New Enterprise Allowance scheme - My story

coffinpilot

Saw my advisor on Tuesday , luckily she knew all about NEA , booked me an appointment with the local business innovation centre on Friday . I presented my mission statement and spreadsheets with research about competitors price lists etc , and they liked it . Signed up to see a business advisor every week and will be mentored 'in house' because they reckon all the mentors they have used are crap (their words - not mine !) .
Even filled the loan forms out already !
Rockin and rollin .

chopperlamb

Well ive now been kicked off ESA, so my nea help is now out of the window. The process as a whole was very disappointing and far to difficult for me to understand, as my computer skills only extend to surfing the net and anything else is way to advanced.
Ive managed to secure a loan off a family member, so will be starting to trade from Wednesday without the help of the government.
I think the nea scheme would work far more effectively if it was massively simplified. infact I would say the whole experience has taken the joy out of starting my business, heres looking forward to making some money without having to deal with the government crap. you can shove your nea where the sun don't shine.

Andy2013

heres looking forward to making some money without having to deal with the government crap. you can shove your nea where the sun don't shine.

Really nice to hear you are not letting the issues put you off continuing with self employment, NEA is not the be all and end all , to be honest for most its a great big ball and chain that you are glad to get rid of after 6 months so well done and keep pushing now .

It will be hard and you will get to points where you feel at your wits end but making money is very much a drug that will motivate you beyond anything NEA could ever do.

And remember this forum, any issues or questions can be asked on here and someone usually has some wisdom .

chopperlamb , go and make some money, its amazing :beer:

TrueBlue1965

Being kicked off ESA (Employment and Support Allowance) is not the end of NEA. Your able to move your claim over to JSA and complete the business plan part of NEA.

If you cannot complete the on-line processes to complete the business plan for NEA or complete the loan process on-line. How are you going to run your business? Selling hot dogs seems simple. However, there are lots of things you have to do on-line to be allowed to sell hot dogs. Almost everything is completed on-line these days. Without basic computer skills. How are you going to run you business?

Have you got your street trading licence and food selling licences, yet? If you have, how?

If you attempt to start trading before you have everything complete. You will get yourself in very big trouble with the police! You cannot sell food without the correct licences and you need to have completed various courses to prepare food and sell it to the general public! If you dont follow very strict guide-lines. You could kill someone. So, there is no cutting corners! I would suggest that you need NEA and a very good mentor more than most.

My advice is to get yourself on JSA if you have been moved off ESA. Do the research in to your business. Ask your NEA mentor to print a few copies of the business plan template. You can complete the business plan by completing the template with pen and ink. NEA will allow pen and ink completed business plans or someone can type it up for you once its agreed as passed.

The reason for doing the business plan is so that you understand what you need to do to be able to run your business and make it work. This will in your case include Health and Safety issues and qualifications, Food Hygine issues and qualifications including licencing to allow you to prepare and sell food to the general public. Clearly, one of the other issues you need to cover is basic computer skills, ie, down loading files and completing on-line forms. How are you going to deal with all of these issues once you start your business?

I suspect that you need NEA and a very good mentor more than most or you are going to set yourself up to fail. Doing it alone without all the right skills or in getting the help you need will only make it more likely that your business will fail. If you dont get the licencing, heath and safety, food hygine and computer skills covered. You will be closed down in days and could be in very big trouble with the police.

Sorry Andy but for most the NEA experience has been positive and the main reason that they where able to start their business in the first place. Without NEA its unlikely that many would have taken the big step to start their own business. Its the lack of help and support that some people have issues with. Its not a perfect world. Its what is available to those on JSA. So, its better than nothing for most! Its not difficult being on NEA payments after starting up your business. Its nothing more than showing that you are still trading a few times over the 26 weeks at JCP. Thats not a ball and chain. Thats £1,270 in your pocket for doing very little except attempting to make your business a success.

treenie01

I've finished NEA (had my last payment last week). It's kind of been a relief in a way. I feel like I am no longer under some restriction from the job centre. Don't get me wrong my advisor at the job centre was actually really lovely but I found that she would question me if I was doing something other than what my business plan set out to do (e.g. assisting a nonprofit organisation).

