New Enterprise Allowance scheme rolled out to West Lothian

The Government has recently rolled out the New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) programme to West Lothian. The NEA provides support to start a business to Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) customers who have been claiming for 26-weeks or more.

Job Centre Plus needs to be contacted to confirm eligibility and for referral onto the programme.

Participants will get access to a volunteer business mentor who will provide guidance and support as they develop their business plan and through the early months of trading. Once a customer can demonstrate they have a viable business proposition with the potential for growth in the future, they will be able to access financial support. This will consist of:

• a weekly allowance worth £1,274 over 26 weeks, paid at £65 a week for the first 13 weeks and £33 a week for a further 13 weeks, and


• if they need start-up capital, they may also be able to access a loan up to £1,000 to help with their start-up costs.

The total package of support could be worth up to £2,274 to each participant who starts their own business.

Please read here for more on the NEA programme.

Latest unemployment and Jobcentre vacancy figures released for West Lothian

The latest unemployment and Jobcentre vacancy figures have been published for West Lothian (Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) based figures).

• The number of JSA jobless in West Lothian for July is 4,690. This is an increase of 157 on the previous month.


• West Lothian's unemployment rate of 4.1% is below the Scottish (4.3%) rate, but above the Great Britain (3.8%) rate. West Lothian's unemployment rate ranks joint 14th highest out of all Scottish local authority areas.


• Youth unemployment (18-24 year olds) in West Lothian for July is 1,525. This is a rise of 95 on last month.


• There were 1,329 notified jobcentre vacancies in July - a net increase of 357 from June 2011.


• The ratio of jobseekers to jobcentre vacancies stands at 4 jobseekers for every vacancy advertised in West Lothian Jobcentres. In comparison, Scotland’s ratio is 5.3:1, Great Britain is 3.9:1 with West Dunbartonshire having the highest ratio of 13.4:1 (13 jobseekers for every vacancy) of claimants to vacancies of Scottish local authorities.