The Kickstart scheme
The government has announced changes to its Kickstart scheme to make it easier for employers to join.
Kickstart is a job scheme, introduced in response to COVID-19, which provides funding to create six-month work placements for young people aged 16-24 on universal credit, who are at risk of long-term unemployment.
The threshold of a minimum of 30 job placements has been removed, meaning that from 3 February 2021, employers can now apply directly to the Kickstart scheme for any number of job placements.
Employers can also choose to apply through one of the approved Kickstart gateways that can offer tailored support.
The scheme will run until December 2021. Further information can be found on the gov.uk website.
Traineeships
Employers can now claim the £1,000 traineeship incentive for every trainee that starts and completes a work placement between 1 September 2020 to 31 July 2021.
A traineeship is a skills development programme for young people aged 16-24, (or 25-year-olds with an education, health and care plan) that includes a work placement. Lasting from six weeks up to one year, traineeships help people to establish the skills and experience needed for the apprenticeship or job they wish to apply for.
In July 2020, the government announced the incentive as part of an £111m investment in traineeships.
Find out more and apply for the incentives via the registration form on the gov.uk website.