Employers urged to sign up for Kickstart scheme

September 2, 2020

Employers across the Marches are being urged to sign up to an innovative new scheme to help young people into work as part of Britain’s Covid-19 recovery effort.
KickstartBusinesses are now able to register to be part of the landmark £2 billion Kickstart scheme offering youngsters aged 16-24 who are claiming Universal Credit a six-month work placement.
To be eligible, employers need to offer at least 30 placements or to make a bid through an intermediary such as a local council or Chamber of Commerce, who will then bid for 30 or more placements as a combined bid from several businesses.
Marches LEP CEO Gill Hamer said in the Marches, employers could register with Shropshire Chamber of Commerce and Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, with Herefordshire Council also acting as an intermediary for Herefordshire employers.
“The Kickstart job scheme, announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak as part of his Plan for Jobs, sees the government fully fund each placement – paying 100% of the age-relevant National Minimum Wage, National Insurance and pension contributions for 25 hours a week.
“Employers will be able to top up this wage, while the government will also pay 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.
“As part of our own regional economic recovery efforts, we are working with the Chambers and our local authority partners to promote the scheme to employers who can give young people, who are more likely to have been furloughed, the opportunity to build their skills and experience in the workplace.
Shropshire Chamber of Commerce has already registered more than 81 companies offering more than 200 placements to young people across the county.
Around 700,000 young people are set to leave education and enter the job market this year, with a quarter of a million more people aged under 25 claiming unemployment benefits since March – with youth unemployment having a long-term impact on jobs and wages.
Employers with more than 30 placements on offer can register here.
Businesses can also register with the following intermediaries below:
Herefordshire Council
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce
Shropshire Chamber of Commerce

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The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has now ceased trading and transferred all its functions to Shropshire Council working with Telford & Wrekin Council and Herefordshire Council, in line with the UK Government's plans for devolution.

The Marches LEP was established in 2011 and hands over an impressive legacy from its 13-year life. In that time the LEP invested over £196m in projects across the Marches, securing in excess of £100m of match funding and supported more than 66,000 business interactions.

The schemes supported have made tangible differences to local communities, increasing skills, creating jobs and improving the physical appearance of many towns.

We would like to thank all the LEP Board Members who have given their time freely over the life of the LEP, as well as all the staff who worked for the LEP over the years. We also want to thank our delivery partners, local education providers and local, regional and national stakeholders who helped us achieve so much.

The Marches Growth Hub will continue to support businesses and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford and Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Each of the three Local Authorities will also continue to provide direct business support locally. Details of this support will be available through the Marches Growth Hub website and from the Local Authorities directly. Website: www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk | email: enquiries@marchesgrowthhub.co.uk.

The Marches Careers Hub will continue to be delivered and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Website: www.marchescareershub.co.uk | email: info@marchescareershub.co.uk

For any queries about Getting Building Fund (GBF), Local Growth Fund (LGF) and Marches Investment Fund (MIF) projects supported by the Marches LEP please contact: gary.spence@shropshire.gov.uk

For any finance queries please contact: michelle.hodgkiss@shropshire.gov.uk

The solvent liquidation of the Marches LEP is being managed by the Evelyn Partners Limited. For any matter related to this please contact: Camilla.Mulholland@evelyn.com

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