Preseli MP Stephen Crabb has welcomed a £2bn new scheme to help young people get work placements and training.
The innovative new Kickstart Scheme will help young people into work, helping spur Britain’s economic revival.
Businesses are now able to sign up to be part of the landmark £2bn Kickstart scheme, giving unemployed young people a future of opportunity and hope by creating high-quality, UK Government-subsidised jobs across the UK.
Under the scheme, announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak as part of his Plan for Jobs, employers can offer youngsters aged 16-24 who are claiming Universal Credit a six-month work placement.
The UK Government will fully fund each “Kickstart” job - 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 UK 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.
Stephen Crabb MP said: “This is a hugely important scheme helping 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.
“I urge all of Pembrokeshire’s employers to take up this opportunity, to help our young people with the support of the UK Government.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak added: “This isn’t just about kickstarting our country’s economy – it is an opportunity to kickstart the careers of thousands of young people who could otherwise be left behind as a result of the pandemic.
“The scheme will open the door to a brighter future for a new generation and ensure the UK bounces back stronger as a country.”
To help smaller businesses, employers offering fewer than 30 placements will be asked to make a bid through an intermediary, such as a Local Authority or chamber of commerce, who will then bid for 30 or more placements as a combined bid from several businesses. This will make the process easier and less labour intensive to apply for these smaller companies who only want to hire one or two Kickstarters.