Written question asked by Guto Bebb (Conservative) on Friday, 7 October 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 13 October 2011. It was answered by Lord Grayling (Conservative) on Thursday, 13 October 2011 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Enterprise Allowance Scheme

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice from independent business consultants is available as part of his Department's enterprise allowance scheme.

Answer: Once accepted onto the New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) a participant is matched with a volunteer business mentor who will provide advice and support from the first stages of business plan development, through start-up and into the early months of trading. The business mentor is there to provide guidance on all aspects of business start-up that will help make the NEA participant's new business a success. New Enterprise Allowance partnerships are also responsible for drawing together other sources of business advice and support for participants, to ensure that they and their business mentor have access to all the information they might need.

Secondary information