Grant for starting business

Chrissiew

If someone is getting ESA and in the WRAG and they have an idea for starting a home based business, when they go for the work interview is it a good idea to ask the advisor if they could get a grant from the DWP to start that business?

I know some one who is going to do this, I said I doubt very much if they would provide a grant for this but I'm not sure, after all these interviews are about helping people get back to work so surely it would be more economical for them to provide funds to help do this.

Has anyone done this or does anyone know if it's a possibility?

[Deleted User]

how old are they?if under 25 the princes trust springs to mind,i`m not aware of any grants from the dwp

Broke_n_Broken

There have been grants for stating your own business, IDK if they still do it though. Iirc, you still needed a business plan & a pitch, it wasn't/isn't easy.
It never hurts to ask them.
There are other government & local business backed schemes & a disabilities charity may put you in contact with a scheme aimed at disabled people.

Chrissiew

Thanks for the replies, she is 53 so a bit old for princes trust, I'll let her know about the others, maybe she can do a bit of research and just ask at her interview, they might let her know if there is anything else available.

Anubis_2

There is access to work (equipment etc)

http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/f27.htm

Then there are the return to work benefits such as £40 pw , job grant, etc all have conditions to entitlement http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/moneytaxandbenefits/benefitstaxcreditsandothersupport/employedorlookingforwork/dg_10013908

It might be worth seeing a DEA at the Jobcentre. It is what I am intending to do http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/Employmentsupport/LookingForWork/DG_4000324

BigAunty

There is an enterprise support allowance for those on JSA wanting to start their own business.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/employment/jobseekers/programmesandservices/dg_198864

But apart from this and Princes Trust, and a few trusts, there's very little indeed in the way of grants for anyone wanting to start their own business. It's generally expected that a business person invests in their own business and takes on the risk, such as taking out a loan to match the funds they put in of their own volition.

There's nothing particularly enterprenurial in having the public purse take the risk on someone's business. There has always been very little in the way of start up grants for anyone wanting to become self employed in any capacity.

That said, this link should be helpful - the business link site should have some kind of loan/grant search facility but more importantly, it provides info on how write a business plan.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/employment/jobseekers/lookingforwork/dg_173931