Business course for military partners celebrates progress

A project designed to develop enterprise skills and encourage business start-up ideas amongst Armed Forces partners has launched again this year after prompting the creation of many thriving firms.

The ten-week course was the first of its kind in Scotland when it took place in 2016 and was awarded almost £20,000 from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund (AFCF). It was delivered by Women’s Enterprise Scotland (WES) and backed by the likes of Royal Bank of Scotland and Business Gateway.

WES said that by the end of the course more than threequarters of participants had started a business, and many are continuing to succeed. The organisation has now obtained further funding from the AFCF to run a second course, which recently launched with 11 participants registered.

WES chair Lynne Cadenhead said the successful enterprises launched last year sell products including seasonal gift boxes and craft packs for children, with Louise Davidson having founded gifts firm Simple Treasures.

Cadenhead added: “We are also hugely impressed by the new business ideas emerging from the 2017 cohort.”

The project’s success has been hailed by participants at a Scottish Parliament event earlier this week. Economy secretary Keith Brown said: “I am delighted to endorse the excellent work of [WES] and their business creation course initiative.” 0 Louise Davidson launched her business after taking part