New Enterprise Allowance: start your own business
The New Enterprise Allowance has closed to new participants.
The New Enterprise Allowance programme has closed to new participants. Read about help you can get to start and run your own business.
Do you have a good idea for a business?
NEA could give you money and support to help you start your own business. You need to be receiving certain benefits and have a business idea that could work.
Watch how Razan became an award-winning entrepreneur with the help of NEA.
Razan used her culinary skills to set up her own business
Get started with NEA
Speak to your Jobcentre Plus work coach – they will explain how NEA could help you. They will also tell you about the support volunteer business mentors offer in the early months of trading.
If you’re not eligible you may still be able to get other help with setting up a business.
More about NEA and the people it’s helped so far
Watch our NEA videos – see the inspiring journeys of other budding entrepreneurs going from unemployed to becoming their own boss with the support of NEA.
Find out about other government support for small businesses and read about those who have already benefited from it at the GREAT Business website.
Become a mentor
Do you have the skills and knowledge that could help someone become their own boss?
Read about being a mentor and how to get involved with NEA.
Press releases
Updates to this page
Last updated 1 January 2022 + show all updates
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The New Enterprise Allowance has closed to new participants.
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The New Enterprise Allowance programme is closing on 1 January 2022. If you are interested, you need to discuss this your work coach by 31 December 2021.
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Added note to explain that webinars about NEA and starting a business on 29 August 2018 and 26 September 2018 have been cancelled.
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Added dates of webinars about New Enterprise Allowance and starting a business in July, August and September 2018.
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Added dates of webinars about New Enterprise Allowance and starting a business in March, April, May and June 2018.
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Added dates of webinars about New Enterprise Allowance and starting a business in October 2017, November 2017, February 2018 and March 2018.
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Added a new video 'How Razan became an award-winning entrepreneur with the help of NEA'.
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Cancelled 29 March 2017 webinar: New Enterprise Allowance and starting a business – information and guidance from DWP and HMRC.
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Added links to sign up for webinar: New Enterprise Allowance and starting a business – information and guidance from DWP and HMRC. Seven dates from March to September 2017.
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Added link to sign up for webinar: New Enterprise Allowance and starting a business – information and guidance from DWP and HMRC on Wednesday 26 October at 12:30pm.
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Added link to sign up for webinar on Wednesday 28 September at 12:30pm.
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Added details of webinars to help unemployed people start their own business.
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Added information about extended eligibility for NEA from 5 January 2015.
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Replaced March 2014 figures with those for September 2014.
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Added links to register for webinars for unemployed people to start their own business on 13 November and 9 December 2014.
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Added details of webinar about help for claimants considering self-employment and tax advice for small businesses, Thursday 24 July 2014, 2pm to 3pm.
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Added press release - Budding entrepreneurs helped off benefits.
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Announced webinar about starting self-employment on 15 May 2014.
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Edited to replace Aug 2013 figures with those for Dec 2013.
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Added press release – Careers with YouTube and Google through Jobcentre Plus
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Promotional videos have now been published to new publication page – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-enterprise-allowance-campaign-promotional-videos Added new case study: Want to create social change? Chris Carter – Learn2Listen.
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Added details of webinar for small businesses on 28 January.
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First published.