1. Create your own job (Eigen Werk) Frans Heessels Project manager DWI December 2007

2.  Chain project (UWV/CWI/DWI) that coaches unemployed people over 40 on the road to self-employment  Participation to the project is possible when the candidate is on social welfare or unemployment benefit  The project is staffed and financed from within the chain  Work is only outsourced to the private market if this is necessary (vouchering for extra expertise & giving workshops) The project…

3.  The project lasts for 6 months but can be extended to 12 months in individual cases  Method: group dynamics, sub-groups with homework assignments, individual coaching and partial hiring of external expertise (to be used according to candidate’s needs)  The program has 3 stages :  Stage 1 : making a professional business-plan  Stage 2 : after approval of the plan the candidate starts the business “on trial”.  Stage 3 : the candidate starts the business on a permanent basis. and how it works…

4.  Figures from 26 April 2006 to 1 december 2007:  1. 995 applicant candidates (50 % Wwb / 50 % UWV)  2. More than 490 candidates currently active in the project  3. 170 people completely signed off from unemployment benefit or social welfare  4. 101 people partially off unemployment benefit or social welfare (currently running their business “on trial“)  Eigen Werk has recently been selected as Good Practice in a study on reintegration opportunities for older job seekers carried out on behalf of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW). The results

5.  Chain identity of the project : candidates can focus completely on their business.  We are not a school, but a course with mutual commitment.  We work with motivated candidates with a lot of skills and “life experience”.  The candidates are doing the work, we give them full support !  Candidates have influence on our program ( what do you need, what do you miss ? )  We treat our candidates like equals : we all have the same goal.  Their success is our success. Important factors for the project’s success :