We think some of the ‘new’ package of intensive support to help those who’ve been unemployed for 6 months or more announced today is not necessarily new at all.
We think the 'new' bit is the payment of £2500 to employers who train someone who's been unemployed for 6 months or more. But the cash support to help unemployed people to start-up their own business has in fact been in place for a while now and is run through jobcentre plus.
Their service provides a range of training and mentoring to help people develop their business idea into a business plan and to undertake a testing stage, of up to 6 months, where they can run their business whilst still getting their Jobcentre Plus allowance payments as well as continuing to receive ongoing mentoring support.
For those interested, more info is at:
http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/Self_Employment/Dev_011591.xml.html
