Funded Kickstart Scheme
The application window for the government funded Kickstart scheme is closing soon – with no new applications being accepted after the 17th December. For those who may not be familiar with the scheme, see the Government Kickstart guide or our own Kickstart page for further information.
Features of the scheme
The headline features of the scheme are that it provides funding to create new jobs for 16 to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit. Employers who are successful in their application will receive 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
- minimum automatic enrolment pension contributions
WSA and Acorn Recruitment
The WSA and our partners Acorn Recruitment rolled out the Kickstart scheme last November, and since then several WSA member organisations have taken advantage of this fantastic opportunity to both build capacity, and also to help young people get a foot on the career ladder and on the path to a successful future.
One of those young people to benefit from the scheme has been the WSA’s very own Kickstarter Daniel Fletcher, who has been working with the team as a Business Support Officer;
I knew finding a job would not be easy, especially in a pandemic, but Kickstart has so many opportunities for people my age to get their name out there. Not only does it provide you with employment, but it also trains you to become a better employee. The training sessions Acorn provide, as well as the partnering app help to push you and learn skills that will benefit you in your career.
How to Apply
It’s still not too late for organisations to take advantage of the Kickstart scheme. We urge anyone who is interested to get in touch as soon as possible (ideally before Friday 10th December) so we can get your application in before the deadline of 17th December.
A note that successful applicants will have up until the 31st March 2022 to begin their Kickstarter(s) placement period – meaning that employers will have up to 3 months to prepare and plan for the new employee(s).
Anybody who is interested please contact our Acorn colleagues by phone: 07886 399 526 or email: [email protected]. You can also contact the WSA team if you have any questions or need support.
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