High Peak MP Robert Largan has welcomed the Government’s landmark new Kickstart scheme, and called on local employers to sign up and help young people to work to mark the opening of the initiative.

The £2 billion scheme has been designed to ensure young people at risk of long-term unemployment have greater opportunities by creating quality, Government-subsidised jobs across the UK, helping to spur the country’s economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the scheme, announced in June as part of the Government’s Plan for Jobs, employers that sign up will be able to offer young people aged 16–24 who are claiming Universal Credit a six-month work placement that is fully funded by the Government.

This means the Government will pay 100 per cent of the young person’s age-relevant National Minimum Wage, National Insurance and pension contributions for 25 hours a week, which the employer can top up if they chose to. 

In addition, the Government will also pay the employer £1,500 for each young person they take on, to support any training or associated costs (like uniforms) that they might incur when setting up the scheme.

The scheme will initially be open until December 2021, but there is the option for it to be extended. Young people will be referred to the new roles through their Jobcentre Plus work coach, with the first placements expected to begin at the start of November.

Robert Largan MP commented:

“The Government’s £2 billion Kickstart scheme has launched, and I’m calling on local employers across the High Peak to sign up to provide Kickstart jobs. 

“We cannot allow young people to be left behind as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and schemes like this are vital for creating jobs and giving young people the skills to access them. 

“I hope as many young people as possible in High Peak are able to take part.”