FSB calls for better access to finance for self-employed in the Armed Forces Community

Responding to new research, ‘Self-employment and the Armed Forces Community’ published today (10 October) by The Institute for Employment Research at the University of Warwick and supported by X-Forces Enterprise and funded by Forces in Mind Trust:

Mike Cherry, National Chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said:

“FSB welcomes the ‘Self-employment and the Armed Forces Community’ report. It shows that self-employment can be a viable and rewarding career path for Armed Forces service leavers, as well a sensible choice for the partners and spouses of serving personnel. But it also shows that more support is needed from Government and charities to help more of the armed forces community to start-up and succeed in self-employment.

“This research finds that access to finance is a major barrier to successful self-employment for the Armed Forces community and I have been asking Government for some time to make access to finance easier for all self-employed people. This report shows that this would be particularly pertinent for service-leavers.

“FSB’s research has found that 21 per cent of the self-employed have struggled to access a mortgage with almost 50 per cent experiencing poor access to credit. FSB has called on the Government and the FCA to bring together industry leaders to work on addressing the current barriers that prevent certain communities, like service-leavers, from gaining good access to finance.

“This includes creating a more flexible set of mortgage repayment terms as well as asking lenders to take into account the wider assets of an individual such as stocks and future revenue as means to provide proof of regular income.

“This along with the recommendations set out in today’s ‘Self-employment and the Armed Forces Community’ report, including skills and training and mentor provision, will have a real positive impact on the success of service leavers and others from the Armed Forces community in self-employment.”

FSB recently appointed Ren Kapur MBE as a volunteer Armed Forces Champion for small businesses to help support more people from the Armed Forces community in self-employment.

Notes to editor

1. ‘Self-employment and the Armed Forces Community’ 10 October, a report by The Institute for Employment Research at the University of Warwick and supported by X-Forces Enterprise and funded by Forces in Mind Trust
2. About FSB

As the UK’s business support group, FSB is the voice of the UK’s small businesses and the self-employed. Established over 40 years ago to help its members succeed in business, FSB is a non-profit making and non-party political organisation that’s led by its members, for its members. As the UK’s leading business campaigner, FSB is focused on delivering change which supports smaller businesses to grow and succeed. FSB offers members a wide range of vital business services, including access to finance, business banking, legal advice and support along with a powerful voice in Government. Each year FSB also runs the UK’s FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards. 

www.fsb.org.uk