Kickstart Scheme

Think you can give a young person a job placement to give them the experience they need and get it fully funded by the Government? Well if you think your business could help a 16 to 24 year old on Universal Credit who is at risk of long term unemployment then there is a scheme called the Kickstart Scheme which not only 100% funds the participant’s wages (up to 25 hours a week to cover National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage dependant on the participants age) but also funds £1,500 per job to cover the set up costs and time in providing training in your workplace. The scheme can only last up to 6 months per participant with the closing deadline being 31 December 2021 but employers can spread the job start dates up to 31 December 2021 with the last job ending on 30 June 2022 if a young person starts on 31 December 2021.

Funding is also provided for the associated employers National Insurance contributions and the minimum automatic enrolment pension contributions.

To apply for the scheme please see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-kickstart-scheme-grant for more information. You can either apply online yourself or apply using a Kickstart Scheme Gateway which is an intermediary who already works with the Kickstart Scheme. Information will be shared with DWP for the job you have to offer and through the Jobcentre Plus they will try and find matches for your required role. It will be your choice who you want to give the opportunity to gain work experience in your workplace and hopefully make them an overall more employable person in their future careers. Your role as an employer will be to not only give the candidate the workplace experience but you will be expected to help the young person with career advice for long term work, perhaps setting goals. You will also be required to provide support with their curriculum vitae (CV) and help with interview preparations.

The job vacancy must not replace planned or existing vacancies and it must not cause existing employees, apprentices or contractors to lose work or reduce their working hours.

If you would like more information about the Kickstart scheme there is more information on the HMRC website on the link provided or alternatively please contact your local Perrys office