UK Gov: Kickstart Scheme

In 2020, the UK Government announced their new Kickstart Scheme, aimed at helping young people at risk of long-term unemployment to secure a job by providing funding for employers that create job placements for those individuals. Whilst this scheme runs completely independently from our Klickstarters incentive, we know that there are some instances where companies may be eligible to benefit from both schemes, so we have included some information on the Government Kickstart scheme below.

Please note this information was collated in October 2020, and may be subject to change, so we advise you also visit the GOV website for the latest information and guidelines.

What organisations are eligible for the Kickstart Scheme?

Employers of all sizes can apply for funding.

What candidates qualify for Kickstart funding?

16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long term unemployment.

What does the funding cover?

100% of the National Minimum Wage (or the National Living Wage depending on the age of the participant) for 25 hours per week for a total of 6 months associated employer National Insurance contributions employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions.

When do candidates need to start?

Employers can spread the start date of job placements created for the Kickstart scheme up until the end of December 2021.

How many job placements do companies need to qualify?

A Kickstart Scheme application must be for a minimum of 30 job placements. If a single employer cannot provide this many job placements, they can find an existing Kickstart gateway, such as a local authority, charity or trade body for help applying.

Can I benefit from the Government Kickstart Scheme AND the £1,500 off my placement fee through Klickstarters by Searchability?

Yes, if a candidate sourced by Klickstarters also qualifies for the government funding then essentially you can benefit from both our reduced placement fees as well as the government funding too. At Klickstarters we won’t be sourcing candidates solely on these criteria, and we will be unable to vet candidates eligibility on your behalf. If you are looking to find out more information on the Government Kickstart scheme, and your eligibility to apply for funding then we would advise visiting the GOV website here.

View more in this video from The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP):

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