Self Employment Strategies

1. Self Employment Strategies Yvonne Madden EmployAbility Clare Tel: 065-6844007 Email: yvonne@employabilityclare.ie Web: www.employabilityclare.ie

2. Employability Clare • Support Clients – Illness, Injury, Disability • 110 Clients – active within our service • 11 Clients – supported in Self Employment

3. Self Employment – Profiling • Clients preference • Shape own future • Previous experience – skill set • Interest/hobby – not entirely financially driven • Recession/economic downturn

4. Types of Business - Diversity (LGS) – LET’s Get Started

5. Scale of BusinessDegree of Risk Climbing Wall Beautician Cards Singer

6. Lessons Learned Client Define business idea Narrow the focus Training Business Plan Support Identify business networks Realistic Risk Job Coach Scale of business Support – Steering group Staff competencies Client readiness Customised approach Manage diversity Business protocol Map and design the process

7. What this means for S.E. • Self Employed – client driven • Estimate 10-20% of clients interested in exploring • Expands the range of placement opportunities

8. Impact on Job Coach Role • Micro Enterprise Training • Workload level – estimate ( x 2-5 times) • Diversity range • Accountability • Boundaries • Exit strategy

9. Let’s Get Started: Supported Self Employment Project in County Clare Dr Helen McQuillan

10. About Let’s Get Started • Helping individuals with a disability to plan a micro business or social enterprise, with family and community support • Led by Brothers of Charity Clare • Funded by The Genio Trust • Action learning project – inclusive research and evaluation

11. Three Phases: • Research: Good Practice Review – UK and international • Recruitment, person-centred planning and business supports • Learning materials, resources and guidance

12. What the Research Found: • Different models – microbusiness, social enterprise • Different drivers – family, personalised budgets, last option • Range of benefits – income, self esteem, community inclusion • Effective circles of support encourage business success

13. Profile of Participants • 16 participants (4 Female; 12 Male) 18 to 50 years • Individuals with autism, intellectual disability, illness • County-wide initiative; linked to local communities • 3 participants supported by EmployAbility Clare • Different stages of business planning

14. Our Process

15. What we have learned • Supported self-employment is a viable option • Person-centred planning/ Discovery process is key • Action research raises important questions along the way • Build capacity in steering group and community partners • Support is a shared journey – need time and resources

16. Questions and Answers –