Test Trading Programme

The Steps to Work Test Trading Programme offers unemployed people the opportunity to ‘test trade’ their business for a period of 26 weeks while continuing to receive their benefits and avail of support from an experienced business advisor.

Over the financial year we helped 52 people to start and test trade their business with 86% of participants continuing with their business and signing off benefits. This was against a target of 23% set by the Department of Employment and Learning, for whom we deliver the programme.

Steps to Work contracts ended on 31 May 2014 and the Department will be introducing a new programme Steps 2 Success (NI).