300 entrepreneurs launch businesses

AROUND 300 ambitious entrepreneurs have opened a business in Halton with the support of a new scheme designed to help jobseekers with a business idea.

The latest New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) figures from the Department For Work And Pensions (DWP) show 16,630 firms in the North West have been established through the initiative.

In Runcorn and Widnes, 300 individuals took advantage of the NEA to start a firm.

Those wishing to take advantage of the NEA must go through an application process, with successful applicants receiving a business mentor, financial support for up to six months and the opportunity to apply for a loan of up to £25,000 to help with start-up costs.

The latest NEA figures show that the entrepreneur capital of the North West was Liverpool which had the highest number of start-ups with 1,800, followed by Wirral which had 1,210 and Manchester with 1,120.

Employment minister Damian Hinds said: “The North West is full of budding business owners, and the NEA provides a brilliant mix of advice and support to people just starting out.

“Anyone out of work with a business idea can visit their local Jobcentre Plus and find out more.”

The figures show that of the individuals launching a business nationally more than two thirds were aged between 25 and 49.

A total of 24% were over the age of 50 and 7% were aged between 18 and 24, while 40% were women, 22% have a self-declared disability and 13% were from a black and minority ethnicity background.