The Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a £2bn ‘kickstart scheme’ to create more jobs for young people.
Those aged 16-24, claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment, will be eligible. Funding available for each six-month job placement will cover 100% of the National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week – and employers will be able to top this wage up. It is intended to create hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people.
A total of £1.6 billion will be invested in scaling up employment support schemes, training and apprenticeships:
- For the next six months, businesses will be given £2,000 for each new apprentice they hire under the age of 25, and £1,500 for each new apprentice over the age of 25. This is in addition to the existing £1,000 payment the Government already provides for new 16-18-year-old apprentices and those aged under 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan.
- A £111 million investment to triple the scale of traineeships in 2020-21
- £17 million of funding to triple the number of sector-based work academy placements in 2020-21
- Nearly £900 million to double the number of work coaches to 27,000
- Over a quarter of a million more young people to benefit from an extra £32 million investment in the National Careers Service.