The MP for Mid Sussex and Minister for Employment, Mims Davies, has been developing the policy at the forefront of the exciting launch, as the Government Minister responsible, for the Government’s new #KickstartScheme, an innovative new scheme to help young people into work and spur Britain’s economic revival, which has already seen a fantastic response from businesses and organisations so far, who the Government have been consulting with over the last few months.
Businesses and organisations large and small are now able to sign up to be part of the landmark £2 billion Kickstart scheme, giving unemployed young people a future of opportunity and hope by creating high-quality, government-subsidised jobs across the UK.
Under the new scheme, announced by the Chancellor, the Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, as part of his ‘Plan for Jobs’, employers can offer youngsters aged 16-24 who are claiming Universal Credit a six-month work placement. The government will fully fund each “Kickstart” job - paying 100% of the age-relevant National Minimum Wage, National Insurance and pension contributions for 25 hours a week, which the employer can top up if they chose to. In addition, the Government will also pay the employer £1500 for each young person they take on, to support any training or associated costs like uniforms that they might incur when setting up the scheme.
The scheme will initially be open until December 2021, but there is the option for it to be extended. Young people will be referred into the new roles through their Jobcentre Plus work coach with the first Kickstarts expected to begin at the start of November.
This £2 billion scheme has been designed to ensure young people at risk of long-term unemployment have a future of opportunity and hope by creating quality, government-subsidised jobs across the UK, helping to spur the country’s economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic.
The Chancellor says the following about the #KickstartScheme:
“This isn’t just about kickstarting our country’s economy – it is an opportunity to kickstart the careers of thousands of young people who could otherwise be left behind as a result of the pandemic. The scheme will open the door to a brighter future for a new generation and ensure the UK bounces back stronger as a country.”
Both Mims and her Ministerial colleagues have listened widely to young people and youth groups, LEPs, combined authorities and mayors, as we’ve been encouraging the widest number of applications possible for funding via an umbrella organisation-working with LEPs, combined authorities, mayors, councils, business groups & others, as intermediaries who will ensure the process is as efficient as possible to help make it easier & less labour intensive for smaller employers to be part of it. Importantly, it will allow local recovery plans and local labour market’s needs to be better supported and understood.
When asked about the scheme herself, Mims stated that:
“Kickstart gives young people the crucial, new opportunities they need to get their foot on the employment ladder and a foothold in the world of work. This pandemic has been tough on many of us and we want to put young people at the heart of our recovery, so to make that happen, we want employers from all sectors and industries to sign up to Kickstart, take advantage of government backing and help this national effort. I encourage all employers and local businesses in Mid Sussex of ALL sizes to get involved so we can support young people into new high-quality new roles. We have had over 10,000 expressions of interest from a wide-range of companies about participating in the new scheme and helping to generate new, exciting roles for young people.”
Ends.
Notes to Editors:
The link for businesses who wish to get involved in the scheme can be found at the following link: https://bit.ly/3gVtZoe