The Kickstart Scheme was announced in July as part of the “Plan for Jobs” initiative. It is intended to create new jobs for 16-24 year olds claiming Universal Credit, who are at risk of long-term unemployment.
Applications opened on the 2nd September 2020 and will be open until December 2021.
Businesses will receive funding from the Government to cover some employment costs, including wages. The Government will pay £1,500 to employers to help towards setting up support and training for those on the Kickstart Scheme. This payment can be used to pay for uniforms and other necessary start-up costs. The scheme will also cover 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage (NMW) for 25 hours’ a week, as well as employer National Insurance contributions and minimum auto-enrolment pension contributions.
Employers are able to top up the payment, this will not be covered by the funding.
The published list of minimum requirements stipulates that at least 30 placements must be offered, which should be new and not a replacement of an existing job, or cause current staff to have a reduced workload.
Additional minimum requirements include:
- being an existing company with a track record of fiscal competence
- being prepared to offer at least 25 hours a week to participants, for a minimum of 6 months,
- participants to give them the transferable skills needed to continue into gainful employment, training, or education
- demonstrating that the jobs they are offering are quality placements
- showing how they plan to monitor the progress of participants to the satisfaction of the compliance and quality requirements for the scheme
If you are unable to offer 30 job placements, you can partner with another business to reach the minimum requirement.
Applications can be made via the government website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-can-apply-for-a-grant-through-the-kickstart-scheme