BUSINESSES in Solihull and across the West Midlands are being urged to join a new £2 billion initiative to get the region’s young people into work and the local economy back on track.
Thousands of high-quality work placements are expected to be created by the Government’s new Kickstart scheme, which launched today, Monday, November 2, to help those aged between 16 and 24 who are on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.
Young people have been especially hard hit by the economic impact of lockdown with latest figures showing the number of 16 to 24-year-olds claiming benefit has more than doubled to 44,000 since March when the pandemic first struck.
Nearly 800 West Midlands employers have already signed up to the scheme ahead of today’s launch, but business and political leaders are encouraging thousands more to follow suit.
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is leading the region in brokering and promoting the Kickstart scheme, working in partnership with local councils and Chambers of Commerce.
Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA, said: “We know that young people have been hardest hit by lockdown, and also face bearing the brunt of the furlough scheme ending.
“For a region that has a young population, that is deeply worrying.
“Businesses have already responded phenomenally, with nearly 800 already signing up to the scheme before it even went live.
“But there are so many more who could get involved, and take on a young person at no or very little cost.
“So my message to businesses big and small today is simple: sign up, and help Kickstart a young person’s career.”
Companies can join Kickstart and find out more information by visiting https://www.wmca.org.uk/kickstart-scheme
Funding available for each placement will cover the national minimum wage for 25 hours a week, plus employer National Insurance and minimum auto-enrolment contributions.
Young people will also be supported to develop new skills so they can move into sustained employment after they have completed their Kickstart-funded job. Employers can spread the start date of the placements up to the end of December 2021.
The Kickstart scheme is expected to create 20,000 placements in the West Midlands.
Employers planning to offer more than 30 placements can apply direct to the Kickstart scheme, while those offering fewer should go through their local council or Chamber of Commerce.
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