FROM THE GROUND UP

support to transition from self-named nerd to business owner: 'Being a programmer at heart, I had to step out of my coding comfort zone and focus on my design, marketing, accounting, sales and business skills. I sought to absorb as much information as I could to ensure I had every aspect covered. I’ve applied a bit of programming expertise into each and every step, catering each area of the business to work for me and not against me.'

Adam had been aware of X-Forces Enterprise (XFE) in the Army community and knew they offered training to serving personnel and veterans. He enrolled on one of the Masterclass series events ‘Fine Tuning Your Business Pitch’ and found it so useful that he attended two subsequent Masterclass events, ‘Financing Your Business’ and ‘Selling with Confidence’.

'My biggest challenge has been defining my audience and ensuring my branding and message consistency matches that. It feels like it’s been constantly changing and evolving over time,' Adam explains.

'I found XFE’s masterclasses and networking to be most helpful, just when I needed help. I’ve really enjoyed surrounding myself with similar mindsets and similar businesses all seeking to grow and learn from one another, and I’ve made some exciting business relationships as a result.'

An active member of the XFE Knowledge Exchange Hub, an online community supported by Royal British Legion, and a regular at Military in Business™ Networking events, Adam is now providing services to a variety of veteran-led businesses and organisations.

A member of the Chartered Institute for I.T, Adam worked with XFE to deliver a webfocused Masterclass in August 2022 titled ‘Understanding your Website’, tailored for small business owners with guidance to get the most out of your website at the early stages and avoid common pitfalls.

'I am passionate about all things cyber and wish to help the military community to improve their digital presence, as well as offer the learnings I’ve gathered on this enterprise journey.

'My advice to others would be to work hard, take ownership over every aspect and choose your connections wisely. It is a great feeling to have the freedom to tackle the projects I wish and uphold my strong values of security, quality, efficiency at the forefront.'

Cyberjag offers website design, digital consultancy and web development, with a generous 15% discount for veterans, reservists and military organisations.

If you have a brilliant idea for a business but are unsure how to start, check out the free support available via X-Forces Enterprise here.