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Funded Employment for 16-24 Year Olds

Government Kickstart Scheme

EN:Able Communities CIO wants to help you hire and train young people through the programme.

Kickstart Important Documents

The Department for Work and Pensions has launched a new programme to support young people in gaining valuable employment experience without any cost to the employer.

As an employer you can access:

  • 100% funding for a role of 25 hours per week on minimum wage for 6 months

  • 100% NI contributions  

  • 100% Pension contributions

  • Up to £1,500 per person hired through the scheme to cover onboarding, uniform and training costs

The scheme is designed to build  the confidence, experience and skills of young people who are far from the job market, setting them up for future employment opportunities. Positions funded should be able to be supported for a six-month period , but there is no obligation to increase the placement hours, or offer employment after this placement.

EN:Able communities are a recognised Gateway for the Kickstart Programme. As a Gateway, EN:Able Communities can represent employers looking to employ less than 30 people through the scheme. Through our sister companies, we have the employment and training expertise to support your placement and ensure that it goes smoothly.

Should you have any questions about the Kickstart scheme, and how EN:Able Communities can help your business utilise it, please either complete the form on this page, or contact us at kickstart@efficiencynorth.org.

Want To Find Out More?

Please complete the form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible to discuss further.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my organisation eligible?

Any organisation that is UK based, regardless of size, can apply for funding to appoint a Kickstart employee.

The role offered however, must:

  • Not replace existing or planned vacancies

  • Not cause existing employees, apprentices or contractors to lose or reduce their employment

Can I select the candidate? What type of person will I be able to hire?

The young person will come recommended from the Jobcentre, but you will still choose who to hire.

The DWP Job Coach will match a suitable person for each job vacancy.  Kickstart is not aimed at young people who are a long way from the labour market: rather, the young person could be displaced from a job in the retail/hospitality sector or have recently left education (school/ university at age 16,18, 21).

How much training and employability support do I need to provide?

The amount is not prescribed, however the DWP Terms and Conditions state:

The Grant Recipient will use the Grant to provide employability support to Participants and help Participants to develop work skills.

  • Employability support includes on-the-job training, work search support, transferable skills development, mentoring, careers advice and other related support to help the Participants find sustained employment after they have completed their Kickstart Scheme jobs.

  • Helping Participants to develop and build work skills includes developing attendance management, timekeeping, teamwork and communication skills as appropriate. 

We would reccomend as much as your organisation can afford: the spirit of the Kickstart scheme  is to enable the young person to gain experience, develop their talent, and be an asset to your organisation.

EN:Able Futures, our sister company, can provide a bespoke package to the young person if you wish to engage this service.  The spirit of this scheme is to enable the young person to be able to find a job in the future.

Do I need to provide a job at the end of the placement?

No. It would be great if your organisation could provide a job to the young person at the end of their placement, but it is not a requirement.