--- title: "Startups after redundancy | Hypergility | Hypergility" description: "Turn redundancy into a founding opportunity. Discover how to build a startup using your skills and experience." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebPage", "name": "Startups after redundancy | Hypergility", "description": "Turn redundancy into a founding opportunity. Discover how to build a startup using your skills and experience.", "url": "https://hypergility.com/personas/made-redundant", "datePublished": "2026-05-17T14:49:53.046+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-05-17T23:04:56.367901+00:00", "isPartOf": { "@type": "WebSite", "name": "Hypergility", "url": "https://hypergility.com" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Startups after redundancy | Hypergility", "description": "Turn redundancy into a founding opportunity. Discover how to build a startup using your skills and experience.", "datePublished": "2026-05-17T14:49:53.046+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-05-17T23:04:56.367901+00:00", "author": [ { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tuli Faas", "jobTitle": "Co-founder" } ], "mainEntityOfPage": "https://hypergility.com/personas/made-redundant", "image": "/heroes/personas/made-redundant.webp", "citation": [ { "@type": "CreativeWork", "name": "Government Redundancy Rights", "url": "https://www.gov.uk/redundancy-your-rights" }, { "@type": "CreativeWork", "name": "British Business Bank Finance Hub", "url": "https://www.britishbusinessbank.co.uk/finance-hub/" }, { "@type": "CreativeWork", "name": "Companies House Guidance", "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house" } ], "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Hypergility", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://hypergility.com/og-default.jpg" } } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I use my redundancy pay for a startup?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Treat your redundancy package as your first angel investment. Statutory redundancy is capped at £700 per week for service after April 2024, but many corporate packages are significantly higher. Use this liquidity to cover personal burn for 3-6 months while building a prototype. Don't waste it on fancy branding; spend it on market validation and lean technical builds." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Should I incorporate immediately after leaving?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Wait until you have a validated idea. Registering with Companies House costs as little as £50 and can be done in hours, but it starts your administrative clock. Focus on customer discovery first. If you have a viable product or need to sign commercial contracts, that is the signal to formally incorporate and set up your equity structure." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I claim benefits while starting a business?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "You may be eligible for Universal Credit or the New Enterprise Allowance if you are starting a business. However, your redundancy pay counts as capital. If you have over £16,000 in savings, you generally won't qualify for means-tested benefits. Always report your change in circumstances to the DWP immediately to ensure you stay compliant while transitioning to self-employment." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I protect my IP if I developed the idea at my old job?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Check your previous employment contract for 'invention assignment' clauses. Most UK contracts state that work done during office hours or using company resources belongs to the employer. To avoid legal debt, ensure your startup's core IP is built on entirely new code or distinct concepts developed after your official termination date to ensure a clean chain of title." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the best way to find a co-founder right now?