This programme is resourced through the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) which is co-funded by the Irish Government, through the Department of Rural and Community Development, and the European Social Fund Plus under the Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training (EIST) Programme 2021 -2027. www.eufunds.ie
Hi, we are the Employment and Enterprise team at Bray and North Wicklow Area Partnership.
Are you currently seeking a job or under employed? Or perhaps you are looking for some support to start your own business? Then you are in the right place! We can help you on your employment journey.
Self-Employment
If you are interested in starting your own business. we offer a range of free self-employment supports, including:
✅ One-to-one advice to help you explore self-employment and determine if it’s the right path for you.
✅ Expertise to assess your business idea, guiding you through market research and financial planning.
✅ Assistance with applications for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance or Short-Term Enterprise Allowance.
✅ Practical, tailored training courses—Exploring Your Options, Business Idea Generation, Start Your Own Business, Introduction to Online Marketing, Book Keeping and Taxation —covering the key elements needed to launch and sustain your business.
✅ Guidance and support to assist early stage entrepreneurs to refine their business model, build confidence, and navigate the challenges of starting and growing a business.
📞 Call us on (01) 205 0111 to arrange an appointment.
Watch our video below to learn more about the supports available.
Financial Supports
The following allowances can help support you on your path to self-employment:
✅ Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme encourages people getting certain social welfare payments to become self-employed. If you take part in the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme you can keep a percentage of your social welfare payment for up to 2 years.
✅ Short Term Enterprise Allowance (STEA) supports you if you have lost your job and want to start your own business. The STEA is paid instead of your Jobseeker’s Benefit for a maximum of nine months. It ends when your entitlement to Jobseeker’s Benefit ends which is either after six or nine months.
Job-Seeking
If you are looking for employment, we can assist with:
✅ Person-centred one-to-one mentoring and training to help you move towards economic independence
✅ We can help with identifying your strengths and addressing your weaknesses, as well as developing your CV and honing your interview skills.
✅ We can provide work experience opportunities through our Community Employment Scheme and Tus programme.’
Social Enterprise
Perhaps you are interested in starting and growing a social enterprise. We offer a range of free supports, including:
✅ One-to-one advice to help you explore social enterprise and determine if it’s the right option for you, pointing you in the right direction to explore social enterprise legal structures and requirements
✅ Facilitation and support to help you to assess your social enterprise idea, guiding you through market research and financial planning.
✅ Tailored training courses— Social Enterprise Idea Generation, Start Your Own Social Enterprise, and Introduction to Online Marketing—covering the key elements needed to launch and sustain your social enterprise
✅ Supporting you in the development of your social enterprise
Watch our video below about Social Enterprises set up in the Bray and North Wicklow area.