Cumbrian firms encouraged to take part in Government's £2bn job Kickstart Scheme
The Government has started taking applications for employers to apply to the Kickstart Scheme, with Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (CLEP) strongly encouraging local organisations to enrol.
The scheme, which is part of the Government’s Plan for Jobs, aims to get young people into the workplace.
The 6-month placements are open to those aged 16-24 who are claiming Universal Credit and are at risk of long-term unemployment.
Funding will be given to pay for 25 hours of work per week at the relevant minimum wage for the employee, as well as associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum auto-enrolment pension contributions.
Extra funding will also be made available to support young people in finding long-term employment after the scheme ends.
Mike Smith OBE, Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership Board Member and Chair of its People, Employment and Skills Strategy Group, welcomed the support and urged local employers to take part: “Young people are at the heart of our economic revival and we are therefore urging businesses to get involved in the range of innovative, high quality skills and employment programmes in place including Traineeships, Apprenticeships, Jobs Fuse and Kickstart, and take advantage of the enormous pool of talent that we have in-county.
“We have an opportunity to kick-start the careers of young people, who may have otherwise been at a significant disadvantage as a result of the pandemic. We hope that many local employers will sign up to support our young people’s futures and assist the county’s economic recovery.”
Guidance about the Kickstart Scheme for employers can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/kickstart-scheme.