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<p>The Government is committed to supporting all entrepreneurs to start and grow a
business and is a key aspect of our ambitious Industrial Strategy. The Government
supports diversity in all its forms in business and recognises the valuable contribution
they make to our economy.</p><p>On 6th March BEIS launched the Young Entrepreneurs
Review, independently led by the Prince’s Trust. The Review will close in September
2019 and will seek to better understand young entrepreneurs, the specific barriers
and opportunities they face, and what more can be done to support them to start and
grow a business, including young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.</p><p>The
Department ensures that the Shared Parental Leave and Pay Scheme enables eligible
couples to share up to 50 weeks of leave and up to 37 weeks of pay, in the first year.
We are currently evaluating the scheme and have commissioned both quantitative
and qualitative data on the level of take-up; barriers to take-up; and how the scheme
is being used in practice. Last year, GEO and BEIS ran a joint £1.5m campaign to promote awareness
and take-up of Shared Parental Leave and Pay and a campaign to raise awareness launched
last month. We are exploring options for improving tools and guidance for parents.</p><p>Pregnant
women and new mothers who are self-employed may qualify for Maternity Allowance (a
benefit which is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions). Where they
do not intend to use their full entitlement to Maternity Allowance they can ‘create’
up to 50 weeks of Shared Parental Leave and up to 37 weeks of Statutory Shared Parental
Pay for an employed father or partner to take (subject to eligibility conditions).</p><p>Employed
directors can qualify for a range of employment rights including Maternity Leave and
Pay (or Maternity Allowance), Paternity Leave and Pay, Adoption Leave and Pay and
Shared Parental Leave and Pay. Maternity and Adoption Leave are ‘day 1’ rights. Other
family related employment entitlements are subject to eligibility conditions.</p>
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