Soldiering On Awards Winners Announced
April 5, 2019
2019 Soldiering On Awards: 12 Months of Opportunity
April 15, 2019
The first XFE workshop aimed at Cadet Forces has taken place over the weekend of 22-24 March 2019 in Greenwich.
17 cadets from the Greater London Army Cadet Force (ACF) enrolled on the ‘Enterprise for Life’ pilot scheme that offered an insight into business and inspired an entrepreneurial approach to support confidence building in business. The cadets even presented their business ideas in a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style pitch.
The XFE team were grateful to be joined by guest speakers:
– Neel Singh, Royal Navy Reservist and Owner, Dorking Brewery;
– Staff Sargant Martin Reed, Training SSgt ATC Pirbright;
– Simon Ferrier, Briefing and Liaison Officer for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.
ACF adult volunteers supported the cadets.
Enterprise hasn’t been a subject available in their syllabus until now. Planning is underway to extend the scheme to the Sea and Air Cadet Forces.
In July the cadets will be presented with a certificate of attendance in a ceremony at the London Stock Exchange.
Cadet feedback was extremely positive. Some of the comments submitted:
“I really engaged this weekend, thought it was run really well.”
“Thank you!! Enjoyed this weekend so much.”
“Thank you so much, can’t wait for the 2nd July.”
XFE founder and CEO Ren Kapur MBE said:
“This residential course was the first of what we hope will be many. The Army Cadet Force fully embraced the opportunity and the cadets were inspiring in their ideas and enthusiasm. We saw the entrepreneurial spark ignite in many of them that weekend.
“Enterprise for young people is an important agenda. With business and commerce at the core of the working world, these skills are essential in the modern society where one job is never for life; an enterprising approach will pay dividends.”
Colonel CM Riley ACF, Army Cadet Force Colonel Cadets, said:
“I am thrilled that the pilot Enterprise For Life programme has got off the ground, a subject that the cadets had been asking for. Feedback on the content was beyond all expectations. One Detachment Commander stated that one of his Cadets had said it was one of the best weekends he’s had with the ACF.
“X-Forces Enterprise have proven a working model that could be rolled out with ease across the Cadet Forces, sitting well with other opportunities that the cadets access in addition to their common core military syllabus.”
