Grant of up to £1,500 to get your business started

The 2008 Programme is open NOW! -

Want to be your own boss? Need intensive support? Then we have good news. From time to time, HBV Enterprise offers FREE help through the New Entrepreneur Scholarship programme (“NES”). NES includes a 4-day training course, 13 weekly workshops and plenty of one-to-one advice. Also included is the chance to apply for a £1,500 grant. NES support really works - 72% of graduates are still trading after 3 years.

To apply, print, complete and send us the application form here as soon as you can. Places are limited to the very best applications, so make sure you complete ALL parts of the form in detail, and attach any extra information that you think will support your application, e.g. a copy of your draft business plan or ideas. If you don't have either of these, book a place on our free "Start It" seminar now, and get started!

To succeed on this programme you must: -
Show energy, enthusiasm and commitment to your business idea
Attend the full programme
Complete all written assignments, business plans etc in your own time
Look at how NES can help you overcome barriers to starting in business
Plan to start trading within 4-8 months
Plan to trade full-time within the first few months of starting up

John Firman, Business Adviser - (far left, back row) and an NES group celebrate the last day of their Phase 1 Training.

You can apply to join the programme if you are: -
Over the age of 18
Not enrolled in full-time education
Employed or unemployed
Have a business idea and have not yet started trading
Living in of one of the UK’s 15% most disadvantaged neighbourhoods for a minimum of six months. To check this:-

(1) Click here for Link to identify the neighbourhood where you live
(2) Enter your full postcode in the"Neighbourhood Summary" Section (right hand side of the screen and click "Search")
(3) On the SUMMARY tab page, move your cursor over the 'arched dial' marked "Total Deprivation." This produces a message "Rank of Total Deprivation = * out of 32482." If the number (*) is lower than 8122, then your postcode is eligible,and you can apply to join the NES programme.

Want to start your business faster than this? Click here for more.

©HBV 2008 Page updated June 2008