You no longer need a minimum of 30 job placements to apply directly for a grant.
You can now apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant by either:
- applying online yourself
- getting help from a Kickstart gateway who is already working with 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 these jobs vary but will all begin this year.
The government will make it even simpler for employers of all sizes to benefit from joining the scheme by removing the limit requiring they create a minimum of 30 vacancies to apply directly. To ensure all job placements continue to be of a high quality, the government will continue to apply rigorous checks on training support and finances.
For those employers who want support to get involved with the scheme, they can partner with one of the many gateway organisations such as a Local Authority or Chamber of Commerce. This is the recommended route for SMEs, as applying on your own comes with a raft of administration challenges which a smaller firm may not be able to process.
“It’s not just a case of people starting a work experience program and then they are left to their own devices. There have to be regular interventions and regular catch-ups to check how that person is performing,” says Justin Kyriakou of the ICAEW.
“This is initially why it was left at 30 because an organisation with the resources could do that administration.”
Application process
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 six months
- associated employer National Insurance contributions, and
- employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions.
Employers can spread the start date of the job placements up until the end of December 2021. Further funding is available for training and support so that young people on the scheme can also get a job in the future.
More resources:
- Apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant
- Help employers with the Kickstart Scheme (Kickstart gateway)
- Kickstart Scheme terms and conditions
If you require any assistance relating to coronavirus (COVID-19) and your personal financial or business circumstances, please email info@beavismorgan.com or contact your usual Beavis Morgan client partner.