• 1: Home
• 3: About Us
  • 3.1: Townsend People
  • 3.2: Board of Directors
    • 3.2.1: Stanley Wallace
    • 3.2.2: Colin Skillen
    • 3.2.3: Gerry Faloona
    • 3.2.4: Dr Frances Hill
    • 3.2.5: Dr Paul Darragh
    • 3.2.6: Heather Murray
    • 3.2.7: Alphonsus Maginness
    • 3.2.8: George Briggs
• 4: Services
  • 4.1: Managed Workspace
  • 4.2: Meeting & Room Hire
  • 4.3: Virtual Office Address
  • 4.4: Virtual Secretary
  • 4.5: Business Mentoring
  • 4.6: ICT Training
  • 4.7: ICT Advice
  • 4.8: Consultancy
• 5: Business Support
  • 5.1: Enterprise Development Programme
    • 5.1.1: EDP Case Study
  • 5.2: The Growth Programme
  • 5.3: Exploring Enterprise Programme
    • 5.3.1: EEP Case Study
  • 5.4: Steps to Work
  • 5.5: Tradelinks
• 6: Property
  • 6.1: Office Space
  • 6.2: Units
• 7: Current Tenants
  • 7.1: Altmore IT Recruitment
  • 7.2: Tenant Rules
• 8: News
• 9: Events
• 10: Links
• 11: Contact Us

Steps to Work

Starting your own business through STEPS TO WORK 

If you are currently unemployed and interested in starting your own business, then you may be eligible for Steps to Work.    

Who is eligibleAnyone over 18 years old (or lone parents aged 16 years old or over) who is not working (or working less than 16 hours each week). People claiming Jobseekers Allowance, Incapacity Benefit or Income Support are all eligible for support!

Benefits of the Programme:

• Get to try viability of business idea first, while retaining benefits

• Free small business training course

• Access to a dedicated Business Advisor for ongoing advice and support

• Assistance towards childcare available for eligible participants

• £15.38 training premium per week

The StepsSteps to Work is delivered in a ‘3 step’ process.  

Step One offers anyone who is nearly ready for work:Ongoing one-to-one support and guidance from an Adviser aimed at helping you to find work as soon as possible.  A range of short courses that can help you develop your confidence and motivation, improve your jobsearch skills and `accredited' courses, that can help you find work.

Step Two offers a wider range of longer term support if you need more help to find work. Your Adviser can put together a package of support to best meet your training and work experience needs and the needs of employers. Step Two can last from 3 weeks to 52 weeks depending on what you are doing. While you are on Step Two you will receive £15.38 per week in addition to any other benefits which you are entitled to.Step Three

Step Three provides additional support and advice from your Adviser for up to 6 weeks to help you find a job. 

If you are interested in taking part in the programme you can contact Lisa Carlisle (EDP co-ordinator) lisa.carlisle@townsend.co.uk or 028 9043 5778.