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The Prince’s Trust has set out to help current and former ADF personnel hone their business acumen, hosting two upcoming Launch Labs in Queensland.
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The veteran and youth charity Prince’s Trust has announced the launch of two new Launch Labs, a free half-day program designed to help members of the veteran community interested in self-employment and entrepreneurship refine their business skills.
Hosted in Brisbane on 1 March and Townsville on 20 March, the program will see participants test, assess, and progress their business ideas, and gain critical insights into generating leads and communicating with customers.
Since 2015, the Prince’s Trust has helped over 1,200 participants, having delivered 117 programs and championed over 200 Australian Defence Force community businesses.
“Launch Lab is free and gives veterans the confidence, networks, and skills to explore a business idea,” Myf Wurth, project lead for Defence members and their families, said.
“We know that there are many veterans – especially young veterans – who are keen to transfer the skills they gained in the Defence Force to their own business. As the name suggests, Launch Lab is a great place to start.”
In supporting the participants, the trust leverages industry expertise and a global network to support the veteran entrepreneurs, with ideas ranging from saffron farming, tourism and organic skincare, to cyber security, social enterprise, and veteran support services.
The program is open to current and transitioning ADF members as well as their partners, those separated from Defence members and widows.
The Prince’s Trust is also scheduled to release additional face-to-face and virtual programs across the country in 2024.
Karin Bennett, program participant and founder of Your Fresh Start Financial Services, explained that the program taught vital business skills that help individuals get their businesses off the ground.
“The program made me dig down into what we need to make this business work ... it connected me to other women all over the country doing the same with other small businesses,” Bennett said.
Other participants have praised the program, showing them how to best utilise their unique skill sets gained from a life of service.
“What I found in the Prince’s Trust is they draw this thread around all the skills you have in Defence that are usable outside, skills I hadn’t thought of because you just live it – you don’t sell it – and that woke me up to what I could offer others,” Nicole Bradley, of Nicole Bradley Consulting said.
