Kickstart Scheme Funding for new jobs for young people

The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to create new jobs for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long term unemployment. Employers of all sizes can apply for funding which covers:

• 100% of the National Minimum Wage National Living Wage for 25 hours per week for a total of 6 months. Employers can pay a higher wage and for more hours but the funding will not cover the extra cost.

• associated employer National Insurance contributions

• minimum automatic enrolment pension contributions

Employers can spread the job start dates up until 31 December 2021.

The employer will get £1,500 funding per job to be spent on training and employability support (provided by you, a Kickstart gateway or another provider), IT equipment and software or uniform or Personal Protective Equipment.

Jobs created with Kickstart Scheme funding must be new jobs and must not replace existing or planned vacancies or cause existing employees, apprentices or contractors to lose work or reduce their working hours.

The employer must help the young person become more employable. Examples of how you can achieve this are things like helping them look for long-term work, giving career advice and setting goals or supporting them with their curriculum vitae (CV) and interview preparations or developing their skills in the workplace.

You can apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant by either:

• applying online yourself

• applying through a Kickstart gateway who is already working with the Kickstart Scheme