About X-Forces Enterprise

Our Patron

The Rt Hon Earl Howe GBE PC

Lord Howe was Deputy Leader of the House of Lords between May 2015 and July 2024. He started his relationship with X-Forces Enterprise while he was Minister of State for Defence from May 2015 to 26 July 2019. He is a Conservative member of the House of Lords.

He was educated at Rugby School and Christ Church, Oxford.

Lord Howe served as Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from 1992 to 1995 and as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence from 1995 to 1997. In opposition he served as Spokesperson for Health from 1997 to 2010.

He joined Barclays Bank in 1973, where he served in a number of managerial and senior managerial posts both overseas and in London before being appointed London director of Adam & Co plc in 1987.

Lord Howe is married with 4 children.

Our Board

Chairman

Lt Gen (Ret'd) Richard Nugee CB CVO CBE

Non-Executive Director

Andrew Morgan

Non-Executive Director

Deana Rouse

Non-Executive Director

Diane Côté

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Ren Kapur MBE

Chief Operating Officer

Martin Wing

Our Team

Senior Business Advisor

Akshat Garg

Event Coordinator 

Cayla Ballantine

Operations Manager

Debbie Boundy

Learning, Development and Community Events Manager

Doug Thomson

Finance Assistant

Kristyna Racz

Start-Up Coordinator

Mark Plunkett

Training Manager

Roger Cawte

Credit Manager

Simon McCormack

Projects Assistant

Zoé Harris

Our Associates

Communications Associate

Anna Oliver

Projects Associate

David Mason

Digital Marketing Associate

Michael Brash

Projects Associate

Sarah Walker

Our Ambassadors

SEO Consultant - SEM Help

Jen Bradburn

Co-Founder - Carma Earth

Jim Holland

Enigmatic Business Solutions

Heather Warner

Wirral Estate Agent

Liam Gretton

Click Marketing

Amy Rawcliffe

The Afghan Rug Shop

James Wilthew

Our thanks go to all those within the community who have previously undertaken the role of Ambassador, and continue to advocate on our behalf.

Activity Reports

X-Forces Enterprise Activity Report 2023-24

The activities and impact of X-Forces Forces Enterprise during the year April 2023 to March 2024.

X-Forces Enterprise Activity Report 2022-23

The activities and impact of X-Forces Forces Enterprise during the year April 2022 to March 2023.

X-Forces Enterprise Activity Report 2021-22

The activities and impact of X-Forces Forces Enterprise during the year April 2021 to March 2022.

Activity reports for the periods prior to 2021 are available on request.

Our History

Established in 2013 by Lt Col Ren Kapur, MBE, X-Forces Enterprise (XFE) has been instrumental in supporting veterans, service leavers, reservists, spouses and family members in their business ventures.

The inception of XFE has its origins with Ren who, having seen how organisations such as the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development boasted 90% success rates for their micro-financing in Eastern European Countries, asked the question; Why we as UK PLC were ready to accept much poorer success rates? The additional influence was the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, which led to a significant reduction in military personnel and thousands of people entering the job market.

Recognising the challenges faced by those serving personnel transitioning to civilian life, Ren developed a comprehensive blueprint for self-employment support tailored to the Armed Forces community. This initiative was bolstered by collaborations with the Ministry of Defence, the Cabinet Office, and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.

A pivotal achievement was the policy change in 2013 allowing Government supported Start Up Loans funding for individuals over 30, broadening financial support for aspiring entrepreneurs. Money alone was not the answer, the educational wrap around from the MOD and the third sector also being key to support transition to the commercial world.

Since 2013, XFE has facilitated the launch of over 3,000 businesses, providing access to more than £30 million in start-up funds and delivering over 50,000 hours of training. In 2023, XFE celebrated its ten-year milestone anniversary at the London Stock Exchange, highlighting its significant contributions to the military community’s entrepreneurial landscape.

Today, XFE continues to champion enterprise learning, offering free-at-point-of-delivery training so individuals can navigate the complexities of self-employment and business ownership. The importance of enterprise learning is emphasised further by the organisation’s focus on training and education through the Cadets in Enterprise programme.