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Look at the colleagues who were also made redundant. You already have a track record of working together under pressure. Statistics show that roughly 20% of founders find their partners through former workplaces. If you lack a technical or commercial mirror, leverage UK founder networks like Entrepreneur First or On Deck to find vetted partners with complementary skills." } } ] } ] --- [![Hypergility](/assets/hypergility-logo-BKOgRT51.png)for bold startups ](/) Services [Startup Grower](https://startupgrower.hypergility.io/)[Website Build](/build-your-website)[Public Sector Bids](/offerings/win-public-sector-bids)[Management Systems & Assurance](/services/management-systems) Who it's for [Are you a bold founder?](/are-you-a-bold-founder)[Innovation Hubs](/partners/innovation-hubs)[Universities](/partners/universities)[Researchers](/personas/researchers) [Why us](/why-us)[News](/news)[Try Startup Grower](https://startupgrower.hypergility.io/)[Contact](/contact) ![](/heroes/personas/made-redundant.webp) No job, need a path — Just left work # Made redundant The job's gone. The skills aren't. Turn the next 90 days into a real founding decision. [Try Grower](https://startupgrower.hypergility.io)[Talk to us](/contact) ## From payout to playbook ### Idea pressure-test Use Grower to validate the thesis before you commit your runway. ### Runway plan Map your savings, payout and timeline so you build with eyes open. ### Brand & site A credible presence that says founder, not job-seeker. ### First customer plan Turn your old network into design partners and first revenue. ### Company & IP Get the company, contracts and IP set up properly from day one. ### Operating cadence Weekly metrics so you know if it's working — fast. Make the next move ## Pressure-test it in an hour Use Grower to scope the bet, or book a call with us. [Try Grower](https://startupgrower.hypergility.io)[Book a call](/contact) Grower, in your language ## Four jobs Grower does for you Validate ### Is the idea worth your redundancy cheque? Pressure-test the model before runway becomes regret. [Try Grower](https://startupgrower.hypergility.io) Pitch ### A pitch the people who let you go would invest in. Sharp narrative that turns experience into authority. [Try Grower](https://startupgrower.hypergility.io) Win first customers ### First customers from a network you already have. Convert ex-colleagues, suppliers and clients into paying buyers. [Try Grower](https://startupgrower.hypergility.io) Brand & site ### A real company by month two, not month nine. Site and email that carry the weight your old job title used to. [Try Grower](https://startupgrower.hypergility.io) > “The best time to start a company is when you have nothing to lose.” — Paul Graham , Co-founder Talk to us ## Got questions? Let's get specific. Book a 30-minute call. We'll map your situation and show the fastest next step. [Book a call](/contact) ## FAQs ### How do I use my redundancy pay for a startup? ### Should I incorporate immediately after leaving? ### Can I claim benefits while starting a business? ### How do I protect my IP if I developed the idea at my old job? ### What is the best way to find a co-founder right now? Next step ## Ready to move? Try Grower or book a call — whichever feels right. [Try Grower](https://startupgrower.hypergility.io/)[Book a call](/contact) TL;DR - Redundancy ends a contract, not your career trajectory. - Use your statutory payout as initial runway for a lean MVP. - The first 90 days are critical for validating a market problem. - Shift from employee mindset to owner-operator logic immediately. - Leverage deep industry knowledge to solve pain points you saw firsthand. - Founder-led growth starts with a decision, not just a funding round. ## Sources 1. [Government Redundancy Rights](https://www.gov.uk/redundancy-your-rights) 2. [British Business Bank Finance Hub](https://www.britishbusinessbank.co.uk/finance-hub/) 3. [Companies House Guidance](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house) Trusted by clients & partners ## Clients and partners we work with [![Sussex Innovation](/trusted-logos/sussex-innovation.png)](https://www.sussexinnovation.co.uk/)[![Aqueous Digital](/trusted-logos/aqueous-digital.png)](https://www.aqueous-digital.co.uk/)[![The Growth Orchard](/trusted-logos/growth-orchard.png)](https://thegrowthorchard.co.uk/)[![GovForms](/trusted-logos/govforms.png)](https://govforms.co.uk/)[![SITA](/trusted-logos/sita.png)](https://www.sita.aero/)[![University