However, the research also highlights a number of barriers the ex-Service community face in becoming successfully self-employed including:
- A lack of understanding of commercial environments and skills like marketing and communications
- Lack of finance – with many experiencing difficulties in getting loans and having to use their own savings
- Difficulty translating the skills they learned in the Forces into a commercial environment
- Difficulty adapting to a civilian environment – where there was considered to be less teamwork and an overarching focus on money
- Reality falling short of expectations – with some finding it much harder than expected
The report points to the need for better support, information and advice from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) as Service personnel transition out of the Armed Forces – about the realities and practicalities of working in the civilian labour market. Asked when support would be most useful, six months before leaving the Armed Forces and two years after leaving were seen as the most crucial times – showing the importance of having long-term support to ensure the transition succeeds.