About

Not every client of Working Well is interested in finding an organisation to work for. For those who interested in pursuing self-employment as an alternative to a traditional job, we offer a dedicated service that provides advice and support for clients wishing to start their own business. 

Our support offerings include email consultation, one to one support with emails, face to face meetings, funding advice, resource & application advice, business plan development, and more. 

About

Starting a business FAQs

  • How do individuals book a 1-2-1 Support session with the business and enterprise service?
    All referrals to the Self-Employment Advisory 1-2-1 Support Services will be through Employment Services Teams who will determine an overall strategy and support for each case. We cannot accept direct referrals from CMHTs, GPs or Self-Referrals at this time. These referrals will all go through Employment Services first who are best positioned to manage cases and develop overall action plan for each client. 
  • What do you need to start 1-2-1 work with a client? 
    Preference is that all referrals are signposted by WWT Employment Services and that a discussion is held between Employment Services and Work & Wellbeing Co-ordinator before seeing the client to understand “self employment readiness”, individual objectives and risk factors. 
  • Can external organisations attend 1-2-1 sessions with their client?  
    Yes – Employment Services Specialists are welcome to join the self-employment advisory sessions although not obligated to attend. 
  • What size business does the Business and Enterprise service support? 
    All businesses at all stages of formation from one-man bands such as bicycle repair, window cleaning all the way to budding industrialists with big plans.  
  • A client does not yet know what kind of business they want to start. Can they still book time with the Business and Enterprise service?  
    Yes – there is an appreciation that not all clients seeking self-employment advice will pursue that path and will support business ideas and planning at all stages. 
  • Can the Business and Enterprise service help client with accounting, tax advice, legal business standards or other specialist advice such as patents? 
    Our service is restricted to generalist advice and not set up to deliver specialist advice. We can however help to identify appropriate suppliers of these services and or help guide clients to specialist mentors. 
  • What happens if a client is unhappy with the service?
    At Working Well Trust we aim to provide a quality service.  However, if you are unhappy with the service you have received or how you were treated by Working Well staff you have a right to complain.  All complaints will be treated with the utmost seriousness and we aim to resolve any problem as quickly as possible.  The Working Well Trust’s complaints procedure is applicable to clients, staff, trustees, other organisations or individuals. 

    You can access our full complaints procedure here.

Our impact

Find our more about the impact Working Well has had on clients and stakeholders.

The number of employers offered training to support people with mental health in the workplace… 0

Find out more

Testimonials

  • “I think the service is a very good one. Having them in-house it makes it a lot easier for patients to meet with them and for us to support. It’s easier for the patients to trust and work with them which is a very good thing and the staff are fantastic, very personable and very good team players” –
    , Team lead for Early Intervention Service, BEH Trust
  • “Your ES’s are both amazing and have made life so easy for us for supporting our client into work, really helpful, great to have this service integrated into our team”
    , Social Worker in South Locality, BEH Trust
  • “Service users in therapy leave your sessions feeling more confident and often reminded of their skills and abilities that hadn’t been at the forefront of their minds. This empowering approach is so valuable (especially so when conversations are often focused on problems) and really helps with therapy when goals are around feeling more confident and returning to work/activity. Thanks very much.”
    THPTS Clinician, THPTS Clinician
  • “I’m meeting all different types of people and learning something that I still enjoy even though it’s not in my interest and field but I’m learning other things. Access has been very positive for me based on my enquiries helping me find my part time jobs. I’m feeling confident in a positive way.”
    Access Client, Access Client
  • “I was struggling with my mental health and learn something new. It has helped me in many ways – more confident to ask for help when it is needed, communicate with other peers and enjoying sewing. The staff are brilliant, very caring, helpful and encouraging. Each day is difficult to get out of the house and stressful for me but when I attend Sew and Support course it helps me to relax”
    Sew & Support Client, Sew & Support Client
  • “I have seen a difference within myself and am not afraid to attend events/workshop or meet new people by myself. This helped me to open up as a person and able to articulate what I would like to do,”
    Business & Enterprise Client, Business & Enterprise Client
  • “Working with  WWT Business & Enterprise has been an amazing and helpful experience for me.  Due to my ongoing mental health struggles I was feeling very overwhelmed and anxious about starting my business, but communicating with Faisal from the get go really helped me clear my head and get a better understanding of what I need to do in order to be successful. 
    WWT Business & Enterprise Client, WWT Business & Enterprise Client
  • “I really am grateful for having Working Well Trust put their time and effort in supporting me on my employment journey. Not only did they help me to believe and have faith in myself, but they have guided me in a way where I don’t have to feel as if I am pressured to rush things. Where I can take on challenges at my own pace and still achieve my goals.”
    Tower Hamlets IPS Client, Tower Hamlets IPS Client
  • “I finally feel as though the work has paid of and the support received has been incredible, I am hoping to continue in building my confidence’
    Enfield IPS Client, Enfield IPS Client
  • I realised I could do so much better with my life than endlessly jumping from one job to the other without doing what makes me happy. Today, I am so proud to say I have a clear sense of direction and now I am putting my wellbeing first before taking any decisions. WWTrust really pumped my confidence, and I wouldn’t have had the guts to make decisions which are right for me without their intervention.
    Client of Working Well

Our other services

In work support

The In Work Service supports employers to overcome some of the challenges posed by poor workplace mental health.

Find out more

Social enterprises

Social Enterprise is about prioritising communal impact alongside making a profit. At Working Well, we empower clients to develop confidence and valuable skills, all while supporting the local economy.

Find out more

Getting back to work

Our support offerings include email consultation, one to one support with emails, face to face meetings, funding advice, resource & application advice, business plan development, and more. 

Find out more