Hundreds of Armed Forces families are set to benefit from the award winning ‘Supporting the Unsung Hero’ business start-up programme as the Black Country Chamber of Commerce announce the extension of their training and mentoring programme until 2023.

Created specifically to meet the unique needs of members of the Armed Forces community the programme has been in high demand from spouses, partners and adult dependants’ of serving personnel, as well as Veterans and Reservists to help them realise their ambition to start-up and develop a business.

Now in its ninth year the programme continues to grow in popularity and has already been attended by more than 1500 delegates at MOD bases throughout the UK, overseas and online. 

Sarah Walker, Project Manager says;

“We are so pleased to announce the extension of ‘Supporting the Unsung Hero’ to continue providing service families with the tools, skills and opportunity to optimise their capacity for business and self-employment.  We have come a long way since our first cohort in2013 and to date we have delivered 64 Cohorts throughout the UK at MOD bases from Scotland to Portsmouth and overseas in British Forces Germany, Belgium, Gibraltar, Naples and Cyprus as well as online. It is overwhelming to know that we have been able to positively influence more than 1500 Armed Forces families who have gone on to start their business journey, with many now entering their third and fifth year of trading. We look forward to enabling hundreds more this year to achieve their ambition and turn their bright idea into a real business opportunity.”

‘Supporting the Unsung Hero’ is FREE to members of the UK Armed Forces Community and delivered by the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, holders of the Gold Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Award. The course is now delivered fully online to enable as many members of the Armed Forces community to access the programme and comprises of three stages of support:

• Stage 1: Introduction to business webinar

• Stage 2: Four day business training course delivered online and face to face at MOD 

• Stage 3: Ten months individual business mentoring. The programme has been developed and fine tuned over the years to meet the needs of the service community and includes flexible methods of delivery and mentoring arrangements that fit with the demands of service family life. Delegates also have access to a dedicated closed forum to encourage peer to peer support with further training, events and networking support throughout the year.

Daniel Knott, Semper Fi Photography and SUH programme delegate says; 

“I can’t recommend the Business Start Up Course delivered by Supporting the Unsung Hero enough! I have been living overseas with my Husband who serves in the British Army and had been struggling to get my business off the ground. When I saw the course I immediately went for it and my eyes were opened, we were able to learn from subject matter experts and develop a business brain to complement my creativity. It has helped my business grow, I now have a steady client base and have time to enjoy my photography rather than worry about whether I’m running my business effectively. A big thank you to Sarah and the team who have been supportive throughout.”

For more information visit www.supportingtheunsunghero.co.uk or email: info@supportingthesunsunghero.co.uk