Title: Starting a business when you’re young and not working (2026) > For 18 to 30 year olds who want to start something of their own: the King’s Trust Enterprise programme, Start Up Loans, the Welsh start-up grant and Universal Credit’s start-up period, checked on official sources. Source: https://pontia.xyz/young-people/ Checked: 25 September 2026 For young people # Young and not working yet? Your idea could be your first job. If you’re 18 to 30 and want to start something of your own, there are workshops, mentors, grants and loans to help, and Universal Credit can keep paying while you find out if it works. [Sign up free](https://pontia.xyz/start/?from=youth-hero)[Universal Credit self-employed calculator](https://pontia.xyz/universal-credit-self-employed-calculator/) Free forever · No card · No hidden charges 981,000 > young people aged 16 to 24 in the UK are between things right now: not working, studying or training (13.0%, April to June 2026). You’re in good company, and some of the best businesses start from here. [ONS, August 2026](https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemployment/bulletins/youngpeoplenotineducationemploymentortrainingneet/august2026) ## Schemes you can use Official schemes and who they’re for. The ones only for young people come first. - GrantAges 18–30Check first ### The King’s Trust Enterprise programme For 18 to 30 year olds with a business idea: free workshops, a named contact for up to 12 months, a Test My Business Idea grant of up to £500, and start-up funding of up to £30,000 (a grant plus a Start Up Loan). - Test My Business Idea grant: up to £500, used within 3 months - Start Up funding: a grant of £100 to £5,000 you don’t repay, plus a loan of £500 to £25,000, up to £30,000 in total - You own at least half the business and have traded for less than a year, or not started yet - After launch: a volunteer mentor, masterclasses and networking for up to 3 years [Official site](https://www.kingstrust.org.uk/how-we-can-help/support-starting-business)Checked 25 Sept 2026 - GrantAges under 25 ### Young Person’s Start Up Grant (Wales) Up to £2,000 you don’t repay, plus adviser support, for under-25s in Wales who are out of work or study and starting their own business. - Up to £2,000 for equipment, training or marketing - Under 25, living in or returning to Wales; unemployed or not in education or training, or finishing a course within 3 months - Work through Big Ideas Wales support with an adviser first; available until 2027 [Official site](https://businesswales.gov.wales/bigideas/funding-and-grants/young-persons-start-grant)Checked 25 Sept 2026 - Keep an incomeJob search until approved ### Universal Credit start-up period If a work coach decides you are gainfully self-employed, you can get up to 12 months of Universal Credit based on your actual earnings, with no need to look for other work. [What is this, and what do I have to do? →](https://pontia.xyz/guide/uc-startup/) - Up to 12 months, from the assessment period in which you are found gainfully self-employed at a self-employment interview - No minimum income floor and no job search during it; quarterly check-ins on active steps - Usually once only: another needs 5+ years and a different trade you have stopped - Afterwards the minimum income floor usually applies (35 hours at £12.71/hour, aged 21+, from April 2026) [Official site](https://www.gov.uk/self-employment-and-universal-credit)Checked 25 Sept 2026 - Loan ### Start Up Loans A government-backed personal loan of £500 to £25,000 at a fixed 7.5%, with free help on your business plan and up to 12 months of mentoring. - £500 to £25,000 per person, repaid over 1 to 5 years, no fees - Fixed 7.5% a year for applications from 6 April 2026 - For UK businesses trading less than 5 years, or not yet started; credit check applies - Run by the British Business Bank; available across the UK [Official site](https://www.gov.uk/apply-start-up-loan)Checked 25 Sept 2026 - Grant ### Access to Work A grant you do not repay for practical support at work, such as equipment, support workers or travel, if you have a disability or health condition, including when self-employed. - For self-employment in England, Scotland or Wales; you must be working or starting within 12 weeks - Self-employed applicants need turnover of at least £6,500 a year - Pays for work support, not general start-up costs; does not affect other benefits [Official site](https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work/eligibility)Checked 25 Sept 2026 Summaries are simplified. Always check the official source before you apply. ## Who to talk to first Free, and they help people in your position every day. - ### Your work coach On Universal Credit, tell your work coach you want to become self-employed and ask for a self-employment interview. That’s how the 12-month start-up period begins. They can also refer you to the King’s Trust. [Official page](https://www.gov.uk/self-employment-and-universal-credit) - ### Youth Hubs Ages 16–24 Over 100 across Great Britain, run with local partners. Some take drop-ins even if you’re not on Universal Credit. [Official page](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-to-find-work-for-universal-credit-claimants-aged-16-to-24) - ### Free business advice Business Support Service in England (0800 998 1098), Business Wales, Find Business Support in Scotland and Invest NI: free help with your plan, at any age. [Official page](https://www.gov.uk/business-finance-support) ## Age rules that change your numbers - Under 25 on Universal Credit, single: your standard allowance is £338.58 a month (£424.90 from 25), 2026/27 rates. [Official page](https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/what-youll-get) - At the Youth Guarantee check-in after 13 weeks, self-employment isn’t one of the listed options. Raise your business plan with your work coach early and ask for a self-employment interview. [Official page](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-to-find-work-for-universal-credit-claimants-aged-16-to-24) - The minimum income floor uses a lower hourly rate for 18 to 20 year olds (£10.85 from April 2026), so the floor is lower too. Try the calculator with your age. [Official page](https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates) - Start Up Loans are personal loans from age 18 at 7.5%. You repay them even if the business stops, so borrow only what your plan needs. [Official page](https://www.gov.uk/apply-start-up-loan) [Try the numbers firstUniversal Credit self-employed calculatorSee your start-up period and the minimum income floor in 30 seconds.](https://pontia.xyz/universal-credit-self-employed-calculator/) ## Put it all into one plan Pick your schemes, add your figures and see your living and start-up budgets side by side. It takes about 2 minutes. [Sign up free](https://pontia.xyz/start/?from=youth-end) Free forever · No card · No hidden charges Sources, checked 25 September 2026 Estimate and guidance only. Confirm with your benefit office, the official website or an adviser. Rules change, and your situation changes the outcome. Not a government service. Not financial, tax or legal advice. Cite this page "Starting a business when you’re young and not working (2026)", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/young-people/ (updated 25 September 2026) ## Related guides and tools - [Start your business on Universal Credit](https://pontia.xyz/) - [Universal Credit job search, without the admin](https://pontia.xyz/universal-credit-job-search/) - [Universal Credit self-employed calculator](https://pontia.xyz/universal-credit-self-employed-calculator/) - [UK start-up support on Universal Credit in figures, 2026](https://pontia.xyz/datasets/gb-startup-support/) - [Universal Credit while you look for work vs Universal Credit start-up period](https://pontia.xyz/universal-credit-vs-start-up-period/) - [Universal Credit while you look for work](https://pontia.xyz/guide/uc-searching/) - [Universal Credit start-up period](https://pontia.xyz/guide/uc-startup/) --- Pontia is free and independent. 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