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Kickstart scheme
This is a new scheme announced on 8th July 2020.
The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long term unemployment.
Funding available for each job will cover the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus the associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions.
There will also be funding available to support young people to develop new skills and to help them move into sustained employment after they have completed their Kickstart funded job.
Employers can spread the start date of the job placements up until the end of December 2021.
- The Kickstart Scheme is a £2 billion fund to create hundreds of thousands of high quality 6-month work placements for young people.
- The scheme will initially prioritise young people aged between 16 and 24 who are ready for an opportunity and will be supported by their Jobcentre Plus work coach to enrol in the scheme.
- If an employer can offer new, 6 months placements to young people, the government will fully fund the position.
- The scheme is designed to help young people get the experience they need through a placement to help them find employment in the future – Kickstarting a young personss career
The job placements created with Kickstart funding must be new jobs. They must not:
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- replace existing or planned vacancies
- cause existing employees or contractors to lose or reduce their employment
- The roles must be:
- a minimum of 25 hours per week, for 6 months
- paid at least the National Minimum Wage for their age group
- should not require people to undertake extensive training before they begin the job placement
- All employers taking part must demonstrate how they will help the participants to develop their skills and experience with:
- support to look for long-term work
- support with CV and interview preparation
- training to develop their skills, such as team work, organisation and communications as part of the role
To find out more please speak to your Universal Credit Work Coach