality,” she said. “I’ve learned so much. I’d never heard of things like value statements and cash flow forecasting, but I now feel confident to implement them for my business.”

Steps to success

The five-step Empowering Armed Forces Widows and their Dependants through Enterprise course covers:

  • Discovery: the good, the bad, and the ugly of self-employment
  • Business planning: framework, learning, and planning
  • Coping strategies and reflection
  • Funding and launch: to get you ready for the market
  • Ongoing support – 12 months of mentoring and exchanging knowledge.

Having reached step five, Katy believes the ongoing mentoring support will be invaluable: “I now have the tools I need to develop my business and I’m excited for what the future holds.

“I would recommend this course to anyone who has even the slightest inkling of a business idea. The course title is so accurate; I left the room each day feeling empowered with the knowledge and confidence to achieve my goals.”

To find out about future courses, contact XFE on 0207 811 3237 or craig@x-forces.com or, to be part of the Army Widows Association, visit armywidows.org.uk

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