The new Kickstart Scheme is a £2 billion fund to create hundreds of thousands of high quality 6-month work placements aimed at those aged 16-24 who are on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.
The government funding will cover 100 per cent of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week for each job, plus the associated employer National Insurance contributions and pension costs. This will amount to approximately £6,500 for each work placement.
The government will also fund employers who provide trainees with work experience, at a rate of £1,000 per trainee. The government will improve provision and expand eligibility for traineeships to those with Level 3 qualifications and below, to ensure that more young people have access to high quality training.
There will also be a new payment of £2,000 to employers in England for each new apprentice they hire aged under 25, and a £1,500 payment for each new apprentice they hire aged 25 and over, from 1st August 2020 to 31st January 2021.
For further information about the Government measures to protect individuals and businesses, visit our COVID-19: Support for UK businesses hub.