A TOTAL of 8,040 people have opened a business in the South East with the support of the New Enterprise Allowance (NEA), a fund available to jobseekers with a business idea.

Successful applicants get access to a business mentor, financial support for up to six months and may be able to apply for a loan of up to £25,000 to help with start-up costs.

The latest NEA figures show that of the boroughs and districts in The Herald area, Waverley had 100 NEA-backed start-ups, Rother 140, East Hampshire 60 and Hart 60.

Brighton and Hove had the highest number of start-ups in the South East (680), followed by the Isle of Wight (430) and Medway (370).

Minster for Employment, and MP for East Hampshire, Damian Hinds, said: “As these latest figures show, thousands of people across the South East have great business ideas, and are taking the steps to turn them into a reality.

“The NEA provides the right mix of expert, tailored advice and support to people of all backgrounds which can be invaluable in the early days of starting a company.”

The figures show that of the individuals launching a business nationally:

• Over two thirds were aged between 25 and 49, 24 per cent were over the age of 50 and seven per cent were aged between 18 and 24.

• 40 per cent were women.

• 22 per cent have a self-declared disability.

• 13 per cent were from a BME background.