Kickstart Simplified for Employers to Apply Direct as 120,000 Placements Created

THE GOVERNMENT is making the Kickstart scheme simpler for employers by removing the limit requiring a minimum of 30 vacancies to apply.

To ensure all job placements are of a high quality, the government will continue to apply rigorous checks on training providers and finances.

The government says more than 120,000 jobs for 16 to 24 year olds have now been created through the Kickstart scheme.

The scheme, which has been underway since September, is helping to put young people who have been some of the hardest hit by the economic impact of the pandemic on the first rung of their career ladder. The start dates for the scheme’s jobs vary but will all begin this year.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Thérèse Coffey said: “Now is the time to prepare for post-lockdown placements and employers will now have a choice to apply direct or through one of our 600 fantastic Kickstart gateways who may be locally connected or sector-specific providing that tailored support.”

Direct applications for the Kickstart scheme can be made from 3 February 2021.

How Kickstart Works

The government is funding up to £2 billion worth of places which pays for new job placements for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long term unemployment. Funding 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.

Roofing Sector

Employers can partner with a gateway organisation to apply for funding.

In the roofing sector, the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) and the National Roof Training Group (NRTG) are acting as gateway organisations.

The scheme will run until December 2021.

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