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Chairman

Lt Gen (Ret'd) Richard Nugee CB CVO CBE

Lieutenant General Richard Nugee was commissioned into the Army in 1986. He served on numerous operational tours in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Cyprus and Afghanistan while at the same time focussing on personnel (HR) roles within the Army and Ministry of Defence. This included instructing at the Joint Services Command and Staff College, being responsible for the organisational design of the Army post the 2010 Defence Review; and latterly spending the last 4 years as Chief of Defence People (i.e. Defence Global HR Director) responsible for central policy for all Service personnel, their families, all Defence Civil Servants and the nation’s veterans. In January 2020 he took on a review of Defence’s approach to delivering carbon net zero by 2050 and is the Defence representative across Government for COP26.

Appointed MBE in 1998, CBE in 2012, CVO in 2016 and CB in 2020 he was awarded the US Legion of Merit for his services in Afghanistan in 2014. He has numerous interests both within Defence and outside, including as a Non-executive director of the NAAFI. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute, has an MA in Military Affairs and is a Graduate of the City and Guilds Institute. Since 2024, he has been Co-Chair of Judges for the Soldiering On Awards. He is Chair and Trustee of a number of charitable trusts.

Lt. Gen. Richard Nugee joined the X-Forces Enterprise Board in June 2020.

Non-Executive Director

Andrew Morgan

Starting his career as an electronics engineer at BAE Systems, Andrew moved into management consultancy in 1994. He subsequently became a founding partner of Curzon Consulting in 2002 and has since grown the organisation into an award winning UK based consultancy.

During his consulting career he has directed numerous large-scale business transformations and growth programmes across a broad range of sectors including Financial Services, Media, Engineering Services and Utilities. Andrew has a particular specialism in operating models, operational efficiency, profit optimisation and customer growth.

A Corporate Member of X-Forces Enterprise (XFE) Big Business supporting Small Business initiative since October 2017, Curzon Consulting proactively support XFE by providing ongoing consultancy support to the XFE leadership team on a pro bono basis.

Non-Executive Director

Deana Rouse

Deana is currently the Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Government Security Function in the Cabinet Office, responsible for delivering an effective cross-Government Security Function to protect Government assets and people. Prior to taking up this role in May 2019, Deana undertook a range of roles in the Ministry of Defence over a period of 20 years.

As an HR professional within the wider business context, this included as the Head of Civilian Workforce and Secretariat in Navy Command where she led the Command’s strategic workforce planning, the Department of State function and oversight of the Third Sector; as Chief of Staff to the Permanent Secretary where she led initiatives on behalf of the Perm Sec in relation to leadership, employee engagement, corporate governance and performance management; as the MOD Head of Defence Security; and as the Head HR Business Partner for the Royal Air Force.

Previously, Deana undertook roles in communications, policy, HR, Ministerial Private Office and in support of the military operation in Iraq for which she was awarded the MBE.

Deana is passionate about working with, and supporting, the military community and is delighted to take up the position of Non-Executive Director for X-Forces Enterprise.

Non-Executive Director

Diane Côté

Diane Côté is a Non-Executive Director at X-Forces, Societe Generale Group, a Trustee at Shaw Trust, Chair of La Nuova Musica. She was the Chief Risk Officer and member of the Executive Committee of the London Stock Exchange Group where she also chaired its Foundation and its Diversity & Inclusion Committee.

Prior to this she held the position of Chief Finance Operations Officer and of Group Chief Audit Officer at Aviva plc. Diane also has many years of experience holding senior positions in other leading organisations such as Standard Life (now Standard Life Aberdeen) and Prudential Assurance. She qualified as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with EY.

Past Non-Executive Director roles: Board member and Chair of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee, Novae Syndicates Ltd; Board and Audit Committee member, LCH SA; Board member, Frank Russell Company Ltd; Trustee, Mulberry Schools Trust.

Founder and CEO

Ren Kapur MBE

Ren’s passion to support equality through learning and opportunities has meant that she has been an advisor to Home Office, BEIS, and the Cabinet Office. Other projects include supporting Syrian Refugees, Women and Girls in Business, and Reducing Reoffending Rates. Ren has also championed policy changes and has five successes under her belt.

In 2013, Ren founded X-Forces Enterprise, the UK’s premier organisation for enterprise and start-up skills in the wider military community. Ren was awarded an MBE for services to entrepreneurship in 2016 in the Queen’s 90th Birthday Honours list.  She has held a lifelong passion for the Armed Forces and, in 2017, was appointed a Lt Col. in the Army Reserves.

A social entrepreneur, Ren has harnessed her experience to enable individuals and communities to support themselves and thrive through enterprise. In doing so she has brought together corporate, government, and charity stakeholders at the very highest levels.

