Grant Schemes for Self-Employed Individuals (After Being on JA)?

abcdefghijkl

I am looking to set up as a sole trader and I have been on JA long-term.

I am aware of the BTWEA (Back to Work Enterprise Allowance) and STEA (Short Term Enterprise Allowance) and I am intending to apply to the former, along with EWG (Enterprise Welfare Grant).

Has anyone been down this route and can offer guidance in relation to the application process, and how best to prove the viability and sustainability of the business venture to be accepted onto the scheme?

Additionally, are there other schemes available for those who have been unemployed and in receipt of JA? I have been told there is also a "Special JA South Employment Means Tested Payment" (SEMP?), but I may have received the information incorrectly - I cannot find information online on this.

If anyone can point me in the direction of resources to find out further information on funding options for self-employed individuals, irrespective of having been unemployed, that would also be very much appreciated.

AugustRain

every local authority has a Local Enterprise Office attached. They will engage with you to help you to set up your business.

GreenGrass2019

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058420877/grant-schemes-for-self-employed-individuals-after-being-on-ja

Hi @abcdefghijkl

Congradulations on considering self employment! Note you will have to register as self employed if you move to BTWEA and you will gain no social insurance contributions during this time!!

I completed the BTWEA a number of years ago, in practical terms it was of no benefit really for the business itself, you go through hoops such as creating a business plan with figures, this is in a predefined format so not your standard business plan of what would be expected in the real world! Any local leader partnership can assist you with completing the process. Also if you're moved to the NES (National employment service) i.e.: Turas Nua / Seetac dependent on your geographical location! You will not need to engage with them if you go forward for BTWEA.

After being approved you can have your payment made by bank transfer, to my memory there is so many meetings with your case officer in the department, however from experience I think I only met him twice, he really had no interest in what I was doing and didn't have any experience to give any guidance on a business … he was a civil servant lifer!! …

Outside of that you get the assistance of the LEO which again depends on what you want to do, you will be expected to complete the SYOB (Start your own Business) course run by the LEO and a few other courses like this to prove your serious in the BTWEA. If you have any qualifications especially in business these courses will only assist in giving on the ground type information, nothing really concrete. They will be listed on the LEO websites and you sign-up and usually pay a nominal fee, some of these if you go through your local leader partnership, you maybe able to claim back from the funding they have, you will need to provide the supporting documentation.

ESG - Be careful here, I was given the run around with this, look at the percentages listed next to each category and also be very careful with what is actually eligible under each category, they will not tell you a head of time and I found it a very dehumanising experience with the case officer and they will ask for ridiculous amounts of paper work and evidence to prove you have bought it, I also got told one thing and then experienced the other when it came to getting what I wanted approved, one told me it needs to be approved ahead of time while the other was of the perspective, pay for it and then send us the paper work, again no guarantee to refund, also be careful as to whether the stuff is being sourced online or in a physical retailer and where the retailer is, this turned into another nightmare, again no direction given ahead of time. If it wasn't basic ABC stuff from the dark ages for the civil service, they literally grilled you.

Finally on the ESG you're only suppose to be allowed to claim a max of 50% of it in the year one and the remainder in year 2, again this will not be imparted until after the fact, you're totally given the run around.

For me the most thing I got out of it was my accountant and it assisted in paying for my accountant and the costs of registering my company. This was straight forward for the civil servants.

An alternative to BTWEA is to go on a Springboard course - they're mainly part time, however with the full time courses you can move to BTEA if you have been on JSA for sufficient time, I think a year, check it out!

I mentioned NES earlier, if you're coming close to 12 months on JSA, you will be referred to Turas Nua / Seetac once you have done 12 months, literally within a few days as you're categorised as long term unemployed. Be very careful here, check out all the posts, Oireachtas committees, etc on this, it was called JobPath until last year and now has been renamed NES!

Hope the above helps and best of luck!