Kickstart Scheme for Employers

Could your business create a role to provide the start a young person needs to their future career, whilst getting paid by the government to cover the costs?  

The government has recently announced a new £2 billion Kickstart scheme to help create hundreds of meaningful jobs for young people aged 16-24, who are currently claiming Universal Credit.

Business West, which runs the Chambers of Commerce in Bristol, Bath, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire is acting as a local intermediary for the Kickstart scheme. As part of the British Chambers network we're working with Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to pull together quality placements on behalf of smaller businesses in the region who want to participate in the scheme.*

Job opportunities need to provide 6-month long employment roles for young people aged 16 – 24 for a minimum of 25 hours per week.

If your business is able to offer a job opportunity for a young person under the scheme you’ll receive:

• 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus associated employer National Insurance contributions and minimum pension costs.
• A contribution towards employer set-up costs, support and training for each candidate placed through the scheme. 

* Businesses able to provide 30 or more placements can apply direct via the government portal from 2nd September, however employers offering smaller placement numbers will need to apply via an intermediary. The first wave of placements are due to take place from November, but interested businesses will be kept up-to-date.