Hull businesses are being urged to get involved in the new £2 billion scheme which will create job placements for young people.
City council officials are encouraging employers to be part of the Government-funded Kickstart scheme, which will provide high-quality work placements to young people at risk of long-term unemployment.
The authority has committed to finding 30 placements for people in the city aged 16 to 24 who are claiming Universal Credit, with plans to facilitate 500 roles in the private sector.
On the South Bank, E-Factor is also acting as an intermediary to allow SMEs to participate.
The scheme, part of the Government’s Plan for Jobs, sees young people placed with employers for a minimum six months to help them develop skills and experience to find work.
Businesses participating will receive up to £1,500 to cover training and other costs.
Hull City Council is also offering to provide wages and costs up front for participating businesses so payments made in arrears do not affect cash flow.
Councillor Daren Hale, deputy leader of Hull City Council, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the city’s young people who are most at risk of long-term unemployment. These six-month work placements provide a chance for young people to develop vital skills. We have already been approached by several businesses in the city keen to get involved.
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“It is never easy to be looking for work, but Covid-19 has hit job opportunities for people of all ages. This scheme can help break the cycle for some. It is vital for the future of the city’s economy that we help as many people as possible into secure employment.”
The service is being run from Hull Central Library. The first participants set to take up Kickstart roles from November, with the scheme expected to remain open until December 2021 and the final cohort of six-month roles to end in Summer 2022.
Kickstart is open to employers of all sizes which must show a role is an additional job that will provide the experience and support to help improve a young person’s chances of permanent employment.
Funding available for each job will cover the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus the associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions where applicable for six months.
As reported, Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce has called for the Chancellor's scheme to be recognised with a formal qualification.
Employers interested in taking placements should email company details, numbers of placements and, if possible, proposed job outlines to employmentinclusionteam@hullcc.gov.uk, or call 01482 613347, 613117, 612611 or 613478 to speak with a member of the team.
Find more details about the Kickstart scheme at .