22 June 2010

Be the Boss, a new service from the Royal British Legion, is supporting recent UK Service Leavers to plan, fund and grow their own small businesses.
The service, which is funded by the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), offers the following:

• Training in small business set-up

• Assistance in writing a business plan and financial forecast

• Funding to assist in the launch or growth of a business

• Periodic health-checks

• Business mentoring.

The scheme is open to former members of HM Armed Forces (including members of the Reserve Forces) discharged on or after 7 October 2001. This includes former Reservists who were on mobilised service in accordance with the Reserve Forces Act 1996 before 7 October 2001 provided they were also on mobilised service on or after 7 October 2001.
Applicants and their businesses must be resident in the UK. Existing businesses seeking funding must have been trading for no more than two years.
Be the Boss is only open to those who have completed an Information, Advice and Guidance programme with a Be the Boss delivery partner. For more information, or to apply to the scheme, visit the Be the Boss website here.