Self-Employment Program – Program Placement Process and Guidelines

Assessment:

Assessment process will entail but not limited to:

Client Readiness

  • Commitment
  • Experience related to business
  • Support – Family, Community
  • Technical Abilities – internet and computer literacy
  • Literacy – reading and writing at least Grade 10 school level, financial literacy (business math)

Feasibility of Business Idea

  • Uniqueness
  • Market area
  • Competitors
  • Type of business

Personal Investment

  • Equity
  • inventory
  • Personal Credit

Application

  • Quality
  • Timely

Allowance:

  • $15.00 per hour based on 35 hours per week = $525/week
  • Identify Training needs and costs related to management – on-line, module

Program Placement and Adherence

12 weeks – By the end of 12 weeks, a draft business plan will be the end result.

  • Each week will focus on an element of a business plan – Develop a business plan template.
  • Client to submit bi-weekly activity reports to the Self Employment Coordinator including an element of the draft business plan. For example, week 1- Business Description. Client should submit a business description as part of their by-weekly activity report.
  • Bi-weekly activity reports will be adherence for entitlement to allowances administered through pay-run. Copies of bi-weekly reports to be sent to HO for the file before the pay run deadline. Failure to provide bi-weekly reports will result in the client not receiving their entitlement until the next pay run and subject to the first warning as stated below.
  • Failure to submit bi-weekly activity reports will result in:
  1. First warning – by letter to remind client of program adherence.
  2. The second warning – suspension of allowance for 2 weeks by letter to client – must send amendment before the pay run deadline.
  3. The third warning – termination by letter to client – must send amendment before the pay run deadline.

Extension #1

To be eligible for extension, client must have satisfied the following:

  • There must be an assessment of business plan
  • The client has adhered to program contract
  • That the client has proven commitment towards his/her business – copies of quotes, research, self-training, inventory, equity, conditional offer letter from lender
  • The client has proven that the business idea is feasible

The extension phase could be:

  • To continue refining the business plan
  • To begin small scale operations and gain clientele

The extension can be an additional 12 – 24 weeks based on complexity of business plan and type of business

Extension #2 – Additional and Final Extension

A final extension can be granted if the client has satisfied the following:

  • The client has adhered to program contract
  • The client has submitted a final business plan
  • The business is ready for operations
  • The client has received financial assistance for start-up

To allow the client to continue to receive income support while the business is starting up.

At no time should the length of the total placement be more than 48 weeks.

After Care:

To assess Business Sustainability – financial, human resources, compliance with permits, laws

Assistance with Problem Solving/Decision Making

Assess whether Management Training is required

Offer Technical Support – research business funding sources, product/services

02/21/23