Close Menu
  • News
  • Home
  • In Profile
  • Finance
  • Legal
  • Technology
  • Events
  • Features
  • Wellbeing & Mental Health
  • Marketing
  • HR & Recruitment
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Events Calendar
  • Business Wall
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • 0843 289 4634
X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
Trending
  • How employers can help LGBTQIA+ employees thrive
  • Meeting Overload: A symptom of a bigger problem?
  • New Chief Revenue Officer joins CBS to drive strategic growth
  • The Death of the Number-Cruncher CFO: 60% Now Leading Strategy Beyond Finance
  • Why it’s time for law firms to embrace smart identity infrastructure
  • Continuity Planning Is Now the Norm for UK Businesses
  • The Resignation Ripple: How One Exit Can Shake an Entire SMB
  • Risk Assessments for Employees who are Deaf or have Hearing Loss
X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
SME Today
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Events Calendar
  • Business Wall
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • 0843 289 4634
  • News
  • Home
  • In Profile
  • Finance
  • Legal
  • Technology
  • Events
  • Features
  • Wellbeing
  • Marketing
  • HR & Recruitment
SME Today
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Events Calendar
  • Business Wall
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • 0843 289 4634
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • RSS
You are at:Home»Features»The Kickstart Scheme for small employers. What you need to know.
Kick Start Scheme

The Kickstart Scheme for small employers. What you need to know.

0
Posted By sme-admin on November 9, 2020 Features, News

In July 2020, Rishi Sunak announced the Government’s “plan for jobs,” with Government investment being poured into helping the economy in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.

One of the key elements of the plan is the £2 billion “Kickstart Scheme,” which aims to create thousands of new jobs for young people and spur Britain’s economic revival. The scheme is due to run until at least December 2021.

But what is it, what are the benefits for employers and how do you get involved?

What is the Kickstart Scheme?

The landmark scheme, aims to give unemployed young people, aged 16-24, who are claiming Universal Credit a six-month work placement, not to mention a future of opportunity and hope, through government-subsidised jobs across the UK.

Who is Eligible?

The Kickstart scheme is specifically designed for those aged between 16 and 24, who are at risk of long term unemployment.  As the scheme is aimed at those who are currently receiving Universal Credit, furloughed workers will not be eligible to take part.  However, if they are between the ages of 16 and 24, and lose their job due to the pandemic, then they may go on to meet the eligibility requirements. Graduates or recent school leavers are also able to apply.

How does the Kickstart Scheme Work?

Under the scheme, the government fully funds each “Kickstart” job – paying 100% of the age-relevant National Minimum Wage, National Insurance and pension contributions for 25 hours a week.

Employers are able to top up this wage, while the government also pays employers £1500 to set up support and training for people on a Kickstart placement, as well as helping pay for uniforms and other set up costs. The objective is to give young people – who are more likely to have been furloughed, with many working in sectors disproportionately hit by the pandemic – the opportunity to build their skills in the workplace and to gain experience to improve their chances of finding long-term work.

Young people are referred into the new roles through their Jobcentre contacts. Those taking part receive on-the-job training, skills development and mentoring.

What Businesses can Apply to Take Part in Kickstart?

Businesses of all sizes looking to create quality jobs for young people can apply and there is no cap on the number of places. Household names including Tesco have already pledged Kickstart jobs.

Employers are only allowed to apply directly to the Government for funding if they are creating at least 30 job placements. Many small businesses and employers won’t be able to create that number of jobs but still want to take part in the scheme.

To help smaller businesses, employers offering fewer than 30 placements are asked to make a bid through an intermediary ‘Kickstart Gateway’, such as a Local Authority or Chamber of Commerce, who will then act as a representative bringing together applications from different employers to meet the Government’s threshold. This makes the process easier and less labour intensive for smaller companies who only want to hire one or two Kickstarters. The gateway organisation handles the application process with the Government, but the employer still receives 100% of the funding – the Government covers the gateway administration costs directly.

Do you have to employ Kickstarters after the 6 months?

No. It doesn’t appear that there will be any such requirement. It’s more about setting these Kickstarters up with the skills, confidence and work experience to help them secure work later. Though you would be able to offer permanent roles to them should you wish.

Where to start

As a small business wishing to support the Kickstart scheme with placements your first step is to find a Kickstart gateway in England, Scotland or Wales who have expressed interest in helping employers get a Kickstart Scheme grant. You can find approved gateway organisations via the government website:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-someone-to-apply-for-a-kickstart-scheme-grant-on-your-behalf

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

How employers can help LGBTQIA+ employees thrive

Meeting Overload: A symptom of a bigger problem?

The Death of the Number-Cruncher CFO: 60% Now Leading Strategy Beyond Finance

Comments are closed.

Follow SME Today on Linkedin and share all the topics you find interesting

The Newsletter

Join our mailing list for the best SME stories, handpicked and delivered direct to your inbox every two weeks!

Sign Up
Personal Pension offer
Events Calendar
    • Marketing
    September 9, 2025

    SEO 101 for SMBs: Reaching Customers with the Right Visuals

    August 29, 2025

    OneMetric forms strategic partnership with RevOps expert to drive UK growth

    • Finance
    September 3, 2025

    Five ways to monetise your business EV chargers

    September 1, 2025

    Are you flying blind on your most important business decisions?

    • People
    September 11, 2025

    New Chief Revenue Officer joins CBS to drive strategic growth

    August 14, 2025

    A Life Worth Saving – A Tribute to Dame Stephanie Shirley CH, 1933–2025

    • Health & Safety
    September 2, 2025

    1 in 3 employees anxious about lack of first aiders at work

    July 1, 2025

    Temperatures Soaring: Is Your Workplace Becoming Unsafe?

    • Events
    September 9, 2025

    Nominations for the 2026 Bold Woman Award by Veuve Clicquot open

    July 22, 2025

    South West Expo Delivers Outstanding Event at Swindon’s STEAM Museum

    • Community
    July 11, 2025

    Building community, one cause at a time

    June 23, 2025

    Celebrating One Year In Fairford Supporting The Community

    • Food & Drink
    August 22, 2025

    How to get stocked by major retailers as an SME

    July 18, 2025

    Warning to Small Businesses Over New Food Waste Regulations

    • Books
    September 3, 2025

    New book on conquering fear of public speaking

    August 7, 2025

    Learning to Leave a Legacy in Business

    About

    SME Today is published by the same team who deliver The Great British Expos’. We have been organising various corporate events for the last 10 years, with a strong track record of producing well managed and attended business events across the UK.

    Join Our Mailing List

    Receive the latest news and updates from SMEToday.
    Read our Latest Newsletter:


    Sign Up
    X (Twitter) YouTube LinkedIn
    Categories
    • Books
    • Community & Charity
    • Education and Training
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Features
    • Finance
    • Food and Drink
    • Health & Safety
    • HR & Recruitment
    • In Profile
    • Legal
    • Marketing
    • News
    • People
    • Property & Development
    • Sponsored Content
    • Technology
    • Transport & Tourism
    • Wellbeing & Mental Health
    • ABOUT SME TODAY: THE GO TO RESOURCE FOR UK BUSINESSES
    • Editorial Submission Guidelines
    • Privacy
    • Contact
    Copyright © 2025 SME Today.
    • ABOUT SME TODAY: THE GO TO RESOURCE FOR UK BUSINESSES
    • Editorial Submission Guidelines
    • Privacy
    • Contact

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.