Apply for a Kickstart Grant

 

The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create job placements 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 (or the National Living Wage depending on the age of the participant) for 25 hours per week for a total of 6 months
•         associated employer National Insurance contributions
•         employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions

Employers can spread the start date of the job placements up until the end of December 2021.

A Kickstart Scheme application must be for a minimum of 30 job placements. If a single employer cannot provide this many job placements, they can find an existing Kickstart gateway, such as a local authority, charity or trade body for help applying.

Further funding is available for training and support so that young people on the scheme can get a job in the future.

The Department for work & Pensions have announced new entries of organisations who can help employers with the Kickstart scheme across all regions of the UK So you can find a Kickstart gateway in England, Scotland or Wales who have expressed interest in helping employers get a Kickstart Scheme grant.

See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-someone-to-apply-for-a-kickstart-scheme-grant-on-your-behalf

APPLY FOR A KICKSTART SCHEME GRANT: 29 OR LESS JOB PLACEMENTS

If you are an employer looking to create 29 or less jobs placements for young people, apply for funding as part of the Kickstart Scheme.

As an employer with 29 or less job placements you need to find an existing Kickstart gateway, such as a local authority, charity or trade body.

See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-someone-to-apply-for-a-kickstart-scheme-grant-on-your-behalf

Whoever represents you will apply on your behalf. You will need to give them information about the job placements.

The job placements must not:

•          replace existing or planned vacancies
•         cause existing employees, apprentices or contractors to lose work or reduce their working hours

Tell your Kickstart gateway:

• how many employees you have
• about changes to your workforce in the last 6 months and why (for example redundancies and changes to hours worked by existing staff)
• the number of people affected by changes to your workforce in the last 6 months
• about the kinds of roles, functions and average salary of those who were made redundant or who had their hours reduced in the last 6 months
• if you would be able to create these job placements without Kickstart Scheme funding and what funding source you would use
• what recruitment you have completed, started or paused in the last 6 months, including how similar these vacancies are or were to the roles you are creating for the Kickstart Scheme
•  if the job placements will be similar to existing or planned roles or the roles previously done by those made redundant or with fewer working hours, why you are using Kickstart Scheme funding to create similar roles
•  if you have engaged with any relevant trade unions and any advice the unions have given

See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-kickstart-scheme-grant-29-or-less-job-placements