of Sussex](/trusted-logos/university-of-sussex.png)](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/) As seen at ## Where we show up in the community [![BrightonAI Show and Tell](/trusted-logos/brightonai.png)](https://brightonai.org) Certifications ## Standards we are independently certified against [ ![ISO 9001 Badge](/assets/iso-9001-DeXtyob9.svg) ISO 9001 Quality Management ](/we-are-iso-9001-company-certified)[ ![ISO 27001 Badge](/assets/iso-27001-BiHzm-R-.svg) ISO 27001 Information Security ](/we-are-iso-27001-company-certified)[ ![ISO 42001 Badge](/assets/iso-42001-WNouqNfX.svg) ISO 42001 AI Management System ](/we-are-iso-42001-company-certified)[ Cyber Essentials UK Cyber Security ](/we-are-cyber-essentials-certified)[ Cyber Essentials Plus Independently verified ](/we-are-cyber-essentials-plus-certified) [![Hypergility](/assets/hypergility-logo-BKOgRT51.png)](/) People and our AI companion — challenging you, not just agreeing Making ideas investable For founders — we help you shape it, set it up, build it and monetise it. [Try Grower](https://startupgrower.hypergility.io/)[](https://www.linkedin.com/company/hypergility) #### Starting out Lane overviews - [Starting out](/starting-out) - [Are you a bold founder?](/are-you-a-bold-founder) - [The Startup In You](/the-startup-in-you) - [Resources in play](/resources-in-play) Stepping up - [Overview](/stepping-up) - [Researchers](/personas/researchers) - [Sales rainmakers](/personas/sales-rainmakers) - [Tech wizards](/personas/tech-wizards) - [Domain experts](/personas/domain-experts) - [Creative designers](/personas/creative-designers) - [Voluntary redundancy](/personas/voluntary-redundancy) - [Retiring, not done](/personas/retiring-not-done) No job, need a path - [Overview](/no-job-need-a-path) - [Made redundant](/personas/made-redundant) - [End of contract](/personas/end-of-contract) - [Mutually parted ways](/personas/mutually-parted-ways) - [Resigned](/personas/resigned) - [Pushed out, can't get back](/personas/pushed-out-cant-get-back) - [Overqualified / age barriers](/personas/overqualified-age-barriers) - [Returning after a break](/personas/returning-after-break) - [Retired, need income](/personas/retired-need-income) - [Never employed](/personas/never-employed) - [Grads, no offers](/personas/grads-no-offers) Fitting it in - [Overview](/fitting-it-in) - [Students / college](/personas/students) - [Side hustlers](/personas/side-hustlers) - [Work returners](/personas/work-returners) - [Career changers](/personas/career-changers) - [Family duties](/personas/family-duties) - [Health / disability barriers](/personas/health-disability-barriers) - [Post-prison](/personas/post-prison) - [Underrepresented founders](/personas/underrepresented-founders) #### Resources in play Lane overviews - [Resources](/resources) - [Roadmap](/roadmap) - [News & insights](/news) Short runway - [Overview](/short-runway) - [Cash crunch](/personas/cash-crunch) - [Turnaround / restructure](/personas/turnaround) - [Distressed](/personas/distressed) - [Preserve, or pivot](/personas/preserve-or-pivot) Resourced and reloading - [Overview](/resourced-and-reloading) - [Successful exiters](/personas/successful-exiters) - [Go-again success seekers](/personas/go-again) - [Post-raise reset](/personas/post-raise-reset) - [Pre-series A](/personas/pre-series-a) - [Grant-funded R&D](/personas/grant-funded-rd) - [Money inheritors](/personas/money-inheritors) Struggling with investors - [Overview](/struggling-with-investors) - [Pitch isn't landing](/personas/pitch-not-landing) - [Wrong room, wrong investors](/personas/wrong-room) - [Term-sheet stalled](/personas/term-sheet-stalled) - [Bridge or down-round](/personas/bridge-or-down-round) - [Post-rejection reset](/personas/post-rejection-reset) #### Startup Grower - [Grower overview](/grower) - [Validate](/grower/validate) - [Pitch](/grower/pitch) - [First customer](/grower/first-customer) - [Brand site](/grower/brand-site) - [Open Grower app](https://startupgrower.hypergility.io/) - [Website Build](/build-your-website) - [Public Sector BidsLater ](/offerings/win-public-sector-bids) - [All offerings](/all-offerings) - [Pricing](/pricing) - [Roadmap](/roadmap) #### Capabilities - [AI safety](/ai-safety) - [R&D