The New Enterprise Allowance Scheme (EAS) is being piloted in Merseyside as the Government try and get the unemployed back into work.
The scheme is available to those who have been unemployed for a period of time and who want to start their own businesses.
The government have pledged to provide business mentoring and a financial package worth up to £2000 to those individuals who can demonstrate they have a viable business idea.
Debbie Edwards, group marketing director for Chester based law firm Hillyer McKeown, volunteered to become a mentor for the Merseyside Enterprise Allowance Scheme.
And 5 weeks ago she was linked to mentor Paul Taylor, a web designer looking to launch his new business.
Debbie said: “I was excited the EAS was being piloted in Merseyside as I benefited from the original scheme 20 years ago.
“I wanted to make a difference to someone else starting out in business, so signing up as a mentor was an opportunity for me to get involved and give something back.”
With around 10 million people of working age languishing without jobs, and 5 million of those claiming benefits, the new Government has pinpointed the need to offer those with the drive and determination to start their own business a helping hand to do so.
Debbie added: “Having had my own business and advised others as a Business Link adviser, I’d gained lots of experience in marketing and business development.
“I wanted for Paul to use me as a point of information and advice as well as sounding board for his ideas. I’ve been conscious from day one that this is Paul’s journey and so for me being a mentor was about bringing my skills but also about being a good facilitator and motivator.”
Paul Taylor said: “The scheme has been an ideal starting point for me.
“With a background in Graphic design and with my new qualification in Web design I always wanted to work for myself.
“The scheme gave me more than just financial help - financials alone wouldn’t have been enough.
“The mentoring programme has given me the support I’ve needed to be able to discuss ideas and bring them to life.
“Its instilled confidence in me, to tackle tasks I ordinarily would have felt daunted by - such as preparing a business plan.
“I’ve been amazed at how valuable it has been to have a mentor a support structure when you most need it.”
Debbie commented: "Although my mentor experience has been a positive one, I do feel that for the scheme as a whole, there are vital changes that must be made before the scheme rolls out nationally.
“The scheme desperately needs to be modernised - in many ways it hasn’t moved on from when I was on it 20 years ago, and yet the business world has.
“If the scheme wants to encourage people like Paul into establishing viable long term businesses it needs to embrace new technologies and understand how they can be of benefit.
“From a business perspective there is more available at our finger tips now such as twitter, online PR, and linked-in networking to name but a few. The Government should recognise that the scheme needs to be brought up to date in order for it to have the impact intended and a worthwhile future."
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