It could be said that working with Veterans and start-ups is the Bloomhill family business. For generations they have served in uniform, supported ex-military personnel, and worked with charities in the Armed Forces community.
Tyler Bloomhill, from North West Leicestershire, served in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was inspired to start his own business when, in 2021, his father began to help his brother-in-law with his fledgling waste management company.
Tyler explains:
“When I was exposed to the operational side of things, the seed of an idea was planted – how to build a business that also incorporated my values and commitment to supporting the Forces community. In late 2022, the process of leaving full-time military employment was underway and I started thinking about my career transition and future work.”
Tyler had been exposed to his entrepreneurial family’s businesses since he was young, so it was a natural progression to for him make the move from the Army to enterprise.
“I had come to realise that the waste business was an excellent way to earn a living and at the same time make a significant social and environmental impact, two things close to my heart,” he says. “I knew there was much to learn, and joining all the dots was complicated. This is where my community, friends and other Veterans came to my aid.”
Funding of just under £10,000 was secured through X-Forces Enterprise, a Business Support Partner to the Government’s Start Up Loans scheme, and Tyler’s waste management company KwikTip Ltd was born. The business specialises in the collection, transport, and disposal of general and hazardous waste for businesses and households.
While Tyler had plenty of insight into the industry through his family connections, he recognised that the day-to-day of running and growing a business was an area in which he needed knowledge. Consequently, he attended the full range of workshops offered by X-Forces Enterprise and supported by ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. From here he developed skills in business start-up, planning, budgeting, cashflow, marketing and more.
Describing his interaction with X-Forces Enterprise, Tyler enthuses:
“I signed up for a number of amazing business workshops and Masterclasses, all of which really gave me the foundation I needed to run this business. The wider X-Forces Enterprise network and some incredibly experienced mentors and entrepreneurs (including XFE Ambassador James Wilthew and Trainer Roger Cawte) have been crucial.”
Of course, like many new entrepreneurs, Tyler has faced his share of challenges along the way. However, KwikTip Ltd is in a good place and he had some words of wisdom for those leaving in the military who are keen to follow in his enterprising footsteps:
“Remember that every day is a school day – you need to be willing to learn and make mistakes. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Have perspective and patience. Never blame and take extreme ownership.”
As for the future, Tyler plans to grow KwikTip through the Service Leavers community, getting Veterans involved and providing them with the opportunity to run their own branches. His favourite part of being self-employed is that it means he has to keep developing himself in order to grow the business – an excellent ethos and one that is clearly working.
Read more self-employment success stories from the Armed Forces community at x-forces.com/case-studies
