Across the Armed Forces third sector, we are united by a desire to support service people and their families at every stage of life. Increasingly, that journey starts earlier than ever, with cadets.
Cadets in Enterprise is a practical enterprise and personal development programme delivered by X-Forces Enterprise for young people from the Army Cadet Force, Royal Air Force Air Cadets and Sea Cadets. Delivered in partnership with organisations such as Rolls-Royce, the programme introduces cadets to enterprise thinking, leadership and financial awareness in a way that complements existing cadet training.
Through interactive workshops, team challenges and real-world problem solving, cadets gain a clearer understanding of how businesses and organisations operate, how ideas are shaped into plans and how skills like communication, teamwork and confidence translate beyond uniform. Crucially, the programme is not about encouraging every cadet to start a business, but about building an enterprise mindset that supports future success in the Armed Forces, employment, education or community leadership.
A standout element of Cadets in Enterprise is exposure to industry and professional environments. Working alongside corporate partners, cadets engage directly with volunteers who share insight into leadership, innovation and responsibility at scale. For many, this is their first experience of a global workplace and helps broaden aspirations while reinforcing the value of cadet skills.
For organisations working across the Armed Forces community, Cadets in Enterprise highlights the benefit of early intervention. By equipping cadets with confidence, resilience and practical life skills at a formative stage, the programme strengthens the pipeline of future service personnel, veterans, volunteers and leaders who will continue to contribute positively to our sector.
Programmes like Cadets in Enterprise demonstrate what can be achieved when charities, corporates and uniformed youth organisations collaborate around a shared aim of long-term positive impact for the Armed Forces community.
If you would like to find out more about Cadets in Enterprise or explore how your organisation could get involved, please contact info@x-forces.com.
