Cumbria Chamber of Commerce has secured 235 work placements for out-of-work young people through the Governments Kickstart Scheme, with hundreds more in the pipeline.
The Kickstart Scheme is a £2bn programme that provides funding to create job placements for 16-to-24 year olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long term unemployment.
The scheme is subsidised with the Government paying 100 per cent of the National Minimum Wage for a minimum 25-hour week for six months, plus National Insurance and pension contributions.
Employers also receive £1,500 per Kickstart placement to be used towards support, training, uniforms and set-up costs. Though wages are paid to minimum 25 hours a week, organisations can top up wages at their discretion.
As an approved Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) gateway provider, the Chamber has processed more than 700 placement applications, of which 235 have been approved so far.
Organisations are now starting to interview candidates, with some due to start in these coming weeks.
Suzanne Caldwell (pictured), Managing Director of the Chamber said:
“The response from Cumbrian employers has been tremendous, putting forward so many great opportunities for the county’s young people. These are real quality placements providing genuinely valuable opportunities to learn and gain experience, and help to get into longer term work either with that employer or elsewhere. I’d really encourage anyone who’s eligible to talk with their Work Coach and take a look at what’s on offer.”
Although businesses can now apply direct to Kickstart, applications made through the Chamber are much more likely to be approved. Eighty per cent of direct applications are rejected.
To apply businesses can contact the Chamber’s Kickstart co-ordinator, Eve Halliday at eve@cumbriachamber.co.uk, indicating how many placements they can offer including job titles.
Placements must support candidates to develop the skills needed to find employment after completion. Employability training is offered through Inspira.
Placements must not replace existing or planned vacancies or cause current employees and contractors to lose their employment.
