New Enterprise Incentive Scheme

(N.E.I.S.)CURRENTLY OVER SUBSCRIBED

I    N    F    O    R    M    A    T    I    O    N

The NEIS program is funded by the Commonwealth Government, through the Department of  Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. (DEEWR).  NEIS is all about Skills Shortages. Areas from Bundaberg to the Tweed Coast and west to Toowoomba are served by Employment Services Queensland Pty Ltd (ESQ) (or One Stop Employment) as your NEIS Panel Member.  Partners in ESQ are community based organizations that have joined for the delivery of NEIS as a contracted managing agent for DEEWR. Career Employment Australia Inc and Challenge Employment & Training are both Registered Training Organizations contracted to provide NEIS training under the Productivity Places Program.  This is not a full description of NEIS.

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE TO APPLY ?

To be eligible for NEIS, you must be :

Unemployed, and over 18 years of age, with a Jobseeker ID Number (JSID) from Centrelink,

Registered with Centrelink and receiving (or be eligible for) a Centrelink pension benefit,

Not an un-discharged bankrupt.

You must have sufficient funds, equipment or assets to start the proposed business.

Parenting Payment Single, Disability Support Pension and some other Pensions are also eligible.

If you are on Newstart Allowance, you MUST be registered with a Job Network Provider.

If you are on Disability Pension, you must have your doctor's approval to start your business.

If you have received NEIS support previously, you are restricted from another application.

Simply receiving Family Tax Benefit A and B (Family Payments) does not make you eligible.

IS YOUR BUSINESS IDEA ELIGIBLE FOR NEIS ?

The business must be legal, not controversial and in an area of Skills Shortage as defined by DEEWR

You must be able to prove (by letters of intent) that there is a need for your business in your district.

It must be a new business, you cannot take-over an existing business or shop.

It must be different in appearance and operation, from similar businesses in your area

It must be independent, it cannot be:   a franchise or an agency of another company;

                                                            part of a multi-level marketing group;

                                                            an exclusive sub-contract arrangement;

                                                            designed to displace an existing business,

                                                            or put a similar enterprise out of business.

Your business must not have started trading.   You are not eligible if you have already started the business, leased your business premises or have submitted a BAS statement or a business tax return.

You must be eligible PPP NEIS training, and not already qualified in Certificate IV in Small Business

IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE, HOW DO YOU GET INTO NEIS ?

(A) Speak to your Job Services Australia Provider and tell them of your interest in starting a business.

     or

(B)  Attend a NEIS Information Session.  These are held every week at our NEIS Office at Salisbury and at every Employment Services Queensland (One Stop Employment) office.  NEIS is not a service but a commercial 'Competitive Entry' program, based on your ability to demonstrate potential profitability.  You must be ready to start full-time operations. You must work FULL-TIME in your new business, and it must operate wholly within Australia. Our minimum objective is for you to have all bills paid and still have cash reserves after 12 months. 

You will need to obtain a referral from your Job Services Australia Provider to be entered into NEIS. Invitations to participate in the NEIS program are based on the detail in your Venture Summary.  Please provide a well-researched submission - everyone else does.   All of our staff are bound by signed Government confidentiality agreements.  Due to the competitive entry structure, not all of the NEIS Venture Summaries submitted are called back and invited to commence NEIS.

WHAT DOES NEIS PROVIDE   ?

We only call back those applicants who are successful.  We start several new applicants every week.  You do not have to wait for a 'class' to start.  We do not offer interim evaluations or subjective assessments of business ideas submitted.  The NEIS program provides you with :

Training in Certificate IV in Small Business Management (BSB40407).  Throughout Queensland,   we provide that training on a self-paced basis.  This means that we provide you with all of your study manuals CRRom and you study the material at home, at your own pace.  It may take you up to eight weeks.  To do this, you need to be computer literate and have a computer, email and printer at home.  Most NEIS students complete their studies quicker if we can work via e-mail. If you do not have a computer at home or if you are not comfortable on a computer, you may need to make application to another NEIS provider, one that can offer the NEIS certificate training on a classroom basis (where you use their computers).

After you are selected for NEIS training, we assist you with the further development and refinement of your business concept, compliance with regulations, and assist you to complete test marketing, while you develop a wealth of market research information.  We have a network of Tutor/Mentors who have extensive (real-world) local area business management experience and qualifications.

As you complete your business management studies, you will be writing a comprehensive business plan.  The detail in your business plan is compiled by addressing the ‘issues’ raised in the study program. When you have completed your studies and the business plan, the business plan is assessed independently, and referred to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations for issue of your NEIS contract.  You are still on Centrelink benefits while you are studying.

WHAT DO YOU GET WHILE ON NEIS ?

After your business plan has been approved and accepted by the Department, they will prepare a NEIS contract, which will apply for twelve months from the date of signing.   Under the contract, you will be paid the fortnightly NEIS Allowance of $453.30 per partner per fortnight (which is the same as the single Newstart Allowance amount).  The main difference is that the NEIS allowance is not means tested.  This means that you will receive the same amount every fortnight, regardless of how much profit you make.  Your Centrelink benefit will cease and your NEIS allowance will commence in a ‘seamless’ transition.  NEIS Businesses that have two or more eligible partners will receive the full fortnightly NEIS allowance for each partner. You will estimate your business income and expenses in a business plan and you must achieve at least 75% of your targets. Your business activity must be covered by a Public Liability Insurance policy and other appropriate cover, for the term of your NEIS Agreement.  The business must operate wholly within Australia.

Those who are receiving Rent Assistance through Centrelink at the time of signing their NEIS agreement, will continue to receive Rent Assistance for a further six months. Those who are receiving Disability Support Pension will be offered the option to remain in receipt of disability, rent assistance and pharmaceutical benefits, as required.  Those receiving Parenting Payment Single will also be offered optional arrangements.  For the twelve months of your NEIS agreement you will be provided with marketing and mentoring assistance through NEIS.  We will meet at least quarterly, to discuss your cash flow results and your future plans, assisting wherever possible.  NEIS does not provide you with any start-up capital funding. You can earn some additional (external to the business) income during the first few months, without it affecting your NEIS Allowance.  You can apply for Federal, State and other Grant Schemes without it affecting your NEIS Allowance.