Self Employment Strategies
Yvonne Madden
EmployAbility Clare
Tel:
065-6844007
Email: yvonne@employabilityclare.ie
Web: www.employabilityclare.ie
Employability Clare
- Support Clients – Illness, Injury, Disability
- 110 Clients – active within our service
- 11 Clients – supported in Self Employment
Self Employment – Profiling
-
Clients preference
Shape own future
Previous experience – skill set
Interest/hobby – not entirely financially driven
Recession/economic downturn
Types of Business - Diversity
Climbing Wall
Beauty Salon
Radio Programme (x 2)
Market Gardener
Dog Walker
Classical Violin Maker
Singer
Bereavement Card Maker
Farm Enterprise
Dog Grooming
(LGS) – LET’s Get Started
medium
large
Climbing
Wall
Beautician
Cards
small
Sales / Revenue
Scale of Business
Degree of Risk
Singer
small
medium €1k
large
Investment (start-up & ongoing financing)
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
What this means for S.E.
- Self Employed – client driven
- Estimate 10-20% of clients interested in exploring
- Expands the range of placement opportunities
Impact on Job Coach Role
-
Micro Enterprise Training
Workload level – estimate ( x 2-5 times)
Diversity range
Accountability
Boundaries
Exit strategy
Let’s Get Started:
Supported Self Employment Project in
County Clare
Dr Helen McQuillan
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
Three Phases:
1. Research: Good Practice Review – UK and international
2. Recruitment, person-centred planning and business supports
3. Learning materials, resources and guidance
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
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
Our Process
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
Questions and Answers –