To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support small businesses which cannot apply for funds from the Kickstart Scheme to create job placements for young people.
Answered on
21 September 2020
Companies looking to offer roles to fewer than 30 Kickstart applicants are still able to benefit from Kickstart by joining a bid made by an intermediary organisation. Intermediaries can gather employers keen to offer Kickstart jobs to make a collective bid of 30 or more vacancies. Smaller employers will have support from the intermediary to create high quality roles and additional support so that young people get the most out of their placement, this also reduces the administrative burden falling on the small employer. The Department has received significant interest from a wide range of bodies including local authorities, charities and trade/industry bodies looking to become intermediaries.
If a small employer is unable to qualify for Kickstart funding, for example because the job is not additional, they can take advantage of a number of other schemes, such as apprenticeships, available to young people. Your local Job Centre Plus is able to recommend the best schemes available in the area.