Kickstart: Funding for employers and new jobs for young people

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has launched the £2 billion Kickstart Scheme, designed to create fully subsidised new job placements lasting 6 months for young people across the country who are currently on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.

The placements are open to those aged 16-24. They will be available across a range of different sectors in England, Scotland and Wales. The first placements are likely to be available from November.

Employers will receive funding for 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum auto-enrolment pension contributions.

There will also be extra funding to support young people to build their experience and help them move into sustained employment after they have completed their Kickstart funded job.

How to apply:

If you are an employer looking to create jobs placements for young people, you can apply here for funding as part of the scheme.

You can submit your application online. If you are applying for 30 or more job placements, you can apply directly.

If you are applying for less than 30 job placements, you must apply through a representative of a group of employers. They can submit an application on your behalf, using other employers to create 30 or more job placements in one application.

Application requirements:

• Your Companies House reference number or Charity Commission number
• Organisation address and contact details
• Details of the job placements and their location
• Supporting information to show that the job placements are new jobs and meet the Kickstart Scheme criteria
• Information about the support the organisation can give to develop employability skills of young people

What happens next:

Once your application has been submitted, it will be reviewed to check it meets the requirements of the Kickstart Scheme. It will then go to a panel for consideration. This is not a competitive process, but Kickstart will only provide funding when the job placements meet the criteria.

DWP aims to respond to applications within one month.

What happens if your application is accepted:

If your application meets the requirements of the scheme, you will receive a letter with a grant agreement. This agreement will include what your company has agreed to provide, and how much funding you will receive from the Kickstart Scheme.