What is the KICKSTART GOVERNMENT SCHEME?

The government has introduced a Kickstart Scheme in Great Britain, a £2 billion fund to create 350000 high-quality 6 –month work placements aimed at those aged 16 to 24 who are on Universal Credit and are deemed to be at risk of long term unemployment.

Funding is currently available for employers for 100% of the relevant National minimum Wage for 25 hours per week, plus associated employer National insurance and employer minimum automatic pension enrolment contributions. There is in addition, a £1500 per job placement available for set up costs, support and employability training.

The Kickstart Scheme provides government funding to employers to create new 6-month job placements for young people between 16 – 24 (18 for Security organisations) who are currently on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.

We at 1 Click Learning can support and guide small businesses through the process of finding and placing a suitable young person in their employ.

HOW IT WORKS

The government has introduced a new Kickstart Scheme in the UK, a £2 billion fund to create hundreds of thousands of high quality 6-month work placements aimed at those aged 16-24 who are on Universal Credit and are deemed to be at risk of long-term unemployment. The Scheme aims to support young people in building their skills and experience so they can find long term work.

REQUIREMENTS OF THE SCHEME

FOR EACH ‘KICKSTARTER’ JOB, THE GOVERNMENT WILL:

Cover the cost of 25 hours’ work a week at the National Minimum Wage e.g.:

(Employers are able to top up the hourly rate or increase hours at the cost of the business should they wish to do so.)

How 1 Click Learning can support you?

We have considerable experience in dealing with the DWP and in particular with knowing the critical success criteria for making a successful application for the Kickstart grant.

The overriding purpose of the Kickstart Scheme is to ensure young people on Universal Credit not only gain work experience for six months, but also crucially, are in a much stronger position at the end of the six months to obtain further employment in the future.

As a result, a fundamental element of the scheme is a mandatory formal Employability Training Programme to be provided by the grant recipient. Feedback from the DWP evidences applications with a sub standard Employability Training Programme run the risk of being rejected.

Our Standard Service Package - Fee £795

We will take on the often time consuming elements of the pre-application, application and post application processes, as part of the Standard Service Package,so you do not have to.

Step 1: Pre- Application

We liaise with you to complete the pre-application business eligibility form.

We will gather relevant information from you to make the application for the grant. We will then tailor the given information to suit the eligibility criteria for the online application.

Step 2: During Application

We work with you to complete the online application to the DWP and support with submitting all the relevant documents. In addition, we will provide details of the employability-training programme offered by 1 Click Learning on your behalf.

Step 3: Post Application

Step 4: During job Placement- Employability training support

Our Premium Service Package - Fee £995

Our Premium Service Package will include the Standard Service above plus the following additional components:

Step 5: End of placement

FAQS

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the Kickstart Scheme.

If you can’t find what you are looking for or would like some more information, we will be happy to help – please get in touch.

What size of employer do I need to be?

We work with employers of all sizes.

I may only have the capacity to support one Kickstarter. Is this ok?

Yes, no problem at all! There are no minimum numbers.

Who can I offer the Kickstart placements to?

Candidates must be registered with Job Centre Plus, aged between 16 – 24 and in receipt of Universal Credit (UC).

If I have more than one position to offer, do I need to start all Kickstarters straight away?

No need to rush. Employers can spread the start date of the job placements up until the end of December 2021.

What happens if the Kickstarter ceases to be employed?

As part of the Kickstart Scheme during any month (either because the Participant leaves their job or has their employment terminated), the payment for that month will be reduced on a pro rata basis.

How much will it cost me?

We offer flexible pricing solutions to meet the needs of our individual clients, depending on the level of service you require.

How long will the applications take and when can a placement start?

The application usually takes between 4-6 weeks for the DWP to approve the application and the placement can begin once you have received applications from the job centre.

When and how will the Kickstart employee’s wages be paid?

As the employer, you must pay your Kickstart employees in line with your usual payroll procedures. The grant funding to pay the young person’s salary will be paid in monthly arrears when the DWP have verified via the HMRC that they are.

Will the £1500 grant be paid again if a different candidate is taken on for a new six month period at the end of the first 6 months placement?

If you wish to take on a different candidate at the end of the initial 6 month period, you will need to re-apply for the placement to the DWP. If approved then you will qualify for the £1500 grant.

What if I want to end the placement early- will I have to repay the £1500?

You have the right to terminate the placement early of a candidate may choose to leave your employment before the end of the 6 month placement. In either case, you will not have to repay the £1500 grant.

Are candidates permitted to work from home?

Yes as long as the necessary equipment is provided and sufficient oversight is in place.

When and how will the grant be paid?

Once the placement has been confirmed, the payment of up to £1500 will be paid within the first week of the claimant starting. You will receive this money minus the deduction for services provided by 1 Click Learning.

If I apply for more than one placement, do I need to have all places filled before a candidate can start or can they be onboarded over time?

The Kickstart Scheme is set to last until the end of 2021 so claimants can start placements at different times as long as they have all started by the December 2021.

What candidates can apply for the scheme?

Only those on Universal Credit (UC).

Am I required to take on candidates that are recommended by the DWP (Job Centres) or do I have the right to interview and decline candidates?

You will be allowed to make a decision on whether you want to accept or reject a candidate that applies after the interview stage.

Fees

Our fee for the Standard Service Package is £795 per placement of the grant of £1500 paid to you by the DWP.

Our fee for the Premium Service Package is £995 per placement of the grant of £1500 paid to you by the DWP.

GET STARTED

Step 1

Provide the following details by getting in touch using the link below