‘Kickstart’ is a £2bn Government initiative launched in response to growing concerns that due to the current pandemic, thousands of young people may miss the opportunity to gain valuable work experience and skills, inhibiting their chances of securing long-term employment.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have confirmed an extension of the Kickstart Scheme until March 2022.
The focus of the programme is to improve the employability of young people (referred to as ‘Participants’) in the 16-24 age bracket, who are at risk of long-term unemployment and claiming Universal Credit, by offering employers of all sizes across the UK, government-subsidised funding to create high quality job placements.
These placements must be new therefore, the Grant cannot be used to replace existing or planned vacancies, or for any job role(s) that would result in existing employees, apprentices or contractors losing work or having to reduce their working hours.
Kickstart is not an ‘apprenticeship’ programme however, where an alternative apprentice position exists in the organisation, Participants can apply and transfer into this position, at which point
the Kickstart grant funding would cease. Where a Participant leaves the programme, or moves into an alternative job role, the original Kickstart placement can be back-filled by a new Participant.
Employer resources are available for you to promote the Scheme within your organisation at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/kickstart-scheme-employer-resources.
Applying for a Kickstart Grant
It should be noted that the Government has removed the previous minimum threshold of 30 job placements, in favour of employers now being able to offer any number of placements.
Applications for a Kickstart Scheme grant can be made directly, or with assistance from a ‘Kickstart Gateway’, whereby other Companies, who are already working with the DWP under a Kickstart Scheme Grant Agreement, can add other Companies and their job placements (including Sole Traders).
Direct Grant applications can be made by visiting: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-kickstart-scheme-grant or to find a Kickstart gateway visit: https://secure.dwp.gov.uk/find-a-kickstart-gateway.
Additional guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-employers-apply-for-a-kickstart-scheme-grant-kickstart-gateway
Kickstart Grant Funding
Where Direct Grant Applications are made online, the DWP will send funding directly to the Company submitting the application.
Where applications are made by participating Companies through the Kickstart Gateway on your behalf, the DWP will send the funding direct to the Company holding the Kickstart Scheme Grant Agreement and they will be responsible for sending the funding to you.
- £1,500 funding is available per job placement for set-up costs incurred for the purposes of providing ‘employability support’ and delivering ‘funded activities’ for example:
- IT set-up costs, equipment and software licences.
- Administration and management time supporting Participants to developwork skills and experience.
- Uniform, equipment, PPE etc..
Where you engage another party to support or deliver these e.g. workplace training, career coaching, or a fee is involved e.g. additional software licenses, it is your responsibility to agree how this funding will be shared.
- Kickstart provides full funding for a period of 6 months, for each Kickstart Participant working 25-hours per week, paying:
- 100% of the National Minimum Wage or the National Living Wage (dependent upon the age of the Participant).
- Associated employer National Insurance contributions
- Employer minimum automatic enrolment pension contributions.
NB. You can decide to pay a higher rate of salary or offer more than 25 hours work per week at your own expense.
- Where you have made a direct application and hold a Kickstart Scheme Grant Agreement, Kickstart gateways are eligible to receive £360.00 per job placement advertised, to cover administration costs. VAT may apply depending on your Company status, or where not applicable, this may be reimbursed (in addition to the £1,500 funding) to be used to further
support the Participant.
The DWP will use HMRC information (collected from Real Time Information (RTI) submissions), to check that the Participant remains in employment and no payments will be made without confirmation that the Participant has been paid.
Participant salaries will be paid (reimbursed to the Company) monthly in arrears, once confirmation has been received that the Participant has been enrolled onto your payroll and being paid through PAYE.
Advertising a Vacancy
Kickstart funding is only available for job placements that are referred by the DWP, advertised using the Kickstart gateway and where the Participant is hired using the Kickstart Scheme process.
Job placement information loaded either directly by you, or your Kickstart gateway partner, will be automatically submitted to work coaches at Jobcentre Plus who will match suitable candidates to your job role(s). Once complete, candidate matches will be sent to you, so you can arrange interview(s) with suitable candidates.
If advertising your placement(s) via your Kickstart gateway partner, you will need to provide them with the following information:
- Companies House Reference Number, Charity Commission number or Office
of the Scottish Charity Regulator number. - Your Company name, address and contact details.
- Information about the job placement, including location(s). [required
format TBC]
For more information on advertising a job placement visit: https://www.gov.uk/advertise-job
NB. The DWP will undertake due diligence checks on Companies applying for the Scheme.
Kickstart Job Placement Funded Activities & Employability Support
The Kickstart programme is designed to provide Participants with an opportunity to gain experience, competence and confidence by developing new and transferrable skills to support their future transition into longer-term employment.
The Scheme does not expect Participants to have to undertake excessive training prior to commencing employment.
Examples of funded activities and employability support are:
- Job placements that enable Participant(s) to develop new or build existing skills.
- Placements that require basic training.
- Supporting the development of workplace skills for example: attendance management, time-keeping, teamwork and communication skills.
- Employability Skills for example: on-the-job training, careers advice, work search including support with curriculum vitae (CVs) and interview preparation, setting goals, skills development, mentoring.
It is expected that for the duration of the placement Participants are assigned a Line Manager/Mentor who will undertake regular (at least monthly) performance reviews.
The Job Offer
Some organisations may prefer to create new employment contract templates specifically designed for the Kickstart programme, others may adapt their existing versions, both options are acceptable, however what is essential, is to ensure that these documents comply and meet all statutory duties covering areas such as health, safety and welfare and are compliant with the Kickstart Scheme rules as follows:
- The Participant receives a Job Description (recommended as advertised on the gateway).
- The placement is for a minimum of 25 hours per week.
- The Participant is paid a rate of salary that is at least the National Minimum Wage or the National Living Wage (as applicable to the Participants age group).
- Ensure Employer National Insurance contributions and automatic pension enrolment contributions arrangements are made.
Other areas to consider:
- Start date, duration and end date.
- Job Title and Line Manager (and/or mentor).
- Government Funding terms.
- Probationary Period.
- Place of Work (consider office or home-based working arrangements).
- Hours of Work and Working Week.
- Salary (including payment criteria), pension and any other benefits.
- Training Entitlements and Training Plan.
- Holiday Entitlement.
- Company equipment e.g. lap-top, unform, PPE etc..
- Any other internal company-related policies.
Workplace Plan
The underlying spirit of this scheme is to proactively engage with young people and share valuable knowledge, skills and experience and give them confidence to transition into longer-term employment – either inside or outside of your Company – but offers an excellent opportunity to trial potential new employees for the future.
Irrespective of the reason you have decided to participate in this programme the important thing now is to look after your investment, ensure their arrival is planned so that they can support you and the growth of your Company.
Here are a couple of suggestions:
- Have an induction programme planned and in place.
- Homeworking?
- Assign a Line Manager/mentor/coach and hold weekly reviews.
- Understand career goals and aspirations and where possible aligning these to your workplace needs.
- Agree a training plan (which is regularly reviewed). Decide whether their time with you will focus/specialise in one business area or give them exposure to different parts of the business, enabling them and you to test their skills.
- Provide ‘meaningful and challenging’ work, so they can gain vital knowledge and experience and you can measure their potential for longer-term engagement.
- Finally…. recognition and praise for a job well done.
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