Fremantle laying Business Foundations to get unemployed back in workforce

GETTING hundreds of people back into the workforce each year is no mean feat.

For local organisation Business Foundations Fremantle, their work using the federal New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) has given local jobseekers the opportunity to develop and create their own small business, allowing them to work for themselves doing something they love.

Fremantle MHR Josh Wilson and Federal Opposition spokesman for employment services and workforce participation Ed Husic visited the not-for-profit group’s Fremantle Prison base on Friday to hear about ways they had helped nearly 500 unemployed people train in the skills needed to start their own business in 2015 alone.

Business Foundations chief executive Phillip Kemp said they accepted almost anyone into the NEIS program as long as they were over 18 and available for training.

“We do find, though, that some of our most enthusiastic business owners are those who have lost a job and perhaps struggled for a while in trying to get back into the workforce,” he said.

“There are a lot of people unemployed right now who still have incredible experience, knowledge and drive and NEIS offers a fantastic opportunity to create their own future, working for themselves.”

Mr Wilson said without the support offered by organisations such as theirs far fewer unemployed people would try self-employment.

“Organisations like Business Foundations here in Fremantle can offer jobseekers who might not otherwise entertain self-employment the expertise specific to establishing small businesses,” he said.

“The training, mentoring and business planning provided by Business Foundations gives confidence to budding entrepreneurs and provides them with the highest chance of success.”

Visit www.businessfoundations.com.au for more information.