Local MP, Caroline Dinenage, has welcomed the progress of the Conservative Government’s Kickstart Scheme – which has helped 100 young people across the Gosport constituency into work since its launch in September 2020.
As part of the Plan for Jobs, launched last year to support jobs during the pandemic and help us build back better, the £2 billion Kickstart Scheme pays businesses to create high-quality jobs for 16-24 year olds on Universal Credit. The scheme gives young people the opportunity to find work, develop their skills, and get a crucial first step on the career ladder.
Figures released this weel reveal that the number of people in employment rose by 160,000 in October – well above pre-pandemic levels, showing that the Plan for Jobs is working.
100,000 young people across the country have now started a Kickstart job across all types of employers, ranging from sole traders to some of the biggest companies in the country. Over 215,000 jobs in total have been made available for young people to apply to across a range of sectors, including digital, creative and media, and retail.
Over the last month, on average over 3,400 young people have started a Kickstart job each week, and the scheme was recently expanded and extended until March 2022 so that even more young people can benefit from it.
The Kickstart Scheme is just one part of the Conservative Government’s Plan for Jobs, which also includes the £2.9 billion Restart Scheme, helping over 1 million long-term unemployed people find work; the Job Entry Targeted Support (JETS) scheme supporting at those unemployed for over 3 months; and the Lifetime Skills Guarantee, offering 11 million adults a free qualification at any point in their life.
Commenting, Caroline said:
“The pandemic has been tough for young people, especially those looking for a job – we want to ensure that no one is left behind as we continue our recovery.
“The Conservative Government’s Kickstart Scheme is helping us deliver on that mission – getting 100 young people into work across Gosport, Lee on the Solent, Stubbington and Hill Head – as part of the 100,000 helped nationwide.
“This will give more young people the best possible start in the workplace – helping them get a high wage, high skilled job they will need for the future.”
Commenting, Work and Pensions Secretary Thérèse Coffey said:
“Kickstart employers in the Gosport Constituency and up and down the country are giving young people the chance to get on the jobs ladder.
“Having hit the 100,000 milestone, we are now on the last lap and I encourage employers and young people to take advantage of this opportunity as we head towards the finish line of the great Kickstart scheme”.
