A new government scheme that offers six months of financial support to help the jobless become self-employed, is asking local bosses across Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire to volunteer their knowledge of starting up and managing small enterprises.

Businesspeople who commit a small amount of time to help an out-of-work person create their own business will be appointed as Enterprise Mentors to help get the new ventures up and running.

Lee Hughes, director of Outset CIC, the not-for-profit organisers, who run the New Enterprise Allowance on behalf of Jobcentre Plus, says: “This new scheme can be worth over £2000 to the out-of-work who have the taste for enterprise. But they need good advice and friendly encouragement from local bosses who already are running a successful small firm.”

Lee claims that the New Enterprise Allowance offers new hope to the long term unemployed: “Volunteering just a few hours to get someone off the dole and into self-employment is very rewarding. We’re seeking people who want to help their neighbours, and can mentor them to develop a really good new business.”

The NEA mentors provide an invaluable contribution to the local economy, as well as making a measureable difference to people and their families who have been badly affected by a lack of employment opportunities in the county.

Outset CIC do all the organising for the mentor and the unemployed person.

The mentors are asked first of all to assess the client’s business idea and helping them to prepare a business plan. Just a few hours a week are all that’s needed, for up to six months.

Volunteers don’t need formal mentoring experience, just business start-up and management experience that they are willing to share to help others create a job for themselves.

Peter Chimonides, who runs a plumbing and heating business, signed up as a mentor, and is delighted to be involved with the Outset project. He says: “The benefit of mentoring is plain to see. As a mentor you get the chance to put something back into the melting pot, the chance to help someone take that huge step of realising their dream of running their own business.

“If a person has just been made redundant and feels that they have the potential to achieve their ambition, why wouldn’t you want to help them with a little bit of your time? Isn’t it better to have people gainfully employed and contributing to the world than to heave them onto the scrap heap of unemployment with the never-ending spiral of depression and desperation of a meaningless future. I sincerely think so.”

Peter’s first client was previously unemployed Chris Collins, who wanted to set up as a painter and decorator. Since being partnered with Peter back in March, Chris has benefited from Peter’s understanding of self-employment and industry knowledge, enabling Chris’s confidence, and his fledgling business, to grow from strength to strength.

Judith Flowerday is another Outset mentor who recently signed up. She comments: “I initially assumed that donating my time as a mentor would feel like gifting my time and experience to somebody who needed it, and I would feel good about that. Little did I realise that I also received a gift in return. To see a mentee achieving their goals and dreams is fulfilling and often inspiring. To be sharing a part of that journey by being their mentor is incredibly rewarding and genuinely heartwarming.”

Today, Outset are helping unemployed people set up businesses across Somerset and are eager to hear from potential mentors locally.

Outset can be contacted on 0800 0322 903, or by email at mentors@outsetcic.co.uk.

Notes to Editors:

For press enquiries contact Sharon Nall on 01223 421 477 or email sharon.nall@ytko.com

About Outset CIC

Outset CIC is the not-for-profit division of YTKO Ltd, specialising in developing new enterprise opportunities for disadvantaged and underrepresented communities.

About YTKO

YTKO is one of the UK’s leading economic development and business support companies with a 30-year track record in starting and growing successful businesses.  Our vision is to create fulfillment and prosperity through enterprise. Our mission is that by 2020, we’ll have enabled the creation and growth of more than 5500 companies, contributing over £1 billion per annum to the British economy. YTKO’s success rate, high customer satisfaction levels, and ability to deliver a high return on investment for funders, has also earned us international recognition in the public sector and several best practice awards.