Ironically I have just picked up a bit of consultancy work to write a business plan for an arts organisation using the template that my mentor gave me (which was the only thing he did. Not heard from him since christmas despite several emails).

BusPass_2

Two hours to knock up an approved Business Plan


£1,274 divided by two = £638 per hour.


Not a bad hourly rate for two hours work!!!

chopperlamb

@TrueBlue1965.
I think you are talking a lot of waffle to be fair. not everything is done online.
I went to the EHO's office to register with them. (was able to trade from 1/4/14)
you don't need street trading licences to sell hotdogs from a bike. you need a pedlars certificate, which is issued by the police, if you are deemed of good character. (I already have mine).
you need liability insurance. (I bought mine over the phone).
food hygiene certificate ( novel idea I left the house and went somewhere to do it)
Income and out goings (another novel idea, ive kept the receipts and written everything in a book ready to give to my accountant).


I also think your post is quite snotty and rude, towards me. not all of us can use computers properly, but please don't talk down to me again.


Oh by the way, I sold hotdogs for the first time today, in crappy windy conditions and made over £110 in profit, so I think yes I can run a viable business, without the use of the computer or the help of the NEA sheme.


To everyone else, this was to be a standard post saying I did well on my first days sales, but had to come here and read that rubbish off TrueBlue1965. A positive outlook and you can achieve your goals and no you don't need a computer to do this.
kind regards
chopperlamb

Andy2013

chopperlamb , Your right , a determined attitude and a will to succeed is more important than NEA and some dodgy mentor , if someone wants to make it work then they don't need NEA , its down to the individual !!

£110 profit in a day , good man you clearly know your market :beer: and don't let others get you down , your doing well.

TrueBlue1965 , I am not going to comment on your remarks, you clearly like NEA , I clearly hate it , enough said.

TrueBlue1965

First of all. Well-done on making £110 profit on your 1st days trading. chopperlamb!!! I really am pleased for you. Nice to see a get up and have a go attitude rather than having a go at NEA and the Government agancies.

Yes, you can still do many things without the need for understanding how to use a computer. However, it generally takes much longer and costs much more but needs must. Fare better IMHO to gain the computer skills which would make your business more viable in the long term.

Im also pleased that you do seem to have done your research in to the law and the requirements to be able to sell hot food to the general public.
Hopefully, I might get the chance to enjoy eating one of yor hot dogs one day!

I was not talking down to you. I was being concerned and giving you sound advice based on the information you gave and my experiences of NEA.

To many people IMHO give excuses for why NEA is not right for them and slag it off. If you want to run your own busness. You must have an I can do attitued. NEA while not always perfect is a very positive experience for many people. Its also the only way forward for many. Without the help of NEA. Many would never start their businesses. Without the help of NEA. Many who start businesses would fail.

In your case. There was nothing stopping you from continuing with NEA but it never suited you. You where on ESA and could have moved your benefit claim over to JSA. That means that you coud have continued with NEA if that was what you wanted to do. Nothing wrong in you doing it your way without the help and support from NEA.

The £1,274 and the potenial £2,500 loan was enough reason for me to stay on the NEA scheme.

TrueBlue1965

Andy, I agree with your comments. A determined attitude and a will to succeed is more important. If someone wants to make it work then its down to the individual.

One of my sayings is "take control".

Your correct in suggesting that NEA was a positive for me. You got nothing out of NEA but problems. Thats a shame. You started your business and your making it work. For many, NEA and whats on offer is the only choice. They will never start their own business without NEA. So, NEA has to be a positive for many. Even if its only for the start-up money. Its a positive that cannot be knocked. The fact that I got much more in terms of added skills has made the running of my business that much easier. Not sure I would be where I am today without NEA. I know its the same for many others who have gone through the NEA scheme!

The figures dont lie. Those who have gone through the NEA scheme are much more likely to still be trading after a year when compared with those who started a new business without any support!