unemployment and going self employed

red_devil

Has anyone unemployed thought about trying to set something up and if so what help is available in your area?

DCFC79

We might be trying something soon, possibly computing like set up, upgrades, repairs etc, just need to work out pricing and maybe adjust the leaflet slightly. T shirt printing seems to be catching on as i saw 2 today plus theres 1 in the local town. I got in too late for it.

Horace

I started into self employment via the jobcentre when they ran a New Deal Programme for Self Employment. There isnt much help out there to be honest, I did some free courses with the HMRC (to fill in a tax return), some with Business Link and some with Business Venture (part of my local Chamber of Commerce).

At the end of my New Deal, I signed off and instead of getting £60.58 a week, I got working tax credits totalling £51.18 a week.

I started out organising weddings and switched to organsing business events (hated dealing with stroppy brides who wanted to pay me less than the minimum wage). It hasn't been easy, I do occasional admin work for someone but I won't be working with him for the next two weeks or so and I will need to find something else so that I can pay my bills:( It is extremely tough out there at the moment.

Saying that if you are under 25 then you may be able to get help from The Princes Trust other than that there is very little. No grants to be had anywhere either.