Work placements | Make the most of your Kickstart funding before it's too late

Young people account for nearly two-thirds of job losses since the pandemic, according to the ONS. The most recent figures show that, while unemployment as a whole has returned to pre-pandemic levels, the number of young people who are unemployed still remains above.

Part of the Government’s response to youth unemployment exacerbated by the pandemic was the introduction of the £2bn Kickstart scheme last September. It aims to create 250,000 new jobs for young people.

Unfortunately, in the nine months since the scheme was launched, so far only 16,500 young people have started on Kickstart placements.

On offer is Government funding to pay for a six-month work placement for 16-24 year-olds for 25 hours per week at minimum wage. In addition to that, the employer can claim a £1,500 grant to cover onboarding costs such as equipment, PPE and training.