The UK Government has given its backing to efforts of Make UK to help the next generation of talent by boosting take up of the Kickstart scheme from manufacturing employers.
Kickstart provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16-24-year-olds on Universal Credit. Employers of all sizes can apply for funding which covers 100% of the National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week for a total of six months. The scheme also covers employer NI contributions and employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions.
The scheme has already created more than 150,000 jobs since it launched, and provides opportunities that will boost the career prospects of young people, giving them the skills and experience to stay in longer term employment.
Make UK has made strenuous efforts over the last year to help hundreds of young people affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and is a strong supporter of the Kickstart scheme to help develop vital skills, and a potential career in UK manufacturing.
Today (24 March, 2021), Make UK hosted a webinar where Mims Davies MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Employment, was joined at the Kickstart Your Future Makers event by Make UK’s Skills Policy Expert, Bhavina Bharkhada. They were joined by Lister, a family business specialising in providing engineering supplies and who are already benefitting from the scheme.
Mrs Davies said, ‘Make UK is supporting some fantastic businesses to access our DWP Kickstart Scheme, helping hundreds of young people to get into the manufacturing sector. I encourage other employers from this innovative and exciting industry to get involved in Kickstart and join the national effort behind our ‘Plan for Jobs’, which is creating fresh opportunity for young people as we push to build back better.’
Make UK chief executive Stephen Phipson said, ‘There are significant opportunities available for young people in manufacturing to build a highly skilled and valuable career. This is an innovative scheme designed to help both young people and employers and I would urge companies to take advantage of the help that it provides to recruit young talent.’
Earlier this year, Make UK used World Engineering Day to call upon employers to offer the next generation of engineers the opportunity to shape both their careers and the future of ‘Engineering for A Healthy Planet’. This coincided with Ozzle Jobs unveiling a new apprenticeships portal, providing a one-stop shop for individuals and organisations interested in apprenticeships.
