FEATURES RAF FAMILIES reap benefits from
‘Supporting the Unsu The Summer 2014 edition highlighted this university and the great work supporting Armed Forces Families. Following further funding to continue this project, here’s more great news:
O
ver the past year more than one hundred and eighty Dependants of Armed Forces personnel,
Veterans and Reservists have attended the University of Wolverhampton’s unique, business start-up programme. A course, specifically tailored to meet the needs of military families and assist them in setting up a business.
Drawing on the University’s success and reputation to provide business growth, the Armed Forces Dependants’ Business Start- Up Programme ‘Supporting the Unsung Hero’ gives Service families the opportunity to start their own business with the support of a dedicated business advisor.
The programme launched in June 2013, following a successful bid to the £35 million Armed Forces Covenant LIBOR fund made available by the Prime Minister. The University received £205,000 to develop and deliver a programme for 180 Service Dependants, to provide them with the transferable skills and support required to build a business that will not be restricted to a geographical area.
The programme proved to be so successful that in October 2014 the MoD announced a further funding boost to support the expansion of the programme into the next phase. The investment will mean additional places for 540 Service Dependants from the UK, Germany and Cyprus who can take part over the next four years.
To date sixty RAF Dependants have already taken up the opportunity and joined the programme and are on their journey to set up their own business.
The ten month programme is available to the Dependants of Service personnel, Veterans and Reservists at no cost as it has been funded by the Armed Forces Covenant
12 Envoy Spring 2015
LIBOR fund and HSBC Bank. It consists of an Introduction to Self-employment session, a four day Business Start-Up Course and a seven month Individual and Group Mentoring programme. The programme is delivered by the University of Wolverhampton in partnership with the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and the MoD HIVE Information Service.
Sue Hobkirk an RAF spouse from Shawbury, knows just how valuable the programme is; “I decided to enrol on the course to learn how to develop and understand the mechanics of running a business and I have achieved this and so much more. I have made new friends in my local community and really feel appreciated for what I can do,” explained Sue.
Sue has always known Royal Air Force life, living in various RAF bases across the country over the years and experiencing first hand the highs and lows of leading a military lifestyle. Sue came up with her business idea last year and joined the Dependants’ Business Start-Up Programme in September 2014.
A true inspiration, Sue is registered disabled following a severe back injury caused by a fall in 2010 which aggravated a long term back condition brought on by the strain of lifting and carrying her youngest daughter born with Cerebral Palsy. Sue’s children have now left home (her youngest now training to be an occupational therapist at university) and moved on to have children of their own who are the inspiration behind her business.
Sue is a talented seamstress and at the request of her oldest daughter she designed a tepee that can be played with indoors or outside for one of her grandchildren. It was an instant hit and led to several other family members and friends asking her to make them tepees. Sue researched the market in children’s tepees and soon realised that there were few available and those that were did not compare in terms of quality or versatility.
“I have to plan my day around my disability, and little tasks like going to the shops are big challenges for me. I take morphine for the pain so I cannot drive; if my husband is away and I need to travel I have to plan not to take my pain relief. Sewing is a comfort to me as I can sit and feel that I am achieving something and when I heard about the Dependants’ Business Start-Up Programme, I felt inspired to turn my hobby into a business,” said Sue.
Since joining the Dependants’ Business Start-Up Programme Sue has concentrated on ensuring her products comply with
www.raf-ff.org.uk
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