Designed to help create jobs for local young people, Gloucestershire’s small businesses can access funding from the government’s Kickstart Employment Programme.
Distributed through Business West, representing the Chamber of Commerce for Gloucestershire, the government funding is available to businesses who can offer six months employment to 16 to 24-year-olds claiming Universal Credit.
The Kickstart Employment programme provides funding to cover the cost of 25 hours per week of national minimum wage, national insurance and pension contributions, as well as contributing towards training and set-up costs, for each candidate placed.
Larger businesses able to provide 30 or more work placements can apply to the government directly, but smaller businesses offering fewer placements can still access their share of the funding through Business West, which is acting as the local intermediary for the scheme.
Head of business skills at Business West, Nicky Williams, said: ‘Business West, as part of the British Chambers network is working with the Department for Work and Pensions to pull together quality placements on behalf of businesses in our region who want to participate in the scheme. Whatever your size of business we can help you to access this programme.
‘At a time when cashflow is tight it is vital that we, as a Chamber and national network, are able to play our role as an intermediary and help employers bring young people into the workplace and develop new talent for the future.
‘I encourage businesses from across our region to seriously consider this time-limited opportunity, not only as a way of fulfilling your growth aspirations, but also to give young people the leg up they need to launch a successful career at this challenging time.’
For more information, call Business West on (01275) 373373.
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