Young adults have been hardest hit by job losses during the pandemic. But now businesses can do their bit to help them get back on their feet with the government's Kickstart Scheme.

Applications are open now for the scheme, which provides funded work placements for 16 to 24 year olds.

The £2 billion Kickstart Scheme provides funding to create new job placements for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long term unemployment. Employers of all sizes can apply for the funding which covers:

• 100% of the National Minimum Wage for 25 hours per week for six months
• Employer National Insurance contributions
• Employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions

Employers can choose to pay a higher wage and for more hours, but the funding will not cover this.

Employers will get £1,500 funding per job placement. This is for set-up costs and to support the young person develop their employability skills.

The first job placements are due to start this month. But they don't need to start immediately - employers can spread the start dates until the end of December 2021.

A Kickstart Scheme application must be for a minimum of 30 job placements. If you run a smaller business and are unable to provide this many job placements, you can find a Kickstart gateway, such as a local authority, charity or trade body for help applying.

Currently, available gateways in the county are Gloucestershire County Council and Gloucestershire College.

Mims Davies MP, minister for employment, talked about the new scheme at the Glos Lift Off jobs, skills and apprenticeships event at Kingsholm in September.

In her keynote address she said: "The new £2 billion Kickstart Scheme will create hundreds of thousands of fully subsidised roles, for our young people right across the country. It's going to change the lives of our 16-24 year olds on Universal Credit, who are looking to get that first foothold on the career ladder. It will benefit local businesses with that opportunity to get untapped, transformational local talent. Regardless of your size of business or the number of people you are looking to recruit, we are urging businesses to get involved and apply for this funding.

"From SMEs to micros to big national employers, this scheme has been designed to meet your local needs. It is mutually beneficial, providing access to that enormous pool of potential and enabling our young recruits to get crucial experience and skills which are going to help them boost their long-term career credentials."

Job placements created with Kickstart Scheme funding must be new jobs.

They must not:

• Replace existing or planned vacancies
• Cause existing employees, apprentices or contractors to lose work or reduce their working hours

Find out more at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/kickstart-scheme