Chamber helps create hundreds of jobs for young people

East Midlands Chamber has helped more than 400 young people in the region find employment by playing a pivotal role in the Kickstart scheme.

Another 1,200 vacancies are live in the region after the chamber worked with 650 employers to create the six-month work placements.

So far, there have been about 150 starters in Derbyshire, 100 in Leicestershire and 170 in Nottinghamshire.

Kickstart roles are aimed at people aged 16 to 24 who are on Universal Credit or at risk of long-term unemployment.

Employers who want to create the roles often use gateway organisations, such as East Midlands Chamber, to apply to the Department for Work and Pensions for a grant to cover the costs.

Diane Beresford, the chamber’s deputy chief executive and Kickstart lead, said: “We know young people have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic and the huge amount of unemployment it has created, so the Kickstart scheme is an important mechanism for helping them to get the skills they need to prepare for the world of work.

“We’re so proud to have played a key role in giving young people a chance they may not otherwise have had.

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“After spending many months working with employers on their applications, it’s incredibly exciting and rewarding to see the fruits of our labour as people now start their jobs.

“Businesses taking part are playing a vital role in their communities by supporting and preparing our future workforce, while they also benefit from a relatively risk-free opportunity to trial new roles that could lead to future growth.”

The number of people aged 18 to 24 claiming unemployment-related benefits increased by 263,700 between February 2020 and March 2021 – a 110% rise according to Government data.

In response, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the £2 billion Kickstart scheme as part of his Plan for Jobs to help young people into work and spur Britain’s post-Covid economic revival.

Funding pays for 100% of the age-relevant National Minimum Wage, national insurance and pension contributions for 25 hours a week.

Employers can choose to top up this wage and are also eligible for a £1,500 government grant for training people on a Kickstart placement.

Once applications are accepted, young people are referred into the roles via a Jobcentre Plus work coach.

The scheme is due to run until 31 December – the date when Kickstart jobs must begin – with funding available until 30 June 2022.

However, East Midlands Chamber recommends making applications by the beginning of August.

Diane said: “There’s still plenty of time for employers to sign up and we continue to work with local authorities to engage with companies about why they should take advantage of the scheme while they can.

“We also want to highlight the Kickstart scheme to young people on Universal Credit who might not be aware of it.

“There’s a very diverse range of roles available – from digital marketing and e-commerce to sales and admin positions – and they should get in touch with their local Jobcentre Plus work coach.”

Businesses interested in applying for a Kickstart scheme grant should contact East Midlands Chamber education and business partnership manager Pieter Eksteen at pieter.eksteen@emc-dnl.co.uk or 0333 320 0333 (Ext 2241).