How the Kickstart Scheme works

The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to create new 6-month jobs for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long term unemployment. Thousands of employers like you, across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, have already applied for funding, which covers:

Don’t delay and apply right away. Employers can then spread the start date of your Kickstart jobs up until the end of 2021. 

 

The Kickstart Scheme has changed.

You no longer need a minimum of 30 job placements to apply directly for a grant.

You can now apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant by either:

  • applying online yourself
  • getting help from a Kickstart gateway who is already working with the Kickstart Scheme

If you need more help with applying you can contact our employer team.

Why you should apply for Kickstart 

By hiring a young person through the Kickstart Scheme, you will have someone working for you for 6-months who could bring with them fresh ideas and energy that can help your business grow. 

You will be giving someone unemployed a potentially life changing opportunity to start a new career in your industry, help us upskill a whole new generation and play your part in the wider post-pandemic economic recovery.

Read our new Guide to Employers prospectus to find out more about how the scheme could benefit your business, what the process is like and what people involved in Kickstart think of the scheme.

We employed our first cohort of 7 Kickstart participants in April and they have proved to be a real asset in a very short space of time.  Our aim is to offer a total of 20 Kickstart opportunities by the end of the year. The potential for growth is a very exciting prospect for both the young people and the Club as a whole.

Adam Davy, Community Director Walsall FC

Support with your application

The application process is straightforward, and support is on hand to apply. We have made it easier for employers of all sizes to apply for Kickstart jobs as well as improving the assessment and approval process for applications.

The Department for Work and Pensions are running a series of webinars to introduce employers to the benefits of the Kickstart Scheme. Following an overview of the scheme, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. Webinars will be held weekly on Microsoft Teams. If you wish to attend, register for free on eventbrite.

See how Greene King is already helping 1,000 young people and how Kickstart is also helping their business.