- New £2 billion Kickstart scheme will create thousands of new jobs for young people across UK, as part of coronavirus recovery
- Those on Universal Credit aged between 16-24 will be offered six-month work placements – with wages and training costs paid by the Government
- Local MP urges businesses in the Havant Constituency to sign up
Local MP Alan Mak has welcomed the Government’s landmark new Kickstart scheme and called on local employers to sign up and help young people into work to mark the opening of the initiative.
The £2 billion scheme has been designed to ensure young people at risk of long term unemployment have a future of opportunity and hope by creating quality, government-subsidised jobs across the UK, helping to spur the country’s economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic.
Under the scheme, launched this week, employers that sign up will be able to offer youngsters aged 16-24 who are claiming Universal Credit a six-month work placement that is fully funded by the government.
This means the Government will pay 100 per cent of the young persons’ age-relevant National Minimum Wage, National Insurance and pension contributions for 25 hours a week, which the employer can top up if they chose to. In addition, the Government will also pay the employer £1500 for each young person they take on, to support any training or associated costs like uniforms that they might incur when setting up the scheme.
The scheme will initially be open until December 2021, but there is the option for it to be extended. Young people will be referred into the new roles through their Jobcentre Plus work coach with the first Kickstarts expected to begin at the start of November.
Commenting, Alan Mak MP said:
“The Government’s £2 billion Kickstart scheme has launched and I’m calling on local employers across Havant to sign up to provide Kickstart jobs.
“We cannot allow young people to be left behind as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and schemes like this will be vital for creating jobs and giving young people the skills to access them.
“I’m delighted that the Government are putting young people are the heart of its plans to build back stronger after the pandemic, and hope as many as possible across Havant are able to take part. The scheme is an opportunity to kickstart the careers of thousands of young people who could otherwise be left behind as a result of the pandemic."
