Empowering Military Spouse Entrepreneurs
Milspo were awarded a grant of £33,000 in March 2024 under the MOD Armed Forces Families Fund: Supporting Partners Programme for their project The Launch Accelerator.
Designed and delivered by experienced military partners with a track record in online business support, the business start-up course equips participants with essential skills and knowledge to enable partners to launch their own sustainable business with support from a ready-built network of peers.
The Launch Accelerator offers an online programme designed to specifically help UK military spouses and partners turn their business vision into reality. Not only does it cover the business foundations – from validating your idea to mastering marketing strategies – it also includes exercises for overcoming self-doubt and building resilience, essential confidence-building skills for an entrepreneur.
“It’s brilliant. I love that it’s run by a small group of inspiring women who understand the military world”
The programme is currently working with their second cohort of students. Many of the participants care for babies and young children, the bite-sized nature of the course delivery enables them to make meaningful progress towards their business goal in and around their existing commitments.
The focus is supporting partners in building a business that meets their needs and supports their military family.
Businesses in development include:
- Coaching and consulting
- Music teaching
- Language teaching
- App development
- Children’s clothing
- Marketing support
- Events management
The course material provides live Q&A sessions and an online community where participants can connect, share experiences, and build relationships. Engaging with like-minded individuals is a key part of the experience, making learning more interactive and collaborative.
Support continues beyond the 8-week course with an additional 6 months of accountability, mentorship and encouragement. Once their businesses launch, graduates are added to the FindAMilspo directory and featured on the Milspo social media channel, helping to expand their marketing reach.
“My girls can see their mum doing something she’s passionate about and they’re proud.”
Commenting on the project’s success so far, Jess Sands, founder of Milspo Business Network, said:
“It has been a whirlwind 5 months since we opened the doors to The Business Launch Accelerator Course and welcomed our first students. Working with and getting to know them has been incredibly inspiring and spurs us on to do all we can to help them, and other military spouses and partners achieve their entrepreneurial dreams.
One of our first graduates to launch her business, Bekky, who makes beautiful handmade children’s clothes from her home in Plymouth, proudly describes herself as ‘Mum, Navy wife and New Business Owner, sewing beautiful clothing for you’ in her emails to potential customers.”
The next round of The Launch Accelerator course opens in summer 2025.
“It isn’t about learning how to set up your business, but actually setting it up and giving you the confidence to do it.”
What to know more?
Here is the full course checklist
Check out here a sneak peek behind the scenes video of the course
Kat Cuthbert Psychotherapy – Find a MILSPO