Kickstart Scheme – more information for employers

Employers of every size and any sector can express an interest in the Kickstart scheme and support young people in fully-funded six month work placements.  The scheme will run until at least December 2021.

Funding will cover:

• 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage (under 18 = £4.55/ 18 to 20 = £6.45 / 21 to 24 = £8.20) for 25 hours a week (employers can top up this funding)
• associated National Insurance Contributions
• employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions

and

• £1, 500 of extra funding to support young people to get the experience, skills and training they need to help them move into sustained employment. The Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce can support you to find this training if needed.

Watch: What employers think about the Kick Start scheme 

Who can apply for funding and what type of roles should they be?

Any business of any size or sector can apply for funding for placements, but we are particularly keen to hear from business in sectors that have a

skills shortage and/or have great potential for growth in the future, such as construction, the green economy, digital and IT, health and care, advanced manufacturing and engineering, advanced logistics, leadership and management, financial and professional services and agriculture.  But if you don’t fall into those categories please still express an interest!

The job placements funded by Kickstart must be brand new jobs and therefore:

• cannot cause other temporary or permanent employees or contractors to lose their jobs or receive less hours of work
• replace any planned temporary or permanent jobs, including apprenticeships, etc.

The roles you apply for must:

• be a minimum of 25 hours a week for 6 months, paid at least the National Minimum Wage. They should not  require extensive training before the start of the placement,
• provide work support and help develop the skills, experiences and confidence of young people to progress their career and support with information advice and guidance –  before, during and after the placement, where appropriate. This may include help on basic work skills (e.g. teamwork), interview preparation, etc.

How can employers get involved?

There are three ways that an employer can get involved:

• If you are want to offer over 30 placements, you can apply direct to the government
• If your organisation wants to offer fewer than 30 job placements, you must partner with other organisations in order to create a minimum of 30 before applying. If this is you, you can either:
  1. Contact the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce on kickstart@staffordshirechambers.co.uk  – who is acting as a registered intermediary for businesses and  is collating registrations of interest.
  2. Email eastmidlands.kickstart@dwp.gov.uk – the local Kickstart team will help put you in touch with a local Gateway organisation who can apply for a kickstart scheme grant on your behalf.
  3. You can contact organisations interested in becoming a Gateway organisation – find out who they are
     

More information on becoming a Gateway representative for a group of employers

The information you need to include to express an interest in a funding placement

Please include the following information when emailing to express an interest in hosting a placement/s:

• Company name, address and postcode
• Main contact
• Preferred contact information
• Where your proposed job placements will be in Stoke-on-Trent or Staffordshire
• How you will help the young person in the placement to develop their skills and experience

> All the information – Download the Kickstart guide for employers

More information: 

• Information for young people: What it is and how to apply
• Information for young people: What to do if you want a skills boost before you apply