Need to hire help? Get funding for new staff from the Kickstart Scheme
Are you in the fortunate position of growing your business and need help as you expand? Before you place a job advert, find you if you can get funding for new employees from the Government’s new Kickstart Scheme.
- What is the Kickstart Scheme?
- What can you get funding for?
- Who are Kickstart jobs open to?
- How do you make sure candidates qualify?
- How many Kickstart jobs do you have to offer?
- Is the Kickstart Scheme available in your area?
- When do Kickstart jobs start?
- Is a Kickstart job an apprenticeship?
What is the Kickstart Scheme?
You can now apply to the Kickstart Scheme for funding to create new six-month job placements for young people on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the £2 billion Kickstart Scheme in his Plan for Jobs on 8 July 2020.
Through this Scheme, the Government aim to create hundreds of thousands of fully-subsidised jobs for young people.
The jobs you offer must support the young people you hire to develop skills to help them find work after completing the placement.
What can you get funding for?
If your application is successful, for each person you employ, you’ll get funding for:
- 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week
- National Insurance contributions you pay for the young person
- your employer contributions to your company’s auto-enrolment pension
- up to £1,500 for set-up costs, support and training
Find out more and apply at the Gov.uk website:
Guidance | Check if you can apply for a grant through the Kickstart Scheme
Who are Kickstart jobs open to?
To qualify for the funding, the person you employ in a Kickstart job placement must be:
- aged 16 to 24
- claiming Universal Credit
- at risk of long-term unemployment
How do you make sure candidates qualify?
If you successfully apply to the Kickstart Scheme, your placements will be advertised by the Government’s Job Help portal and qualifying young people will be put forward for your vacancies. You can choose who you employ.
You’ll only get the funding if you hire a young person who was introduced to you by the Government.
How many Kickstart jobs do you have to offer?
The minimum number of Kickstart job placements you have to offer is 30. For many small businesses, this is impossible but you’re allowed to partner with other organisations to reach the minimum number.
If you’re applying on behalf of a group of employers, you can get a grant of £300 to help with the admin costs of applying.
Is the Kickstart Scheme available in your area?
You can apply for funding from the Kickstart Scheme if your business is based in England, Scotland and Wales.
You can offer Kickstart jobs in any sector.
When do Kickstart jobs start?
It’s up to you as the employer when you start Kickstart placements. The Government expects the first placements to be available from November 2020.
Is a Kickstart job an apprenticeship?
No. However, participants can move to an apprenticeship at any time during or after their job placement.
The Government have announced that there will be extra funding to support young people after their Kickstart placement. The funding will be to build their experience and help them move into regular employment.
How do you apply?
To find out how to apply, what happens next and how you’ll get the funding if you’re successful, read the guidance at the Gov.uk website:
Guidance | Apply for a grant through the Kickstart Scheme
Have your say
Will your small business be able to create Kickstart placements? We’re keen to hear from you – get in touch with us on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.
Photo by ThisisEngineering RAEng on Unsplash
