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Armed forces veterans encouraged to "be the boss"

Armed Forces veterans looking to start their own business or become self-employed will be given more support under a new £5m Government scheme, it was announced today.

The Government's "Be the Boss" campaign, to be delivered by the Royal British Legion, will provide ex-service personnel with loans and grants to assist with the costs of starting and growing a business.

The Royal British Legion will also increase the information and advice available to those looking to set up a business, including matching to mentors to provide assistance to those in the early stage of their business career.

Department for Business Minister Lord Drayson said:

"In my time at Defence, I've been inspired by the talent, capability and can-do attitude of the armed forces. Those are exactly the qualities you need in business too, but 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."

Veterans Minister Kevan Jones said:

"So many members of the Armed Forces have the skills and discipline to make a success of their own business. This scheme will provide them with the tools - and confidence - to develop sound business plans, as well as funding start-up costs. It is another example of our commitment to the men and women who have served our country."

Royal British Legion will provide up to £5m 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, which builds on the Legion's "Civvy Street" website service.

Sue Freeth, Director Welfare for The Royal British Legion, said:

"The Royal British Legion will draw upon its extensive resettlement experience to ensure that these funds are used to equip service leavers to get successfully into self-employment or to start up small businesses."

Captain Sarah Steel served in the Army's Royal Logistics Core for 10 years. After she left the Forces in 2000, she struggled to find childcare for her children. That inspired her to retrain as a nursery teacher and start her own business. She now owns a chain of 12 children's nurseries - four of which are on Ministry of Defence bases.

Sarah Steel said:

"Running your own business can be challenging at times but it's certainly rewarding. I've learned that the key to business success is having a really strong business plan. Having easy access to mentors - people who had been there before - would have been a great help to me and I'm sure others will benefit from this service."

Paul Kyriakides left the Army in 1999 after serving as a Lance Corporal in the Kings Regiment. Upon leaving, the Army paid for him to attend a two-week course on telecoms cabling. In November 2008, he was made redundant. However, RBL helped him to start up his own business last year. He was provided with advice and a loan to set up his own plant-growing business as a sole trader (Kyrian Plants). He now sells at farmers' markets in London and the South East. He also works part time as a self-employed telecoms engineer.

Mr Kyriakides said:

"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. Their help in developing a business plan helped me to overcome many pitfalls - although I wish that I had a mentor to bounce ideas off!

"These are difficult times and it would be wrong for me to suggest that starting your own business is easy. However, it is an incredibly rewarding experience and has allowed me to use the discipline and hard work that I learned in the Army."