Business Ability - Starting Your Own Business

Starting Your Own Business

Enham’s Business Ability Division provides a free and confidential service, which helps people with disabilities throughout the South East of England, start their own businesses.

In January 2009 this contract was awarded "Full Assurance" by the Jobcentre Plus Financial Appraisal Monitoring Team.

Since we introduced the service in July 2001, Business Ability has helped develop over 1200 enterprises (Feb 2008). Our programme has delivered several national business award winners and finalists.

Read Karen Standen’s Success Story:
Picture opposite: Karen at Four Paws Aqua, Portsmouth – Hydrotherapy for Dogs

How can we help you into Self-Employment?

Our start-up programme, lasting on average around 3- 4 months, will enable you to take the right steps into successfully launching your new business. We will firstly assess the viability of your business idea, and then individually tailor a programme to meet your needs.

Key Benefits of Business Ability:

• Experienced business advisers providing 1-2-1 support
• Individual support is given at a pace and place to suit you, including home visits
• Support in raising finance and grants and support for market research is available
• Assistance in producing business plan and cash flow forecasts
• Advice on benefit and working tax credit issues
• Provides signposting to business training
• Supports you with a comprehensive service to support you in developing your business ideas and successfully establishing yourself in self-employment.

Eligibility:

• Anyone with a disability, aged between 18 and 65, who is substantially disadvantaged in realising their potential in the open labour market or business environment who wishes to start their own business is eligible.
• The programme supports people living in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Surrey, Sussex, Kent and Thames Valley (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire)

To gain access to the programme, please contact your Disability Employment Adviser at your nearest Jobcentre Plus Office in the South East of England area. Visit the Jobcentre Plus website, to find the nearest office to you: Jobcentre Plus 

Further Information: