The Federation of Small Businesses’ (FSB) mission is to help smaller businesses and the self-employed to achieve their ambitions. FSB offers its members a powerful voice which is heard in governments, at all levels, as well as a range of inclusive vital business services and products; these range from business banking and access to finance, to legal advice and Inland Revenue Inspection (HMRC) cover. FSB also delivers hundreds of networking events across the UK every year as well as running the UK’s annual FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards.

One of XFE’s key values is collaboration. It is paramount to us that we provide the optimum solutions to our beneficiaries and the armed forces in business. We are delighted to be partnering with FSB who are instrumental in providing services and guidance to ensure that businesses can prosper beyond the seed and start-up phase of their evolution. XFE provides support during the Seed; Start and Sustain periods. We have a trusted partner in FSB and they will continue to grow XFE businesses and widen their network further.

XFE and FSB have already collaborated on various activities, for example in 2018 producing an insightful policy report: A Force For Business into the business landscape for service leavers and small business.

The report identified the number of veterans currently running their own businesses, the common barriers they may face when trying to kick-start their business idea, and also the key personality traits that can make veterans such effective entrepreneurs.

This policy report forms an important element of FSB’s partnership with X-Forces Enterprise, and our shared mission to help service leavers consider self-employment as a means to start-up and scale-up businesses.