claims](/rnd-claims) - [Smarter IP](/smarter-ip) - [Trust & certifications](/trust) #### Company - [Privacy](/privacy-policy) - [Cookies](/cookie-policy) - [Terms](/terms-of-use) - [Use policy](/use-policy) - [ICO registration](/ico-registration) - [AI ethics](/ai-ethics) - [IP statement](/ip-statement) - [Image attribution](/image-attribution) #### Company - [Home](/) - [What we do](/what-we-do) - [Why us](/why-us) - [Contact](/contact) - [News](/news) - [Roadmap](/roadmap) - [Sitemap](/sitemap) - [llms.txt](/llms.txt) - [Trust & certifications](/trust) #### How we work [ Do it yourself Self-serve with Grower ](/do-it-yourself)[ Do it with you Coaching & expert sprints ](/do-it-with-you)[ Do it for you Done-for-you delivery ](/do-it-for-you)[ Do it with a partner Vetted specialist network ](/do-it-with-a-partner) #### Offerings Tap any card for the dedicated page. Status shown on each. Launch sequence — earliest to latest Live shipping today — buy or book now › Next in build, launching soon › Later scheduled, design stage › On radar validated demand, no date yet [Shape](/shape) Pressure-test the idea - [Is my idea any good?Live ](/offerings/is-my-idea-any-good) - [Bootstrap your runwayLive ](/offerings/bootstrap-your-runway) - [Validate fastLive ](/offerings/validate-fast) - [Size the prizeNext ](/offerings/size-the-prize) - [Competitor intelligenceNext ](/offerings/competitor-intelligence) - [Nail the pitchLive ](/offerings/nail-the-pitch) [Set-up](/set-up) Get the foundations right - [Incorporate & structureLive ](/offerings/incorporate-and-structure) - [Cap table & equityNext ](/offerings/cap-table-and-equity) - [Tax-efficient share schemesOn radar ](/offerings/tax-efficient-share-schemes) - [Claim R&D creditsLive ](/offerings/claim-randd-credits) - [SEIS/EIS advance assuranceLater ](/offerings/seis-eis-advance-assurance) - [Signal EquityNext ](/offerings/signal-equity) [Build](/build) Ship what customers want - [Ship the productLater ](/offerings/ship-the-product) - [Get found onlineNext ](/offerings/get-found-online) - [Win grants & innovation loansLater ](/offerings/win-grants-and-innovation-loans) [Monetise](/monetise) Turn traction into revenue - [Win first customersNext ](/offerings/win-first-customers) - [Pricing & business modelNext ](/offerings/pricing-and-business-model) - [Buyer-ready sales decksNext ](/offerings/buyer-ready-sales-decks) - [Activate IP for partnershipsLive ](/offerings/activate-ip-for-partnerships) - [Win public sector bidsLater ](/offerings/win-public-sector-bids) - [C-suite distribution networkOn radar ](/offerings/c-suite-distribution-network) #### Partner network Advisors & Professionals - [Accountants & advisors](/partners/accountants) - [Lawyers & legal advisors](/partners/lawyers) - [Agencies & consultants](/partners/agencies-and-consultants) - [Independent consultants](/for-consultants) Capital & Community - [Investors, angels & syndicates](/partners/investors) - [Founder communities & networks](/partners/communities) - [Trade associations](/partners/trade-associations) Innovation & Education - [Universities & TTOs](/partners/universities) - [Innovation hubs & incubators](/partners/innovation-hubs) - [Accelerators](/partners/accelerators) - [Tech & integration partners](/partners/tech-and-integration-partners) Workforce Transitions - [Outplacement agencies](/for-outplacement-agencies) - [HR & redundancy teams](/for-employers-redundancy) #### Registered Hypergility Hypergility Ltd & Hypergility Innovations Ltd [help@hypergility.com](mailto:help@hypergility.com) Trading address Science Park Square Brighton BN1 9SB Registered office 66 Paul Street London England EC2A 4NA #### Independently certified [![ISO 9001](/assets/iso-9001-DeXtyob9.svg)ISO 9001 ](/we-are-iso-9001-company-certified "ISO 9001")[![ISO 27001](/assets/iso-27001-BiHzm-R-.svg)ISO 27001 ](/we-are-iso-27001-company-certified "ISO 27001")[![ISO 42001](/assets/iso-42001-WNouqNfX.svg)ISO 42001 ](/we-are-iso-42001-company-certified "ISO 42001")[CE Cyber Essentials ](/we-are-cyber-essentials-certified "Cyber Essentials")[CE+ Cyber Essentials Plus ](/we-are-cyber-essentials-plus-certified "Cyber Essentials Plus") © 2016 - 2026 Hypergility Ltd. 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