‘Sparkling future’ for veteran's new business following North East BIC support scheme

A business programme designed to support ex-service personnel to become entrepreneurs is celebrating its first success story.

Former RAF electrical engineer Tony Sullivan was among the first cohort to graduate from Veterans RV, a 12-week project run by the North East BIC to help veterans explore the idea of becoming their own boss.

Tony used the training and networking opportunity to develop his idea for a specialist cleaning company harnessing experience he gained in the medical and environmental decontamination industry since leaving the forces.

Now his business, All Things Decontamination, is going from strength to strength with a string of contract wins, a new base at the BIC’s coworking space, plans to employ staff, and ambitions to raise the profile of the industry.

Tony said: “Things are really gathering momentum since the course. After years of working in large organisations, I started my own business with plenty of ideas but no real structure. So, to suddenly have expert business advisers and the energy of a team of ex-forces people on my side made a massive difference.

“You miss the camaraderie when you leave the forces, it’s something that never leaves you. So, it’s been great to be amongst like-minded people starting their own businesses and keen to help each other.”

Tony left the RAF in 2002 after 23 years of service and moved into the decontamination industry, a career that led him into management positions in both the private sector and the NHS, and troubleshooting roles around the world.

During Covid, his work as an NHS cleaning specialist saw him focus on training people to deal with the virus in schools, universities, football clubs and hospitals, culminating in managing decontamination teams at the Commonwealth Games.

Tony’s role became redundant in March last year, as the UK got to grips with Covid and he decided to use his redundancy money to finance his long-term dream to work for himself. He set up All Things Decontamination to provide advice, support and training on medical device and environmental decontamination issues using environmentally-friendly chemistry.

Tony worked alongside 16 other veterans during the programme which was designed to channel their unique set of skills and experience into becoming successful entrepreneurs. Nine new businesses are now in the making.

Former Soldier and the BIC’s Business adviser and Armed Forces ambassador Anthony McDermott helped design and run the programme for fellow veterans, adding: “The success of the programme has highlighted to us how much untapped entrepreneurial potential there is in the veteran community.”

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