In a bid to minimise the impact of Covid-19 on the economy and to avert the looming threat of mass unemployment, the UK government has launched a historic initiative aimed at providing “subsidised jobs” to unemployed young people. The initiative is officially dubbed as KICKSTART WORK SCHEME and will be applicable across the UK.

In the outset, the government has allocated £2 billion for Kickstart Scheme and aims to provide “hundreds of thousands of jobs” to unemployed young people across Britain. 

Kickstart Work Scheme – How Does It Work?

As part of the Kickstart Scheme, out-of-work young people (aged 16-24) will be given a 6-month placement where they’ll work for at least 25 hours per week. Kickstart Scheme aims at helping unemployed young people by providing them with an opportunity to gain skills, confidence, and experience necessary to survive in the marketplace. The government further aims to make the Kickstart Scheme a “stepping stone” towards sustained and long-term employment opportunities.

Kickstart Scheme – Who Will It Help?

Anyone who is out-of-work or facing the risk of long-term unemployment, aged 16-24, and is applying for Universal Credit is eligible to apply for Kickstart Scheme. 

A government’s estimate states that over a half-million people already fulfill these criteria. 

Under the Kickstart Scheme, job opportunities will be available in a wide array of sectors across the UK. Officials aim to have the 1st placements on Kickstart Scheme from November 2020.

When a candidate will finish a 6-month term at the work-placement under Kickstart Programme, the government will further help him in moving towards sustained and long-term employment through additional funding. Likewise, Kickstart Scheme will also provide funding to out-of-work young people to help them develop new skills. 

Read Also: Guidance for Employees Going To Work

Under Kickstart Scheme, the government will provide funding to employers for 100{f5c46dbfd7a370437117a81398f3ac99c38e148024d17c03e20eb6cfc854a7af} of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus associated employer National Insurance contributions, and employer minimum auto-enrolment pension contributions.

Announcing Kickstart Scheme on July 8, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said, “A new programme to give hundreds of thousands of young people in every region and nation of Britain the best possible chance of getting on and getting a job.” 

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