New Enterprise Allowance scheme - My story

smike

Andy2013 wrote: »

The simple fact is so few JC workers actually know the truth or facts and training seems to be very poor not to mention they still like there little power trip by making us look bad, but it does feel real good to get one over these little weasels whom treat those on JSA with such contempt.

I agree with you on this one, 2 weeks ago I went to ask about the NEA and got told by not just one but two members of staff that I needed to be on JSA for a year.... we all know that is wrong. I had to leave as I was so mad.

I went to sign on today and asked about the scheme and just like that I have a phone call coming my way in the afternoon. My business will be Accountancy and Bookkeeping. After reading what you all said I should be in luck with the Business plan, as if I can't do a budget and cash-flow i shouldn't do this type of work lol!

TrueBlue1965

ggg1, you dont have to do the job search anymore if your doing the NEA business plan! Sounds like you have been excepted on the NEA programme if you have done the induction and signed some forms. The delay in the phone call is likely to be while they find a mentor for you. Get yourself to JCP, ASAP. Ask to speak to a manager. Ask the manager to sort the issue out over your benefits being suspended. If the manager is unsure or believes that you do have to continue doing the job search. Ask the manager to contact either your NEA provider or the person in back office who deals with NEA. They should be able to confirm to the manager that you dont have to do the job search. Once the manager agree,s that you dont need to do the job search anymore. Ask for your money to be paid the same day!

I had my 19 week NEA check today at JCP. Turned up with my evidence that im still trading. I was told by a new member of staff that she would make an appointment for me for Monday, lol. Told her that she was to do the evidence check now. She said, really and there was 30 seconds of silence !!! She came across as one of those people who likes looking down on you. Told her to do the evdence check now or find someone who knows what they are doing, lol. I enjoyed the look of horror on her face when she saw my books. Who,s looking down on who now I was thinking, lol. Eventually, I explained what she had to do and educated her a little about NEA. Funny how she changed her attitude once she saw me as a person and not some kind of low life!

Andy2013

Told her that she was to do the evidence check now. She said, really and there was 30 seconds of silence !!! She came across as one of those people who likes looking down on you. Told her to do the evdence check now or find someone who knows what they are doing, lol. I enjoyed the look of horror on her face when she saw my books. Who,s looking down on who now I was thinking, lol. Eventually, I explained what she had to do and educated her a little about NEA. Funny how she changed her attitude once she saw me as a person and not some kind of low life!

LOVE THIS !!!!

It should not be for us to tell them how to do the job, the problem is so few new NEA'ers have the nerve to actually answer them back that to many get pushed around week after week wasting there time when they could be trading and making something of there business.

I have said it before back last year but my advisor didn't actually know what NEA was until I told him , a totally useless **** !!

khany

Hi I put my loan in last week how do they get back to you? Via email? Or by post? I need my equipment!

chopperlamb

@khany, I was told by my mentor that once the loan application is made, if its been approved they send you some documents to sign which take 5- 10 working days to arrive. then around 5 days to put the loan into your account, once they receive the paperwork back. hope this helps.

D4VE

Suarez wrote: »

Why are you voluntarily registering for VAT?

Suarez,

It's because a majority of the items I'm selling are zero rated, so I'll be able to claim the VAT back on my expenses (computer, stationery, etc.)

coffinpilot

I've waited 5 weeks , about to go to my 1st meeting with my jobcentre advisor , lets hope she knows what NEA is !!

ggg1

First, thanks for all the replies and advice. Yesterday I went again to see my advisor (without having an appointment), had a bit of shouting and demanding to see managers and found out that:
1) I wasn't really on the NEA until yesterday. I was going more than once a week to the jobcentre for last 2-3 weeks asking why NEA people still hasn't called me. My advisor kept telling me that 'it's a waiting game now' and I just need to wait more. Well, yesterday it appeared that I haven't signed the referral form (although I was given at least three other forms to sign about NEA) and so I was referred to NEA by my advisor only yesterday (although my advisor was telling me before that they no longer can refer people and once you go to the seminar the NEA people pick you up from there).
2) I actually got sanctioned because I wasn't applying for jobs and wasn't on the NEA. I filled the appeal form yesterday, since it was totally their fault that I wasn't on NEA, but the manager told me that it is a long process and 'it's going to take weeks'. I can apply for some hardship money, but that means more form filling and more visits to the jobcentre, which I'm not sure that I can deal with right now.
3) The manager told me that rules have changed again now and jobcentre advisors can again refer people to the NEA if you have a good business idea and that 'it's a bit like coming back to the old rules',
My advisor faxed my referral form to the NEA people yesterday and I'm nor sure what she added to it, but I've got a call from my mentor about an hour later. He asked for my email address to send business plan and cashflow forecasts drafts and set a meeting next Thursday. I told him that I already have first draft of my business plan and I said I'll send it to him before our meeting and we can discuss and review it then. I send him my business plan late last night adding that I already have one customer waiting and I don't want to waste more time. This morning I received a reply saying that my business plan is approved and got given the forms for the loan and was told that I can probably start trading the following week.
Conclusions:
1) A bit of drama in the jobcentre really helps.
2) NEA people can work really fast if they want to and if you ask nicely.
I was a bit down last week because of not getting a call from NEA and that slowed down my preparations. Today I understood that there is thousand and one thing to prepare for me before I can start trading (contract template, website, insurance - the list seems to be endless) and I need to try and do it in about two weeks. I'm going to see that one customer tomorrow and hope they haven't found other supplier, while I was struggling with jobcentre for almost two months and didn't have any progress.
Anyway, feel happy and very motivated now, so hopefully it will all go well...

TrueBlue1965

Well-done on taking control at the jobcentre. Its your life and your business.. Its you that has to do everything once you start your business. So, you have to take full control. Its all about being professional but not taking no for an answer when the answer your after is yes. If you cannot get the answers you want. Then, you ask for the person who can. Thats not being rude. Its nothing personal. Its just being professional!

As for starting your business in two weeks. You need to ask yourself a few very big questions. Is it better to use the potential 6-10 weeks without JCP on you back to get fuly prepared. As you say. There are a thousand and one things to be done. Much more than that in truth. Believe me, if something can go wrong. It will go wrong once your trading and the only person who can fix it is you. So, being as well prepared as possible is the key. Is having one customer in two weeks better than being fully prepared for the life-time of running your business? Guess part of the answer is how easy its going to be to get your customers and the numbers of customers you need to make a living and grow your business.

My advice would be to think long and hard about when your going to start trading. Talk to your mentor. I know many are a waste of time but some are very good and can offer much needed help and support. Also, get on as many workshops as possible. In my area. I was able to attend 7 free workshops. Those workshops have given me many of the basic skills/info i,ve needed which makes running my business easier now.

Andy2013

Fail to prepare , prepare to fail !!!!!

Never a truer word spoken but at the same time you have to make the jump one day and the longer you leave it the more time you have to worry about potential issues, nothing truly prepares you better than that first few weeks of trading ,and there will be problems and sleepless nights because no one is perfect and even though you think you may have covered every eventuality no first time business owner is 100% ready ...... its part of the buzz .