self-employment benefit program (seb)
GOVERNMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Employment Ontario, Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities offers those who currently receive Employment Insurance Benefits and consider Self-Employment an option to their current job search, an exciting and comprehensive training program. The Self-Employment Benefit Program (SEB), administered through VDMA Training and Consulting, Inc., is designed to support individuals in the start up of their business or business idea so they become economically self-sufficient.
Who is Eligible
Support
Our Process
Qualification Criteria
Who is Eligible
You are eligible for the Self Employment Benefit (SEB) Program if you:
- Are currently unemployed,
- Are legally entitled to work in Canada,
- Have an established Insurance Benefit (IB) claim, or one that has ended within the last 3 years, OR
- Have received maternity or paternity benefits within the past five years, after which the individual remained out of the labour market to care for a child and is now seeking to re-enter the labour force,
- Have no previous participation in self-employment assistance activity within the past five years
- Complete a business plan after referral, acceptable to Employment Ontario, showing potential for long term self-employment and the creation of employment
- Start a new business or take over an existing business in which the client has had no prior ownership
- Agree to work full-time on the business while receiving financial assistance
Support
Financial Assistance is available from Employment Ontario to eligible and qualified individuals wanting to start their business or see the start up of a business as an option to their employment search.
The program runs for up to 40 weeks and provides ongoing advice, training, coaching, and opportunities for clients to network among themselves and with various business communities..
Accepted participants bring to the program their experiences and previous skills. By using an applied and integrated method of in-class lectures, case studies, role-plays, and small group discussions, business topics are discussed and discovered in a fun and practical way.
Networking among participants and the creation of additional support systems are encouraged. Coaching and Business Plan Development starts immediately during the training phase to create self-sufficiency. Attendance of the training phase of the program is mandatory.
The ten-week Entrepreneurship course is the foundation for continued support in your business plan development. The following topics are covered:
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Self-Employment program trainers/facilitators represent a highly qualified team. All are small business owners as well as business consultants and trainers. Drawing on their personal experience, they understand the challenges in starting something new.
With the SEB Program, your business idea or business will take off while receiving the necessary financial support.
Our Process
Qualification Criteria
The following criteria will be considered when evaluating the application to the SE Benefit program.
- The proposed business activity must originate within the Lanark County area.
- Priority consideration may be given to new businesses, which have a reasonable expectation for employment creation.
- Preference will be given to business initiatives, which will have a positive impact on community economic development.
- An assessment of environmental impact may be required by the Ministry of the Environment.
- The proposed business is aligned with current labour market information (i.e., reflects this Community's needs regarding supply and demand).
- If the business is a partnership, the SEB applicant/client must demonstrate control of the venture with at least 51% ownership. A partnership agreement must be signed by both parties, witnessed and included with the application.
- With Ministerial approval, worker take-overs of an existing business may be eligible for the SEB assistance.
- In a limited company, the SEB client must provide evidence of ownership of a minimum of 50% of the shares with working rights.
- The purchase of an existing business will be considered where the purchase will produce a positive impact on local employment.
- The proposed business venture must have an expectation to lead to self-sufficiency for the SEB client.
- Applicants who have previously applied to the Program may re-apply if they have revised their business venture, or has chosen a new venture.
- Role and function of the Community Advisory Committee is to:
- Review all applications that have been evaluated and "recommended" to the SE Benefit Program.
- Approve an individual's participation in the SE Benefit Program.
- Make recommendations for program improvement.