New Enterprise Allowance scheme - My story

pinkypoopydoo

Business Gateway have courses regarding bookkeeping, HMRC registering etc, as far as I'm aware. Their help is fairly wide, and is tailored to individuals needs - for example, as I wish to set up as a bookkeeper, I have no need for the basic bookkeeping courses that other would need to make sure they are complying with HMRC legalities, but websites and advertising are completely over my head, so will be where I need more guidance. When my JC adviser contacted BG, I was sent an email from a BG mentor, with a list of upcoming courses in my area (all free), in case any were of use, but everything coming up just now (in my area) is bookkeeping based, so I'll keep an eye out for ones of more use to me! I have my meeting with BG on Monday, so am hoping that, by this time next week, I'm embarking on my 6 weeks to work entirely on my business plan without job search stipulations to follow too.

WantToBeSE

Outset do workshops for bookkeeping, registering with the HMRC, advertising, loads of stuff:

http://www.outset.org/

Just realised that i cant find the workshops that they run, listed on their website..hmmm.
I am with outset Cornwall, and their direct website DOES list the workshops (all free), so it maybe worth googling 'Outset (and the name out your town/city)' for a better list of workshops.
For example, here are a list of the ones done for cornwall over the next few months:
http://www.outsetcornwall.co.uk/events/

Lady_strange

Has anybody else who is on the NEA had problems with claiming WTC? they are trying to tell me that the 60+ hours a week I work don't mean anything, yet I satisfy all of the requirements for the NEA money to keep on being paid.

And for anyone interested in starting on the NEA, it really is one of the best things I have ever done in my life. I'm not earning alot at the moment, but the potential is there for me too earn loads. It really is liberating becoming your own boss.

WantToBeSE

Lady_strange, that's one of my main concerns. On what grounds are they telling you that you are not working enough hours to get WTC?

pinkypoopydoo

Lady_strange wrote: »

Has anybody else who is on the NEA had problems with claiming WTC? they are trying to tell me that the 60+ hours a week I work don't mean anything, yet I satisfy all of the requirements for the NEA money to keep on being paid.

And for anyone interested in starting on the NEA, it really is one of the best things I have ever done in my life. I'm not earning alot at the moment, but the potential is there for me too earn loads. It really is liberating becoming your own boss.

Aaaaargh!!! Like WantToBeSE, this is my main concern! In the initial weeks/months I know I won't earn enough to cover all the bills without being able to claim WTC. I'm looking at least 6 months to build up enough clients to be able to say I earn minimum wage. However, if I get the go ahead, I will work my backside off, in every spare hour to build that client base, if I have the chance. In fact, I was still up at 2:30am today, trying to design logos and letter heads, and I've not even had the go ahead yet. I am utterly determined to get this to work.

DannyboyMidlands

Is NEA the reason I'm getting buried in flyers for dog walking (£10 per walk? Yeah right), dog grooming, dog feeding, gardening, man with van etc. etc.?

Print a few flyers and the DWP increase dole money by £65 per week and lend you a grand that never has to be paid back.

pinkypoopydoo

No, sorry that's wrong. Your dole money isn't increased, you get NEA instead of JSA. When it comes down to it, people are trying to earn a living. You put up with ads from multinationals during your favourite TV programmes, if you get flyers that don;t interest you, just stick 'em in the recycling.

And any loans received must be paid back.

would you rather people sat on the backsides, took JSA for years, and did nothing constructive?

bigboybrother

sovilla wrote: »

He won't get the 1000 loan though as was bankrupt in 2010 and still has a poor credit rating......He is wanting to setup as a photographer. He already has a very expensive camera and studio lights which he bought with his redundancy payment. .

Is the OR or his Trustee aware of this cash being received and 'expensive cameras'?

bigboybrother

pinkypoopydoo wrote: »

would you rather people sat on the backsides, took JSA for years, and did nothing constructive?

Well after reading this thread I don't believe that there is any difference!

All people are doing is sustituting one benefit for another - WTC V JSA!

I'm gobsmacked that people are actually expecting the state to shore up the start of a new business. Whatever happened to investing your own money/bank loans etc into the venture, making sure that you had sufficient capital reserves to cover losses in the first year or so, lack of income to draw as a wage etc?

When I started my own business back in the early 80's I had to beg, borrow and save what I needed for working capital - you went straight from Unemployment Benefit to nothing - my business, my decision, my responsibility. The first 3 years were hard with very little income and massive debts, but after 7 years it became established.

Claiming benefits to cover the risk of you failing and losing your own money/borrowed money should actually mean that the taxpayers should be part owners of your new business!

pinkypoopydoo

If I had spare money, I would. If I could afford to come of JSA, without any help, then I would. I have no capital. I paid my way through a uni course, while on IS, while my youngest was under 5, while the DWP was telling me I could sit around and do nothing, as I was a parent with care of a child under school age. This is not a flash in the pan idea. This has come about over a long period of time, and an extraordinary amount of hard work. If the NEA, and the associated loans (which, I will repeat, MUST BE REPAID), were not available, then I'd be stuck in a house in negative equity, in an area of high unemployment, with no childcare available, on JSA, which is actually more than the NEA. And I've no hope of getting off it. I DID NOT choose this life. I was married, with a husband in a secure, well paid job. He had a midlife crisis, and scooted off to find a motorbike, a younger model and the associated mental health issues that seem to occur to men of a certain age who conveniently no longer wish to have the responsibilty of a home and children.

I paid into the system, happily, for 20 years. And I paid in a significant amount, as a senior manager.

Now, I need an additional 6 months help (which will equate to less than 6 months JSA, especially given that the loan is repaid with INTEREST), to get back on my feet, provide for my children, and start repaying the system that has helped me for the last two years, while I was in dire need. Or would you rather I bred somemore, got fat and spent my JSA on gin, and said **** to work?