The New Entrepreneur Scholarships: self‐employment as a means to tackle social deprivation

The purpose of this paper is to investigate New Entrepreneur Scholarships, a government‐funded programme that aims to help people from disadvantaged backgrounds to become self‐employed.

A case study methodology is employed.

The programme has been very effective in helping people who would not otherwise overcome the barriers in setting up a business to establish themselves in self‐employment.

Tacking the issue of qualifications remains an issue as there is no clear demand for a qualification. Resources are also needed to further promote the success of New Entrepreneur scholars within their own areas to that they can be role models to others and so that enterprise can be seen as a viable option for other members of their communities.