Successful veteran businesses deliver many social benefits to ex-servicemen and women, their families and in many communities across Australia, according to Tim Lewis, a retired Royal Australian Air Force member and a veteran entrepreneur.
In this week's episode of Helping Hands, Tim is joined by Mark Leatham, retired member of the Royal Australian Air Force and co-founder of Frontline Labs, and James Milliss, a former army medic and new owner of a veteran business, to discuss the social benefits of veteran businesses.
“If you think about why someone joins the military,” Tim says, “it’s certainly not for the money. There’s a sense of wanting to be part of something bigger … When you have that in your DNA, you don’t lose that when you leave the service.”
A desire to serve, work for the greater social good, and to continue to experience comradery are goals common to most who have left military service and are transitioning into civilian life. For many, including Tim, learning to run their own business becomes a fruitful way to continue to simultaneously fulfil these desires while also equipping themselves to transition successfully to civilian life.
Tim’s journey towards successfully running several businesses that support veteran communities across Australia was encouraged and enabled by his involvement with Frontline Labs; an innovative not-for-profit organisation which seeks to educate and equip veterans to transition to civilian life via avenues of self-employment.
Mark, co-founder of Frontline Labs, says that their Veteran Entrepreneurial Program is for current and former servicemen and women, and their spouses. The program focuses on all aspects of education in how to start a business from the idea stage through to seeking investment and presenting a pitch. It also continues to support veterans like Tim for years into their business journey.
Mark and the team at Frontline Labs love to facilitate and celebrate veteran business success because the benefits are significant both to veterans on a personal level and on a grander scale creating positive impacts for families and communities.
The recent Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide gave 122 recommendations, many of which focus on the importance of connection, community, purpose, education and employment. These outcomes of the Royal Commission demonstrate what Frontline Labs has already seen in practice.
The success of James Milliss provides one such example. James, who initially focused on being an advocate for Soldier On (Frontline Labs’ education partner), has been so inspired by Frontline Labs' excellent resources and veteran support that he and his brother have now begun a journey of their own to run an embroidery business.
James hopes the business will not only support his family, including the creation of a pathway of employment for his son who lives with autism, but, like many veteran entrepreneurs, is passionate to see his business have a positive impact – for James; in indigenous communities.
James’ wife is from Gundungurra Country, and he is passionate to bring young indigenous people along on his business journey; to involve them through the creation of shirts, logos and other embroidered items that feature their artworks. Frontline Labs has been instrumental in equipping James with the skills needed to achieve his business goals.
James explains that Frontline Labs encouraged him the whole way. "I came in and I literally had no idea what I was doing. Before I knew it, I found myself fully invested and excited," says James, explaining how the Frontline Labs community encouraged and continue to support him.
See the SOCIAL BENEFITS OF VETERAN BUSINESSES discussion and the full catalogue of Helping Hands panels at helpinghands.tv. Catch up on full episodes of Helping Hands on 9NOW.
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* Our panellists, Mark Leatham, James Milliss and Tim Lewis, and the Helping Hands producers are available for interview on radio, TV and online to discuss this topic. Get in touch at helpinghands.tv/contact/
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