Chief Operating Officer

Martin Wing

Martin leads on internal operational aspects of the business, beneficiary delivery programs and stakeholder engagement.

For over 25 years Martin has held a variety of leadership,, business advisor and non-executive director positions within SME, start-up or scale-up operations. He brings to X-Forces Enterprise a variety of experiences in strategy implementation, training and professional development having worked across many different business sectors as a management consultant within the supply chain for both B2B and B2C multi-national organisations. He has been a business owner for over 20 years and also worked on MOD contracts whilst with BAE Systems building Jaguar and Tornado Aircraft.

Martin has an MBA, is a Chartered Engineer and the Armed Forces Policy Champion for the Federation of Small Businesses.

Senior Business Advisor

Akshat Garg

Akshat assists Start Up Loan applicants throughout the process to formulate and communicate their company idea in the form of a business plan with a financial forecast.

Akshat graduated from the University of Delhi with a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce. He holds a double Masters: MBA in Finance from Symbiosis Centre of Distance Learning, and MSc in Business Finance from Brunel University London. Prior to joining X-Forces Enterprise, Akshat has worked in research, financial analysis and management across a range of  industries in India and the UK.

Event Coordinator

Cayla Ballantine

As Event Coordinator, Cayla thrives for all attendees to have a smooth and enjoyable time with XFE. She enjoys building professional relationships with everyone she works with and likes to feel as if she is open to help wherever needed.

As a daughter of a South African army member, Cayla grew up hearing all about the industry and wants to help the community as much as she can.

Operations Manager

Debbie Boundy

Debbie is a seasoned Learning and Development professional with over 30 years of experience in Human Resources, Training, and Development.

She began her career in the public sector, spending 16 years in emergency services, where she developed a strong foundation in her field. During this time, she spent four years managing the Prince’s Trust Team Programme for 16–25-year-olds, forging meaningful collaborations with blue light services and the military community.

Debbie then dedicated a decade to Help for Heroes, where she played a pivotal role in managing and delivering transformative courses and career pathways for Wounded, Injured, and Sick Veterans. Her efforts contributed to the success of the Career Recovery and Recovery College programmes, with the latter being recognised as a 2023 finalist in the Soldiering On Awards’ Working Together category.

Debbie joined X-Forces Enterprise in October 2024.

Learning, Development and Community Events Manager

Doug Thomson

After serving 27 years with the British Army, Doug is passionate about helping veterans, service leavers, and their families to find their next pathway.

Since leaving the military, he has worked for the MOD supporting Wounded, Injured and Sick (WIS) service personnel with their transition, before moving to the Help for Heroes Career Recovery service for WIS veterans and their families.

Doug first attended a XFE course to help understand how to start up his tree surgery business, and joined the team in 2022 to oversee the wide range of training courses and events delivered by XFE for its network.

Start-Up Coordinator

Mark Plunkett

Mark has wealth of experience working within the financial sector. He completed his Certificate in Retail Banking Conduct of Business in 2015 and has also spent time working on the front lines of the NHS.

As a Start-Up Coordinator, Mark provides expertise and a broad knowledge of finance and processes to customers and clients. Mark has a passion for customer services, an abundance of financial and customer service experience and a warm and personable approach.

Training Manager

Roger Cawte

Roger has a real passion for enterprise and has been supporting new businesses for more than two decades.

He has been supporting service leavers, veterans and family members with business training and advice for more than 10 years and has developed a true empathy and understanding of those going through the research and planning stages.

Having run his own businesses in the past, Roger applies his ‘hands-on’ experience and comprehensive knowledge when guiding XFE start-ups.

Credit Manager

Simon McCormack

Simon has a financial background, having gained a wealth of experience within the banking sector for 22 years, and industry for 10.

As a Corporate Banking Relationship Manager with Yorkshire Bank, he was responsible for a portfolio of up to 75 connections, across a variety of business sectors, with individual borrowing facilities of between £250k and £2m.

As Credit Manager at XFE, Simon provides the objective eye to all Start Up Loan applications.

Projects Assistant

Zoé Harris

Zoé took on the role of Projects Assistant after graduating from the University of Birmingham with a degree in English Literature, bringing copywriting and analytical skills.

Zoé also comes from a military family and is passionate about working within a community that she has been part of and shaped by throughout her life.

As Projects Assistant, Zoé  supports our leadership team.

Zoé is driven by community engagement and keen to support ongoing projects, while also considering opportunities for XFE’s growth.

