On 8th July 2020 the Chancellor, as part of his plan for jobs, introduced the Kickstart Scheme. Initially this was only being offered to larger businesses who could create a minimum of 30 jobs and since its launch in September has created over 120,000 jobs.
Earlier this month, thanks to a campaign from hundreds of SMEs, the government has now made the initiative available for employers of all sizes with no minimum requirements of jobs needing to be created.
What is the Kickstart Scheme and why has it been introduced?
Extensive research found that because of the coronavirus outbreak younger people were disproportionately impacted.
The scheme provides funding towards the creation of new job placements for individuals between the ages of 16 and 24, who are in receipt of Universal Credit, and potentially facing long-term unemployment.
The funding covers:
-100% of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) or National Living Wage (NLW) (dependent on the age of the participant) for 25 hours a week, covering a period of six months.
-Associated Employer National Insurance (NI) and minimum employer auto enrolment (AE) pension contributions.
What is the criteria?
Job placements created using Kickstart funding must be completely new jobs and must not replace any existing or planned vacancies. Nor must they mean that existing employees, apprentices, or contractors lose work or have to reduce their working hours.
They must only require basic training and should ultimately result in the young person becoming more employable. Job placements should assist in:
-Looking for long-term work. This could include providing career advice and setting goals
-Support with CV construction and preparation for interviews
-Developing skills in the workplace
How do you apply?
All employers can apply to the scheme, irrespective of their size, and the scheme will be open until the end of December 2021.
You can apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant by either:
-applying online yourself, or;
-getting help from a Kickstart Gateway who is already working with the Kickstart Scheme
Please note: You will need to provide information about the job placements during the application.
If you wish to apply yourself use this link: https://www.apply-Kickstart-grant-employer.service.gov.uk/
If you choose to use a Kickstart Gateway, we suggest looking online for ones that are in your local area or specialise in your industry. A Kickstart Gateway is a third party that will take on the administrative tasks of applying for the grant. They already have an agreement in place and therefore you can add your job placement to that agreement.
As always, if you require more information on this blog please call us on 01482 888820.