The Restart Scheme Helps Scott Build Self-Employment Success

• The Growth Company (GC) delivers the Restart Scheme in South Yorkshire on behalf of Maximus.
• Commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the scheme provides up to 12 months of enhanced support to people like Scott, helping them find jobs in their local area.
• Find out how we helped Scott build his own business. 

A Rotherham man who was out of work for two years has achieved his dream of being self-employed after the Restart Scheme supported him to set up his own business.

Scott, 35, had always worked in construction up until when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, this was what led to him being out of work in 2020. It was at this point where Scott made it his mission to become self-employed, but he struggled to make his dreams a reality until he joined the Restart Scheme in June 2022.

Scott was introduced to his Employment Advisor Chris, and they worked together to identify what Scott needed to do in order to achieve his goals. Chris helped Scott operate as a Sole Trader, supporting him to register with the tax office for his UTR number so that he could start trading as soon as possible.

To help Scott get a head start with his new venture, Chris accessed funding from Maximus’ Community Partnership Network to help him with his marketing materials. Chris designed business cards, leaflets, car magnets and a large banner that Scott could hang from his scaffold to advertise his construction services to the community.

Thanks to the support provided by the Restart Scheme, Scott has now branched out into the world of self-employment, becoming the proud owner of his own home improvement company based in Rotherham, using his variety of skills to provide a range of services, from brickwork pointing to garden maintenance.

Reflecting on his experience of the scheme, Scott said: “The support to start my own business from Chris and the Restart Scheme has been outstanding.

"Helping me grow from the early stages, I am very pleased with the support I have received; the team organised the first few vital things to start my business, which included funding to pay for initial marketing materials.”

Kate Liddle, Restart Scheme Service Manager for The Growth Company in Rotherham, said: “I was pleased that Chris was able to support Scott to develop his business idea and access the CPN funds for his marketing material.

"I am delighted to work on the Restart Scheme for The Growth Company because we are all able to help implement positive changes to people’s lived like Scott and were able to help him to develop his vision of working self-employed.”

Commissioned and funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, The Growth Company delivers the Restart Scheme in South Yorkshire on behalf of Maximus UK, the lead provider for this region.

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The Growth Company is an award-winning social enterprise with a mission to generate growth, create jobs, and improve lives. We provide employment services across Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region, Lancashire, Cheshire, and Yorkshire and Humber.

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