According to official figures, over 100,000 young people have entered new roles through the government’s Kickstart scheme.
The £2 billion initiative was first launched in September last year by chancellor, Rishi Sunak, as part of the government’s Plan for Jobs.
The scheme is aimed at helping young people aged 16 to 24 claiming Universal Credit to secure stable employment.
After slow initial take-up due to ongoing social restrictions, the reopening of the UK economy has seen participation gradually increase, with an average of over 3,400 young people starting Kickstart jobs each week over the last month according to the Department for Work and Pensions.
Passing the 100,000 mark means that the scheme is now on its “last lap” according to Work and Pensions secretary, Therese Coffey, with funding still available for up to 250,000 Kickstart roles.
Coffey has urged firms to come forward with job offers and take advantage of the scheme, which is set to close on December 17 this year.
She said: “Having hit the 100,000 milestone, we are now on the last lap, and I encourage employers and young people to take advantage of this opportunity as we head towards the finish line of the great Kickstart Scheme.”
After the 100,000 milestone was passed, the chancellor commented: “Our future success depends on our young people, which is why we introduced the Kickstart scheme to give them the skills, experience and opportunities they need to reach their full potential.
“I've seen first-hand how it has transformed people's lives, so I am proud that 100,000 young people have started Kickstart jobs, with the scheme continuing to help young people into next year as we emerge from the pandemic.”
Businesses can apply to the Department for Work and Pensions to join the scheme, thus creating Kickstart places. The young Universal Credit claimants on the scheme are then matched to the vacant positions by Job Centre work coaches.
After an interview process, the employer has the final say on whether they take on the candidate.
For each Kickstart placement, the government covers their salary for a six-month period, calculated as the National Minimum Wage for 25 hours work a week. Employers can also claim a grant of £1,500 per placement to help cover any relevant costs.
Photo by ThisisEngineering RAEng on Unsplash
