Back Back

Further funding banked for unsung heroes

09/08/2017

The University of Wolverhampton’s business start-up programme, ‘Supporting the Unsung Hero’ has been awarded further sponsorship by HSBC Bank – extending the venture until 2021.

‘Supporting the Unsung Hero’ is specifically tailored to meet the needs of Armed Forces families, offering them the opportunities and advice in relation to business management and self-employment.

The programme started in October 2013 following a successful bid to the Armed Forces Covenant LIBOR Fund for a Dependants' Business Start-Up programme. Since then, the course and mentoring programme has been in high demand from service families of serving personnel, veterans and reservists, having already been attended by 520 delegates with an expected 740 expected to complete the programme by 2021.

Sarah Walker, ‘Supporting the Unsung Hero’ Project Manager and Lead Trainer, said: “We are proud to be leading this programme and are very grateful to HSBC for continuing to fund the venture which forms an integral part of our range of opportunities for those who are currently serving in the Armed Forces their families and wider military community.

“This programme has the potential to create in excess of 700 hundred new business start-ups by the end of 2021, significantly boosting our economies on a local and national scale with the course being delivered overseas in military locations such as Cyprus, Gibraltar and Germany.”

Sally Wagstaff, a former Nurse in the Royal Navy and military spouse to her husband who serves as a Royal Navy Nursing Officer, enrolled on the first programme in October 2013. Since completing the course she has opened a state-of-the-art laser hair removal clinic in Lichfield and has since built on her success, opening a further salon at Aston Wood Golf and Country Club.

She said: “I simply wouldn’t have started my business without the Supporting the Unsung Hero Business programme. The course has been so important, from giving me the confidence to launch to teaching me the skills to run and importantly grow my business. I recommend the programme highly.” 

‘Supporting the Unsung Hero’ is delivered through the University of Wolverhampton’s Business Solutions Centre in conjunction with the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and The Ministry of Defence Hive Information Service. 

Delegates are offered a dedicated four-day business start-up training programme followed by individual mentoring. They also benefit from a closed online forum to encourage peer support and interaction. Further training, seminars and networking opportunities are available via the University’s Business Solutions Centre, Black Country Chamber of Commerce and Forces Enterprise Network.

For more information please contact Sarah Walker at the University of Wolverhampton’s Business Solutions Centre on 01902 321272 or email: suh@wlv.ac.uk.

ENDS

For more information please contact the Media Relations Office on 01902 32 2736 or 01902 518647.

Date Issued: 10th August 2017

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

Share this release

Related Stories