Kick start - The Warwickshire wrap around
Warwickshire County Council welcomes the launch of the government’s Kickstart Scheme and are pleased to share additional services built to broaden the national offer and support Warwickshire businesses to tap into local partnerships and funding opportunities.
Warwickshire’s Business Skills Advisors will work with businesses to offer one to one support for those wishing to participate in the scheme, apply for additional Warwickshire funding and evaluate how the scheme will work for their business now and in the future.
As a unique addition to the Warwickshire package, our business support experts are also equipped and ready to help you plan a swift economic recovery through a wider set of support measures, completely bespoke to your needs.
Snapshot of the Warwickshire Kickstart Wrap Around Support Package
- Business Skills Review – Explore skills needs and potential roles
- Job Carving – Which Apprenticeships fit the roles identified
- Apply for Warwickshire Apprenticeship funding
- Option to Produce a Warwickshire Career film piece
- Support to Register to National Kickstart Scheme
- Engage with nominated Intermediary team
- Quick access to additional Business Support and Warwickshire funding.
About the Kickstart Scheme national offer so far
As part of the government’s Plan for Jobs, a new £2 billion Kickstart Scheme will create hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people across the country.
The 6 month placements are open to those aged 16-24 who are claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long term unemployment. They will be available across a range of different sectors in England, Scotland and Wales. The first placements are likely to be available from November.
There will also be extra funding to support young people to build their experience and help them move into sustained employment after they have completed their Kickstart funded job.
Employers will receive funding for 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum auto-enrolment pension contributions.
Applications are being accepted now from employers or groups of employers – check the guidance for employers.
How the scheme works
You can use the Kickstart Scheme to create new 6-month job placements for young people who are currently on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment. The job placements should support the participants to develop the skills and experience they need to find work after completing the scheme.
Funding is available for 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions. There is also £1,500 per job placement available for setup costs, support and training.
Funding is available following a successful application process. Applications must be for a minimum of 30 job placements. If you are unable to offer this many job placements, you can partner with other organisations to reach the minimum number.
If you are a representative applying on behalf of a group of employers, you can get £300 of funding to support with the associated administrative costs of bringing together these employers.
Kickstart is not an apprenticeship, but participants may move on to an apprenticeship at any time during, or after their job placement.
Who can apply for funding?
Any organisation, regardless of size, can apply for funding.
The job placements created with Kickstart funding must be new jobs.
They must not:
- Replace existing or planned vacancies
- Cause existing employees or contractors to lose or reduce their employment
The roles you are applying for must be:
- A minimum of 25 hours per week, for 6 months
- Paid at least the National Minimum Wage for their age group
- Should not require people to undertake extensive training before they begin the job placement
Each application should include how you will help the participants to develop their skills and experience, including:
- Support to look for long-term work, including career advice and setting goals
- Support with CV and interview preparations
- Supporting the participant with basic skills, such as attendance, timekeeping and teamwork
Once a job placement is created, it can be taken up by a second person once the first successful applicant has completed their 6-month term.
Request a Warwickshire Kickstart meeting
