New Enterprise Allowance scheme creates 26,000 new businesses Since its launch in 2011, the New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) initiative has created 26,000 new businesses, with around 2,000 new start-ups launched each month. Through the NEA, budding entrepreneurs on Jobseekers" Allowance receive a total of £1,274 paid over 26 weeks to help fund their start-up, as well as receiving access to a loan facility of up to £1,000 and mentoring from successful entrepreneurs. Mr Roots is one such mentor and keen supporter of the scheme. "It's brilliant," he said. When I set up my business, I had to make it work before I got any investment. Elizabeth Hazeldine, 50, had been out of work for a year when she came up with the idea for a business providing guided history walks through Henley-On-Thames. She launched Henley's Heritage Walks in June. Ms Hazeldine believes that the NEA provides a lifeline for older jobseekers: "Losing your job at any time is always upsetting, but losing it when you're the wrong side of 40 is even worse," she explains. The NEA gave me the opportunity to move into self-employment with the backup of a weekly income. According to the Department for Work and Pensions, more than 6,000 of the new business created through the NEA scheme have been launched by people aged 50 or over, and 4,000 by disabled people. Employment minister Mark Hoban said that the scheme has been a huge success: "The New Enterprise Allowance is a great example of the aspiration nation in action - Government offering support to people with ideas, as well as the can-do attitude to turn them into successful enterprises."