image

Kickstart Scheme

The Kickstart Scheme is a £2billion fund to create hundreds of thousands of high quality 6 month work placements for young people

The scheme provides funding to employers to create job placements for those aged 16 - 24 years old 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 pay a higher wage and for more hours but the funding will not cover this. Placements can start anytime from now until the end of December 2021. 

The job placements created with Kickstart funding must be new jobs. They must not replace existing or planned vacancies or cause existing employees or contractors to lose or reduce their employment.

Placements must be a minimum of 25 hours per week for 6 months, pay at least the National Minimum Wage for the age group and should not require extensive training before the start of the placement.

All applications for funding should include how the employer will help the participate to develop their skills and experience with support to look for long-term work, support with CV and interview preparation, training to develop their skills, such as team work, organisation and communications as part of the role.

For further information on the Kickstart Scheme, please visit the gov.uk website.

How to get involved?

You can apply directly for Kickstart Scheme funding, however, without the help of a 'Kickstart Gateway' such as Boston College, you will have to be able to offer a minimum of 30 placements.

By accessing the scheme using the College as a 'Kickstart Gateway' you will be able to apply for funding for the amount of placements you have available. The Department of Work of Pensions (DWP) will send the funding to the College, who will then be responsible for providing you with the funding.

How can Boston College help?

In addition to supporting with the Kickstart Scheme application, the College will provide you with a 'support package' (please see below). This will include pre-placement support with recruitment as well as the placement itself - to ensure the placement meets the requirements to support the young person to progress on in the future. This can all be funded through the scheme.  

What you will receive as an employer (the breakdown)

After the young person starts their placement, as an employer you will receive £1200 of the initial start-up grant to support with the placement, with Boston College retaining £300 to go towards recruitment and in-work support and training.

Recruitment and Selection Support

  • You will receive support with initial placement application and completion of due diligence
  • Boston College will liaise with the Jobcentre to identify potential candidates
  • If required, you can also access support with the interview process 

In-work Support

Boston College will arrange and lead three virtual tripartite meetings with the young person and their line manager.

  • 1st Meeting - After eight weeks of employment, to ensure induction has been completed and both employer and employee are happy with the placement. There will also be a review with the employer to look specifically at any training needs for the young person.
  • 2nd Meeting - At four months, to review placement's progress and development of transferable skills. The young person will also take part in a separate careers guidance interview to start looking at their next steps and any support required. 
  • 3rd Meeting - At six months, to confirm the employer's and young person's next steps and provide support for achievement. 

In-work Employability Support

The young person will also receive employability support led by a member of the College's Employment and Skills Team. Support includes, CV review, careers guidance interview, skills review and identification, application support and interview practice.

Interested?

If you are interested in working with the College to apply for Kickstart Scheme funding, please contact our Employment and Skills Training Team by emailing, employability@boston.ac.uk for more information. 

You can download our course guide

Download