Career advice on offer for military veterans
Armed forces veterans in the North East are being offered free help and advice to set up their own businesses.
Led by the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) in Sunderland, Veterans RV is a 12-week programme aimed at helping former members of the armed forces explore how they can use their experience and skills to become their own boss.
Offering free one-to-one support, expert workshops and networking opportunities, the programme is initially seeking to recruit up to 20 people to join its first cohort this summer.
The North East BIC has helped over 4,000 people set up a business since its inception in 1994.
The initiative is the brainchild of former veterans turned business advisers, Anthony McDermott and Mark
Walsh, both of whom have set up their own businesses since making the transition to civilian life.
Anthony said: “People who have served in the forces develop so many skills that can be transferable to the world of business, from leadership and teamwork to practical skills that are hugely sought after by consumers and businesses.
“But, because of how little support is on offer to help veterans understand how they could use those skills, we don’t see anywhere near as many people make the leap into self-employment as we should do.
“This is why we’ve launched Veterans RV, a programme designed by veterans, for veterans.”
Mark added: “Having served for nine years in the Royal Navy, I have a real passion for helping former armed services personnel to flourish either in employment or running their own business.
"So it has been great working with Anthony and the wider BIC team on this project.
“As someone who has run my own business upon leaving the forces, I know just how daunting a prospect it can be.
"That is why programmes like this, which are informal and designed with veterans in mind, are the key to breaking down the barriers to selfemployment and helping our veterans seamlessly re-integrate to civvy street.”
To find out more about Veterans RV 2023 or to book a place on the pilot programme, go to https://www. ne-bic.co.uk/starting-yourbusiness/veterans-rv/