The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long term unemployment. Employers of all sizes can apply for funding which covers:

• 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

Employers can spread the start date of the job placements up until the end of December 2021.

A Kickstart Scheme application can be made on your own, or through a Gateway organisation. Unless you are looking to have serveral placements, a Gateway is the prefered option you can find an existing Kickstart gateway here, such as a local authority, charity or trade body for help applying.

As an employer every job placement created gets £1,500 funding. This funding is for setup costs and to support the young person to develop their employability skills. Employers can choose to get someone else to do this for them, such as a Kickstart gateway or a service provider. If they choose to do this they will have to agree how to share the £1,500.

So what does this mean? 

You are able to get a fully funded new post in your organisation which must be filled by a young person currently on universal credit.  The young person is referred by their work coach, the post will not be open to just any young person.  As an employer you still go through your recruitment processes and select the person best suited for the role. 

As an employer along with getting the cost of the post (at national minimum wage) covered you also receive £1500 per placement.  This funded is for set up costs but you also have a duty to provide support so that young person is in a better position to secure employment after the 6 months. 

You are not required to keep the young person in the role after 6 months.  If you do you will take on their employment costs. 

You don't have to take on a young person right now.  The scheme is open until December 2021 which means the last placement would end by 30th June 2022 

This link provides more information on the role and the process - please review this

Finding a Gateway organisation

If you will have less than 30 placements you will need to link with a Gateway organisation.  They should be able to offer the wrap around employment support to the young person if you are not able to. 

There is a list of all Gateway organisations here

In Cheshire East there is a Kick Start network which is bringing together local Gateway organisations.  The intention of this is to link the organisations and ensure that we are giving the best support available to the young people in placements. 

CVS is not acting as a Gateway organisation as we do not offer employment support and there are local organisations that are well qualified 

The organisations currently on the partnership able to support you with your placement are:

We will keep this updated as we are made aware of all local gateway organisations. 

Have a look at the information from each gateway organisation and decide which organisation(s) you may wish to contact.

If you want to talk with others about this join us at the Voluntary Sector Collective meetings