What is it?
The Kickstart Scheme is a £2 billion fund to create hundreds of thousands of high quality 6-month work placements for young people.
It was launched on the 8th July after the Chancellor announced the Kickstart Scheme as part of the Plan for Jobs. Funding available for each job will cover the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus the associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions. There will also be funding available to support young people to develop new skills and to help them move into sustained employment after they have completed their Kickstart funded job.
Through the scheme, you’ll be able to access a large pool of young people with potential, ready for an opportunity. We will initially prioritise young people aged between 16 and 24 who are ready for an opportunity and will be supported by their Jobcentre Plus work coach to enrol in the scheme.
What funding is available
Funding is available for:
- 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week
- associated employer National Insurance contributions
- employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions
There is also £1500 per job placement available for setup costs, support and training.
If you are applying on behalf of a group of employers, you can get £300 of funding for each job placement to support with the associated administrative costs of bringing together these employers.
How to get involved?
Key information
The job placements created with Kickstart funding must be new jobs. They must not:
•replace existing or planned vacancies
•cause existing employees or contractors to lose or reduce their employment
The roles you are bidding for must be:
•a minimum of 25 hours per week, for 6 months
•paid at least the National Minimum Wage for their age group
•should not require people to undertake extensive training before they begin the job placement
All bids should include how you will help the participants to develop their skills and experience with:
•support to look for long-term work
•support with CV and interview preparation
•training to develop their skills, such as teamwork, organisation and communications as part of the role
How to apply
If you’re creating more than 30 job placements
If your organisation is creating more than 30 job placements as part of the Kickstart Scheme, you can submit your application directly.
Find an intermediary
If you’re creating fewer than 30 job placements
If your organisation is creating fewer than 30 job placements, you cannot apply directly. You must find someone to apply on your behalf.
Role of the intermediary:
- Support small and medium-size businesses and charities who have fewer than 30 jobs to offer to partner with other organisations to reach the minimum number.
- Collate and submit details online about the job placements employers are offering – later passing on further details to enable work coaches to refer the right young people to the jobs
- Receive payments made by DWP and pass on relevant payments (e.g. wages) to employers
- Use their expertise and knowledge to encourage employers to create good quality job placements
- Provide employment support directly to young people on the Scheme
Below is a list of intermediary organisations who can help you with your application. Find the best one that suits you:
Broxbourne Borough Council
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01992 785565
Working with: Broxbourne employers
St Albans BID
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01727251310
Working with: St Albans employers
Hertfordshire Growth Hub
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01707 398168
Working with: Hertfordshire employers
Communities 1st
Email: [email protected]
Working with: Voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in Hertfordshire
Watford Chamber of Commerce
Email: [email protected]
Working with: All employers of any size in East of England, South East and London
Vision Path
Email: [email protected]
Working with: SMEs in the A10 corridor - North London to Cambridgeshire
Visit Herts
Email: [email protected]
Working with: Hertfordshire businesses from the visitor economy including tourism, hospitality and leisure
