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EM3 supports kickstart scheme helping young talent find work opportunities

Last updated 24 September 2020
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Enterprise M3 LEP is inviting businesses across Hampshire and Surrey to sign up to a landmark scheme to help young people into work and strengthen the talent pipeline.

The Kickstart scheme aims to give unemployed 16 to 24-year-olds new opportunities and aspirations by providing funding to employers to create new six-month job placements for young people who are currently on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.

The government has found that young people are more likely to have been furloughed, with many working in sectors disproportionately hit by the pandemic. Kickstart will offer them the opportunity to build their skills in the workplace and to gain experience to improve their chances of finding long-term work.

Enterprise M3 is supporting the scheme in Hampshire and Surrey. Barney Ely, Chair of the Enterprise M3 LEP’s Skills Advisory Panel, said:

EM3 is delighted to support this opportunity to give young people, many of whom have been the most affected by COVID-19’s economic impact, the vital experience and skills they need to find long-term employment. These experiences will not only enable our young people to learn from business but also for business to learn from them – developing a talent pipeline and future customer base.

The government will fully fund each “Kickstart” job - paying 100% of the age-relevant National Minimum Wage, National Insurance and pension contributions for 25 hours a week.

Employers will be able to top up this wage and there will also be extra funding to support young people to build their experience and help them move into sustained employment after they have completed their Kickstart Scheme funded job.

The scheme was announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak as part of his Plan for Jobs. It will be funded by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Young people will be referred into the new roles through their Jobcentre Plus work coach. Interested businesses should contact either their local chamber of commerce or FSB branch which are co-ordinating the applications.

coral.benham@hampshirechamber.co.uk at Hampshire Chamber of Commerce

hannah.joslyn@surrey-chambers.co.uk at Surrey Chambers of Commerce

fsb.org.uk/kickstart

 

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