The Kickstart Scheme is a fantastic opportunity to help support young people at risk of long term unemployment get onto the job market. It is designed to help young people ages 16-24 by covering:
· Salary for 25 hours a week paid at relevant NMW rate
· Associated employer National Insurance contribution
· Employer minimum automatic enrolment pension contribution
· £1500 for job training and support for work search preparation
The Kickstart Scheme was announced by the Chancellor in the Summer and expects to offer hundreds of thousands of job opportunities over the next few years. A £2 billion pot is available to fully fund exciting positions with businesses across the UK.
If you are an employer and can provide 30 or more jobs (with last jobs starting in December 2021)
You can submit an application directly online. To apply or for more information visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-grant-through-the-kickstart-sch…
If you are an employer who can provide less than 30 jobs:
You can access the scheme and the funding by using or becoming, a Kickstart gateway organisation. These gateways will be local or national organisations who will:
· gather information from employers about the role they would like to offer
· use this information to submit an online application on behalf of a group of employers
· pass on the Kickstart funding to the organisation They may also
· share their expertise with the organisation or employer to help create good quality roles
· help provide employment support directly to young people on the scheme To find out more visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-can-apply-for-a-grant-through-…
Help finding a Kickstart Gateway:
Kickstart Gateways are listed online on the Kickstart website - www.gov.uk/kickstart . As of 18th September, there are over 500 gateways available and more are coming on board. These include local authorities, larger employers, trade bodies, charities, colleges and other organisations. All of these have been vetted and it is only through these approved
organisations that employers who need a gateway can access funding for Kickstart.
Employers will not be charged to use these gateways (who will be funded £300 per Kickstarter) but they may use part of the additional £1500 grant to secure the appropriate level of training services, particularly the element focused on employment skills and work search preparation.
Become a Kickstart Gateway:
A Kickstart Scheme application must be for a minimum of 30 job placements. If a single employer cannot provide this many job placements, they can:
· Find such as a local authority, chamber of commerce or trade body https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-someone-to-apply-for-a-kickstart-schem…
· join a group of other employers, nominating someone to carry out the responsibilities of a representative.
Responsibilities of a Kickstart gateway or employer representative:
· gather information from you about the job placements you’d like to offer
· use this information to submit an online application on behalf of a group of employers
· pass on the relevant payments made by DWP to you (for example the young person’s salary)
They may also:
· share their expertise with you to help you onboard and train young people employed through the scheme, for example supporting those with particular disadvantages or working in certain sectors
· provide employability support directly to young people employed through the scheme
The representative must have:
· experience of managing partnership agreements with third parties
· robust financial and governance processes to manage the application
We will carry out an assessment of the suitability of Kickstart gateways and employer representatives, and may contact you for further information during the application process.
We are not currently accepting applications from organisations who do not have this experience.
How to apply on behalf of a group of employers:
You need to have a minimum of 30 job placements from your group of employers before applying.
You will need:
· details of the job placements proposed by your group of employers
· details of their business
· information about the support they plan to offer the young people
To find out more visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-can-apply-for-a-grant-as-a-rep…
Aged 16-24 and looking for a job:
The kickstart Scheme is a 6 month paid jobs with a local employer, funded by the Government.
Jobs from the Kickstart Scheme will be open to people 16-24 years old, who are claiming Universal Credit, and are at risk of long term unemployment. If you have a work coach they will talk to you about the Kickstart Scheme and whether it’s right for you. The first jobs should be available from November, so not long to wait.
Applications from employers are now underway, and we expect to have roles on offer in many different types of businesses, and across England, Scotland and Wales.
If you would like to find out more about jobs and discovering your skills then visit: https://jobhelp.campaign.gov.uk/kickstart/ to find out more.
