our

partners

Effective Collaboration

Working with government, corporate and charity partners

Collaboration and partnership are central to X-Forces Enterprise’s mission, uniting key players from government, charity, and corporate sectors to provide the Armed Forces community with tailored enterprise skills, development, and ongoing support for sustainability.

Working with Government
Working with Big Business
Working with Charities
Working with Channel Partners
The X-Forces Enterprise scheme is a fantastic programme. The skills that Service personnel can bring to business are a great asset to the UK and it is important that they have every chance to start their own firm; or to contribute to the growth of existing firms. Initiatives like X-Forces Enterprise celebrate and help to grow our national entrepreneurial spirit, which will play a crucial role in driving our return to long-term economic growth.
The late Lord Young of Graffham

Working with Government

To effect good change we need to share, debate and demonstrate excellence in business and society. Working closely and transparently with government departments provides opportunities to influence and lead on new provision in the Armed Forces community.

Ministry of Defence

X-Forces Enterprise works closely with the Ministry of Defence to both support Service Leavers and their families, whilst also bridging the gap between the MOD and big business. X-Forces Enterprise is the official provider of self-employment training for the MOD’s Career Transition Partnership, delivered by Reed in Partnership. X-Forces Enterprise holds the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award and works closely with Defence Relationship Management (DRM).

Career Transition Partnership

Since November 2015 X-Forces Enterprise has been the Official Business Enterprise Trainer for the MOD through the Career Transition Partnership.

XFE delivers Self-Employment Awareness and Enterprise training to Service Leavers across the United Kingdom.

1-day Self-Employment Awareness workshops are complimented by a 2-day Enterprise and Self-Employment Course that goes into more detail, preparing Service Leavers for their business start-up journey when they leave the Forces.

Department of Work and Pensions

The links between X-Forces Enterprise and DWP are strong, both as referral partners and for knowledge exchange. X-Forces Enterprise works with the Department to communicate the XFE provision through the Job Centres. This relationship also means XFE has up to date access to the latest policy and legislation that may impact beneficiaries entering self-employment.

The Office for Veterans' Affairs

X-Forces Enterprise supports the OVA Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan, contributing in areas relevant to entrepreneurship and self-employment. We encourage dialogue, knowledge exchange and putting forward ideas for our cohort of businesses as they expand from start-up to scale-up. For example, the XFE businesses that employ staff, expand their premises and take on large clients. We aim to work closely with MOD and OVA initiatives to ensure that provision from start-up and to scale-up is more efficient for the UK economy.

British Business Bank

Start Up Loans is a Government-backed scheme which provides fixed-interest personal loans and mentoring support to aspiring business owners. Administered by the British Business Bank, the scheme supports employment, enables economic growth, and has a transformational impact on the lives of thousands of people. X-Forces Enterprise is the British Business Bank’s Specialist Business Support Partner for the Armed Forces community, facilitating access to Start Up Loans since 2013.

Department for Business & Trade

The origins of XFE go back to relationships and agreements with the then Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). Nowadays our working relationships with people from the Department for Business & Trade (DBT) are enhanced and channelled by our close working relationship with the both the British Business Bank and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). XFE is proud to fill the voluntary role of Armed Forces Champion on the FSB Policy team.

Working with Big Business

Big Business has a great role to play to support small business; from doing societal good to making commercial sense in the supply chain.
XFE channels add energy to the UK’s corporate pledges of support for military businesses.

BIG BUSINESS SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESS

For start-ups to thrive and established businesses to remain sustainable, collaboration strengthens the economic ecosystem. X-Forces Enterprise Corporate members are part of the Big Business supporting Small Business Steering Group, bringing together key industry sectors and experts to support the small business agenda.

The Group guides the strategic direction of projects, driving meaningful change for the X-Forces Enterprise Business Community. They provide a platform that empowers the executive team to implement recommendations confidently.

These influential corporates pledge to:
• Offer strategic insights through stakeholder engagement;
• Facilitate knowledge exchange with industry leaders;
• Support learning, training, and development initiatives;
• Simplify access to their procurement processes to enhance supply chain diversity;
• Provide financial backing for engagement and project delivery.

Pets at Home is deeply committed to supporting initiatives that make a positive social impact. Being part of ‘Big Business supporting Small Business’ aligns with our values of community support and collaboration, and champions military entrepreneurs and fosters partnerships that create meaningful opportunities, strengthening individuals and communities alike. We’re proud to stand alongside other businesses in this important effort.

Sarah Woodward – Senior Brand Manager, Pets at Home

Working with Charities

XFE is dedicated to cultivating robust and enduring partnerships with third-sector collaborators. This strategic approach is integral to placing beneficiary provision at the forefront of initiatives, ensuring timely and optimal support and promoting a collaborative and responsive environment within the community.

Royal British Legion

X-Forces Enterprise and the Royal British Legion have been working together since 2013. 

The Royal British Legion supports the XFE Military In Business® Network, as part of an ongoing collaborative project since 2020, enabling mentoring and peer-to peer support for the Armed Forces community in enterprise.

The Royal British Legion also supports XFE’s bespoke initiatives for military spouses/partners and family members that enable self-employment understanding and increase self-confidence.

Army Benevolent Fund

A partner of X-Forces Enterprise since 2015, the Army Benevolent Fund supports enterprise training for the Army community, to enable informed career choices and fulfilling fulfilling futures for veterans and their families.

Greenwich Hospital

Since 2017, Greenwich Hospital has worked with X-Forces Enterprise to support enterprise awareness and skills training in the Naval community. The content explores whether business could work for them and key considerations, and the more detailed training includes practical tools and skills to go forward to launch. 

The Confederation of Service Charities

XFE is a proud member of Cobseo – the Confederation of Service Charities – and upholds the organisation’s values to collaborate in support of the Armed Forces community.
XFE plays a very active role in the Cobseo Employment Cluster, a cooperative working group that aims to improve the quality, integration and reach of employment, training and education services.

Forces Employment Charity

X-Forces Enterprise (XFE) and Forces Employment Charity (FEC) work together to strengthen support for the Armed Forces Community, combining XFE’s expertise in self-employment and entrepreneurship with FEC’s focus on broader employment. This partnership enables referrals, joint events, enhanced support in devolved nations, mutual promotion, and optimisation of CTP support for service leavers in transition.

Royal Marines Charity

XFE are the preferred delivery partner of the Royal Marines Association (RMA) to work with on self-employment, business ownership and entrepreneurship. XFE offers its full suite of services through the funding relationships we have with RBL, Greenwich Hospital and the British Business Bank.

Supporting Army veterans to find rewarding careers post service, including self-employment,
is a key focus of our work. X-Forces Enterprise provides the knowledge to determine if business
is the right path for them and tools to succeed. It brings great pride to see so many new ventures
flourish, and their owners fulfilled, thanks to this progressive partnership.”

Major General (Ret’d) Tim Hyams CB OBE – Chief Executive, Army Benevolent Fund

Working with Channel Partners

In its mission to support business owners in the Armed Forces community, XFE presents opportunities via channel partnerships with proven and effective organisations and services that bear tangible benefits.

FSB

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Xero

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Finance For Forces

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