Name of the project and Sub-Objective of the PEOPLE project

SHAPE YOUR FUTURE: OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELF-EMPLOYMENT

Silver Economy (SO3)

The Shape Your Future project was delivered in South East England. It was funded by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and led by Business Support Kent which

runs business support programmes.

Objectives of the project

The objective was to test the value of enabling unemployed people over the age of 40 to consider the option of self-employment as a way back into work.

Beneficiaries (involved & concerned)

111 candidates were selected for the project, all over the age of 40. 4 were still in employment but facing redundancy, 10 newly redundant and 97 (87%) unemployed for some time. About

half the candidates were referred by Jobcentre Plus and others from Employ Medway, the Continuing Employment Support Service (for people facing redundancy) and Kent Executive

Search and through leafleting and newspaper advertisements. Selection was based on age and a willingness to explore the possibility of self-employment.

Results of the project

Before undertaking the programme, on a scale of 1 to 10, the average level of confidence amongst the participants was 3: this had risen to an average of 7 by the time they had

completed the programme. Feedback also suggested that all candidates had improved their skills and entrepreneurial awareness. At the time the project ended, 24 candidates (22%)

had returned to work, of whom 10 had started their own business (40% of the returners). An outstanding example of potential down-stream benefits was a candidate who had been a

senior executive within the construction industry but had lost confidence due to being made redundant. He has now set up a business placing unemployed labourers in local construction

projects.

Strengths of the project (1)

The programme was delivered in 2 stages on 2 consecutive days per stage. Both stages were delivered in a group environment (groups of 10-15 candidates)

involving a combination of team work, one to one support and working alone. Stage 1 enabled candidates to reflect and take stock of their situations, review

previous career paths and decisions, share experiences and concerns with other candidates and focus on the future. It used the ACRO framework to address

Attitude, Creativity, Relationship and Organisation.

Strengths of the project (2)

Stage 2 focused specifically on the pros and cons of self-employment using TakTix Business games developed by Enterprise Taktix Limited, a subsidiary of Business Support Kent. These enable people, regardless of education, skills or knowledge,

to discover what it means to run a business and whether they have the entrepreneurial qualities and skills required to do so. All clients were followed up as long as they required support. Clients who decided that they wanted to start a

business were referred as a matter of course to the Business Link start-up programme and online mentoring service.

 

Success factors of the projectThe project was particularly valuable for candidates who for various reasons (pride in

particular) did not want to ‘sign on’ as they had ‘never been on benefit in their life’ and were therefore not accessing support from the public employment services. The project team

observed that “there is a huge need to engage with these people as they are more likely to become isolated and depressed, which over time will have an impact on other services”.

Candidates particularly valued the opportunity to share thoughts and experiences with other people in their group. The project helped to overcome the fact that many of the candidates

had worked for the same employer for many years and were not attuned to self-management and self-direction. It also helped them to overcome feelings of isolation associated with loss of employment, to come to terms with their change of circumstances and to start to take a grip of

the choices and decisions they would need to take.

Problems encountered

Candidates were recruited from the Medway area where high unemployment and low aspirations make it particularly challenging to get unemployed people back

into work. This was reflected in difficulty in recruiting clients and a high ‘no show’ rate, particularly early in the project. Referrals increased once relationships had

been built with Jobcentre Plus staff.

Conclusions (for the future)

The project has demonstrated that self-employment can be a good route back into work for a substantial proportion of unemployed people, even in an area of high

unemployment and low aspirations, with potentially substantial down-stream benefits for the local economy. It has demonstrated the cost effectiveness of group

sessions based on structured frameworks and with provision for one to one support. Being run by a business support organisation facilitated onward referral

to business start-up support. The project suggests that the public employment services should give the self-employment option greater priority (as the UK

Government has now decided they should do).

Replication of the project

This service could be replicated by providers of business support or information, advice and guidance, subject to being able to obtain funding. This could draw upon the TakTix Business games developed by Enterprise Taktix Limited, a subsidiary of

Business Support Kent.