Last week, the Government announced its Kickstart Scheme, a £2 billion fund to create hundreds of thousands of high quality six-month work placements aimed at those aged between 16 to 24, who are on Universal Credit and are deemed to be at risk of long term unemployment.
The funding available for each job will cover 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus the associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions.
The Kickstart Scheme job placements must be:
- 6 months
- at least 25 hours per week
- paying at least the National Minimum Wage through PAYE
- paying the statutory employer duties for the health, safety and welfare for young people, National Insurance and pension contributions
- including support for young people to help them get work after they finish their Kickstart Scheme job
Larger organisations, that can offer a minimum of 30 new placements, are being asked to apply directly to the scheme. More information is available here.
However, for those firms who are unable to offer such a large number placements, the Government is looking to work with intermediaries, such as Chambers of Commerce, to coordinate funding bids.
Commenting on the new scheme, Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy for Norfolk Chambers said:
“Norfolk Chambers and the UK Chamber network have been working with the British Chambers of Commerce Taskforce and the DWP to develop the Kickstart scheme.
“We therefore welcome the intention of the scheme, but are looking at the detail to ensure that it will indeed create the long-term, quality employment opportunities needed, by ensuring that both businesses and employees are fully supported throughout the placement.
“Norfolk Chambers are happy to support local businesses to access the Kickstart Scheme and we are in dialogue with various partners to explore ways of collaborating our efforts to make the application and delivery processes as easy as possible for businesses.”
If your business is interested in creating a fully funded placement for a young person, please contact: [email protected] and advise how many placements you are thinking of creating.
