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  3. Are you a young person looking for your future career?
  4. Career guidance for those with SEND, SEMH, and EHCP (Education and Health Care Plan)
  5. Self-employment
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  • Further Education and SEND
  • Independent specialist colleges
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  • Self-employment
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Self-employment

Utilise this section to explore the world of self-employment and understand how this may work for you. 

Finding the right employment opportunity can be difficult, ensuring that you find the correct employer, hours, suitable and safe transport, and more. However, Self-Employment could be a solution for you.

With over 4.5 million self-employed people in the UK, 14% of these are disabled. In the last 5 years the number of disabled people self-employed has grown by 30%.

These numbers are fantastic and show that self-employment is a great route for disabled people, with the right support.

Where to start

For most people, starting your own business can be overwhelming and a scary thought. The unknown can put a lot of people off, however, with support from family, friends, and other organisations listed below this could be a positive option for you.

You will need to think through if this path is right for you, explore some of the following questions to see if your answer’s align with self-employment:

  • do you know what business you want to start or offer?
  • does it use your strengths?
  • do people need what you are offering?
  • is the money you will make enough to address your needs?
  • do you know what equipment you will need to set the business up?

Self-employment isn’t for everyone, it might not suit you and your lifestyle, so ensure you think through this and speak with family and friends to explore their thoughts also.

Have a plan

Before you move forward and approach any of the services that can offer you support, it might be worth thinking through your business plan.

  • have a good idea of your services or business that you want to offer
  • research into what you will need to set up the business, equipment, insurance, training or qualifications etc
  • look at the competition and similar services locally
  • have an idea about finances, business running costs, what your charge will be for services etc

There are more things to think through but the above is a place to start.

Advantages and disadvantages

The table below shows some of the advantages and disadvantages to self-employment:

Advantages Disadvantages
Flexibility and choice of work No managers to keep you motivated and on target
Progression is your choice Can get lonely if working on your own
Independence and freedom More responsibilities
Increased mental health as you are doing something you love Takes time to build up a customer base

Useful links

  • Worcestershire Growth Hub
  • BIPC Worcester

 

Support links

Have a look through these following links for support into taking the first step to running your own business:

Access to work

A self-employed guide to disability grants.

British Association for self-employment

Our purpose is to support, promote and develop the principles and provision of supported employment. 

Disabled entrepreneurs website

Support for disabled entrepreneurs.  

Disabled entrepreneurs (Federation of Small Businesses)

Support and advice on starting and growing your business.

IPSE- Supporting self-employed and freelancers

Supporting disabled people who are self-employed or freelancers.

My family our needs

Self-employment for disabled people.

Self-employment for people with disabilities and health conditions

This research explores the experiences of self-employment for individuals with disabilities and health conditions and the types of support wanted in this area.

Self-employment and benefits - Disability charity Scope UK

Information about self-employment and benefits from Scope UK.

Start up a business

Information from Scope UK about starting up a business.

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