Communications Associate

Anna Oliver

Anna is an experienced Marketing and PR professional, and a Royal Navy spouse. Anna started her communications agency, Fresca Marketing, in 2005 and supports both large national brands and start-up conceptions.

Passionate about improving opportunities for veterans and military spouses in her military community, Anna is well placed to deploy effective communications in the sector.

Digital Marketing Associate

Michael Brash

Michael has been involved with Resettlement and Veterans employment since the Options for Change programme in 1991. He has spent that time championing the excellence of Service Leavers to employers and the wider public.

The driving force behind Pathfinder magazine, Michael led the title to become the foremost source of resettlement and veterans information in the UK.

Michael brings his many years of experience to XFE to deliver the marketing and social media strategy for the organisation, championing our position as the nation’s leading ex-military enterprise organisation.

SEO Consultant - SEM Help Ltd

Jen Bradburn

Jen went into business with the desire to make SEO accessible for sole traders and micro-businesses. Having worked in the web space for twenty years, she is an experienced digital marketer and has experience in planning, designing, creating, and optimising websites over a variety of industry sectors.

As a small business owner herself, Jen is keen to give small business owners and start-ups the tools they need to succeed from day one.

Co-Founder - Carma

Jim Holland

Jim spent 13 years as a weapons engineer in the Royal Navy before moving into high-level positions in the corporate sector. After losing his job at Manchester Airport Group due to the pandemic, he decided to start his own company.

His business focuses on assisting veterans transitioning to civilian life and promoting environmental sustainability, two issues close to his heart.

Jim understands the challenges former military personnel face and is dedicated to using his experience to help others navigate this change.

He resides in Newbury, Berkshire, with his wife Sally and their four daughters, enjoying the bustle of a big family. Through his work and home life, Jim is passionate about providing support and making a positive impact in the community.

Owner - Enigmatic Business Solutions

Heather Warner

As a Royal Navy veteran spouse, living in Scotland, Heather had a very successful 25-year corporate career in Edinburgh. In 2018, she decided it was time for a new challenge and set up Enigmatic Business Solutions. With a real passion for problem solving, Heather’s role as an Online Business Manager and Business Admin Consultant provides transformational support to small business owners supporting them with planning, strategy, streamlining processes and accountability. A key success factor is to reduce overwhelm and free up their time to focus on their passions whilst working towards business growth and increased profit levels.

Heather is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA) and a Committee Member of the Edinburgh Businesswomen’s Club. In November 2022, Heather won the ‘Woman of Inspiration’ award at the Association of Scottish Businesswomen National Business Awards.

Independent Wirral Estate Agent

Liam Gretton

Liam Gretton is a former infantry soldier serving in the Mercian Regiment and Royal Regiment of Scotland. His military career took an unexpected turn in 2017 following a life-altering injury incurred during a promotional course. This challenging period culminated in a medical discharge in 2019, however it also marked the beginning of a new chapter in Liam’s life.

Embracing change, Liam engaged with XFE workshops and masterclasses, which proved to be a turning point in his post-military journey. Fuelled by the skills and insights gained from these events, he ventured into the business world with the launch of a bespoke estate agency. His agency, which is based on the Wirral Peninsula, has quickly distinguished itself with above national average stats and now specialises in prime residential premium homes in addition to partnering with Tranmere Rovers Football Club.

Founder - Click Marketing

Amy Rawcliffe

Amy has built one of the UK’s fastest-growing digital marketing agencies and gets results for clients where other agencies struggle.

Amy comes from a military background and has utilised the core values she learnt in the Armed Forces and used her aptitude, expertise and skillset to succeed in the marketing world.

Owner - The Afghan Rug Shop

James Wilthew

RAF Veteran James Wilthew, owns and operates The Afghan Rug Shop in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire – the only shop purely selling fairtrade Afghan rugs and products outside Afghanistan – anywhere in the world.

Of the four operational campaigns James took part in, one was a 6 month tour of Northern Afghanistan in 2003 as part of the UK Provincial Reconstruction Team. It was here that his fascination for rugs started and where he founded a friendship that was reignited 12 years later, after he managed to track down the man he had previously bought rugs from in Mazar-e-Sharif, using social media.

James won a ‘Highly Commended’ in the Soldering On Awards in 2019, for his positive impact on the Afghan community he supports, which was his introduction to XFE.

‘Having seen the great work XFE do and the support they offer veterans and service leavers interested in business, I was honoured to be asked to be an Ambassador in my region’.