The Walloon Government, on a proposal from Pierre-Yves Jeholet, Walloon Minister for the Economy, Employment and Training, is thoroughly reforming the self-employment support structures (SAACE) and the “Airbag” financial incentive.
The aim: to better support jobseekers who want to become self-employed, and to focus public funds on projects that are viable.
Today, setting up a business can quickly become complicated: too many structures, heavy procedures, and sometimes uneven support. With this reform, the Government is making a clear choice: simplify, strengthen support and better target aid.
“Every public euro spent must have a concrete impact. Here, we want to effectively support and guide jobseekers who want to start their own business and (re)find a place on the labour market,” Pierre-Yves Jeholet, Walloon Minister for the Economy, Employment and Training.
Fewer structures, more efficiency
The reform of the SAACE simplifies the landscape and concentrates resources where they enable more effective support, better suited to the real needs of entrepreneurs.
Today, 11 structures coexist, sometimes in the same territories, without the same resources or capacity for action.
Tomorrow, there will be 4, united under a common brand, better organised and better equipped:
- 3 “generalist Starters” covering the territories corresponding to Forem's regional directorates;
- 1 “Starter construction”, active throughout Wallonia to specifically support this key sector.
One generalist operator per territory, a clear system and enhanced support.
A single brand, “Starter Wallonia”, now makes it possible to clearly identify the offer and access it more easily.
More concrete and more demanding support
Support is now refocused on what matters most: the success of the project.
- Individualised follow-up from the outset;
- Assessment of the project's maturity and the candidate's skills;
- (Re)orientation towards the right tools if necessary.
Partnerships with Forem, IFAPME and field actors in the economic support ecosystem are being strengthened.
According to Pierre-Yves Jeholet: “starting your own business isn't something you improvise; we provide better support to maximise the chances of success.”
A reformed “Airbag”, simpler and better targeted
The “Airbag” financial incentive is also being revised to better target support towards all Walloon jobseekers wishing to re-enter the workforce through entrepreneurship.
- Prior registration as a jobseeker for at least 4 months is required to apply for the incentive. This period allows time for support, skills adjustment or guidance if necessary, without discouraging initiative.
- Access to the scheme is also conditional on mandatory support for self-employment or business creation, to ensure the credibility and structure of the project.
- The award criteria are now refocused on the quality and viability of the project, regardless of the candidate's qualifications or background.
- The scheme also provides for specific situations so as not to exclude those who have already been self-employed and now wish to restart an activity or reorient themselves, with tailored support.
The procedure is being simplified with strengthened support at start-up:
- Change from 4 to 3 instalments for the payment of the premium.
- The first instalment has been increased to provide greater support at the key moment: the launch of the business.
- Abolition of the selection committee, replaced by the new award criteria.
Clear rules and stricter controls
Control and sanction mechanisms are being introduced, along with stricter access conditions, to ensure the proper use of public funds and counter windfall effects.
According to Pierre-Yves Jeholet: “with this reform, we are making a clear choice: better support, better targeting, and an end to scattering public funds. Entrepreneurial spirit must be encouraged, not discouraged. Starting your own business should not be an obstacle course. It must become a genuine gateway to employment. Our role is to help with that, just as we must not stigmatise failure and must support second-chance entrepreneurship.”