Kickstart

With Kickstart, the Government will subsidise new placement employees’ wages for up to six months, as well as awarding up to a £1,500 incentive payment to employers for each Kickstart employee taken on.

These work placements will give young people working in sectors disproportionately hit by the pandemic – the opportunity to build their skills in the workplace and to gain experience to improve their chances of finding long-term work.

In short, the scheme is designed to help unemployed people gain experience and gives businesses the means to rebuild their workforce without causing financial hardship.

What is the Kickstart Scheme?

• Kickstart offers six-month work placements, in new jobs, for 16- to 24-year-olds who are currently out of work claiming Universal Credit and are at risk of long-term unemployment.
• All their time is spent in the workplace with in-work training to help develop transferable skills, aimed at increasing their chances of sustained employment.

The government will fund:

• 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 6 months
• Associated employer National Insurance contributions
• All wages are refunded one month in arrears

Who can take advantage of the Kickstart Scheme? 

• Employers of all sizes can take advantage of the Kickstart Scheme and claim the associated wage costs and incentive payments.
• The job placements created with Kickstart funding must be new jobs.

The Kickstart roles must not:

• replace existing or planned vacancies
• cause existing employees or contractors to lose or reduce their employment

The roles you are applying for must be:

• a minimum of 25 hours per week, for 6 months
• paid at least the National Minimum Wage for their age group
• should not require people to undertake extensive training before they begin the job placement

What are the benefits?

• Enthusiastic, willing employees with an interest in the industry.
• Companies can use the time to identify strong candidates that can progress on to additional programmes such as apprenticeships.
• Allows companies to work with The City of Liverpool College to build bespoke training packages that meet the needs of your business and the trainees.
• Can assist in your current capacity and productivity.
• Your assistance in tackling youth unemployment.
• £1000 incentive payment for each Kickstart employee

Want to find out more about Kickstart & find out how we can support your business? Get in touch – workforceskills@liv-coll.ac.uk