by Lorraine Gibson.

SAMEE (Support and Mentoring Enabling Entrepreneurship) charity is launching the UK’s first accredited Self-Employment Support Programme for people with special educational needs (SEN).
The flexible programme, called ‘You’ve Got This!’, helps individuals develop skills that make self-employment a viable career option and was developed through research and co-creation with people with SEN, including those with neuro-diverse challenges.
SAMEE chief executive Samantha Everard, inset, said: “It has been created to cater for the needs of learners with SEN. As there is no maths and English element associated with it, it’s accessible to all.”

Learners get support and resources tailored to their individual requirements and solutions in keeping with the SAMEE ethos.
Since 2016, the charity has taught self-employment skills to enable disabled adults, particularly those with learning disabilities, to escape poverty and gain independence through successful self-employment start-up.
As Disability Confident Leaders, their unique delivery style is a mix of personalised 1:1 guidance and peer mentoring; its SAMEE Steps into Self-Employment is accredited by the awarding body and educational charity NCFE.
David Gallagher, chief executive of NCFE said: “We’re delighted to help build a qualification with such an important purpose and that has the potential to enable hundreds, if not thousands, of people to start meaningful work.
“Through the tough economic times that we’ve started to experience, we expect some real challenges in the labour market and, as such, self-employment, enterprise and entrepreneurship have never been more important.
“This qualification will provide crucial recognition and a sense of achievement and I am looking forward to working with SAMEE to support and enable learners.”
Lea Hampton, employment and skills manager from One Horton Heath, who has been working alongside SAMEE in its development said: “Until now there has been a huge gap in championing self-employment as an option for people with SEN and learning disabilities.
“I became involved to help address this issue and am delighted that this qualification will now be available to people across the UK.
“It will not only help them to gain knowledge of how to run a business but also help them boost their confidence, improve mental health, gain financial independence and understand what work entails.
“It will provide them with transferrable skills – being a team member, leadership, communication, aiming high and making a positive contribution.
“The SAMEE team are brilliant listeners, not just to their beneficiaries but also those who collaborate with them.”
No formal entry requirements are needed for the programme, all they ask is that learners possess sufficient communication skills to address assessment requirements and are 16 or over.
Steps into Self-Employment Level 1 qualification launches in March with a week-long programme of activities with virtual trainers running across Dorset and the UK.
For information contact Samantha Everard on sam@samee.co.uk.