A TWYFORD entrepreneur has been named an MBE today for services to the armed forces community in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Ren Kapur, 46, is being recognised for her social enterprise X-Forces, which she founded in 2013.

The organisation helps ex-service members and their families start their own businesses through start-up loans, mentoring and support.

Ren, who is also the CEO, was taken completely by surprise when she received the Cabinet Office’s letter confirming the award.

She said: “I feel both elated and humbled to have received this recognition, amongst some tremendous public figures.

“The last three years have been incredibly hard work and, together with our many valued partners, we have achieved the primary aim of breaking down barriers.”

Ren, who at 16 dreamed of joining the army, started X-Forces because she believed the power of enterprise could help reintegrate ex-forces members back into civilian life.

She aimed to nurture the qualities honed by military training, such as trust and teamwork, to turn servicemen and women into inspiring business leaders.

“I knew it wasn’t going to be easy to earn my stripes in the military community however I didn’t know it would be so tough in year one,” she said.

The mother-of-two joked that the experience could be described as her commercial combat initiation.

Since its inception, Ren’s company has to date assisted in launching more than 600 new businesses, facilitated more than £6 million in government funding and permanently shifted the armed forces landscape.

The Twyford resident remains humble about her achievement and is always touched when she gets an email from one of the individuals she has helped.

She added: “The MBE is not just mine, it’s for us all at X-Forces and its startups.

“It’s more acceleration to the cause.”

Ren believes the business has the potential to come on leaps and bounds in the next five years.

“I aim to help other communities to develop similar models,” she continued.

X-Forces chairman Martin Wing congratulated Ren on her achievement.

He said: “In a short period of time Ren has established X-Forces as an effective service that has changed the outlook for the armed forces community.

“Her indefatigable passion for enterprise and improving prospects has won credibility and respect in a male-dominated environment, while inspiring her team.”

For more information visit www.x-forces.com.