Startup scheme for jobless doubled
By politics.co.uk staff
Twice as many unemployed people as previously planned will receive government funding to help them set up a business, David Cameron has announced.
The new enterprise allowance will now be available for up to 40,000 new businesses by 2013, as the coalition seeks to boost the recovery by encouraging private-sector growth.
Under the terms of the allowance all those who persuade business experts that they have a feasible plan for a start-up will be eligible for the funding.
“Backing new enterprises to start up and small businesses to grow will be what transforms our economy and will deliver the many thousands of new jobs we will see created this year,” Mr Cameron said.
“It is vital that we ensure businesses, and those people who find themselves out of work but have the drive and desire to set up their own business, have all the advice, support and mentoring they need.”
A network of at least 40,000 experienced business mentors will be made available to those who receive the new enterprise allowance.
Businesses will also be able to benefit from an online ‘business startup hub’, a national contact centre for firms which are not on the internet and an overhaul of the businesslink.gov.uk website.
Mr Cameron added: “Together we can make the years ahead some of the most dynamic and entrepreneurial in our history.”
