Get more Under-25s back into work, firms urged

Businesses in the Welshpool area are being urged by the local MP to sign up for a subsidised scheme to help under 25-year-olds into employment.

Craig Williams, MP for Montgomeryshire (pictured), said he welcomed the UK Government’s new Kickstart scheme.

The Government says that the £2 billion scheme has been designed to ensure young people at risk of long-term unemployment have a future of opportunity through the creation of “quality, government-subsidised jobs, helping to spur the UK’s economic recovery in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic”.

Mr Williams said: “I’m calling on all local employers across Montgomeryshire to sign up to provide Kickstart jobs.

“It is vital that we don’t allow young people to be left behind as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and schemes like this will be vital for the creation of jobs and giving young people the skills to access them.

“I’m delighted that the UK Government are putting young people at the heart of its plans to build back stronger after the pandemic, and I hope as many employers as possible in Montgomeryshire are able to take part.”

Under the scheme, employers that sign up will be able to offer claimants of Universal Credit who are aged 16-24 a six-month work placement, with 100% of wages and National Insurance/pension costs paid by the UK Government for 25 hours a week, which employers can top up if they choose to.

In addition, the UK Government will also pay the employer £1,500 for each young person they take on, to support any training or associated costs such as uniforms which they might incur. 

The scheme will initially be open until December 2021, but there is an option for it to be extended. Young people will be referred into the new roles through their local Jobcentre Plus work coach, with the first scheme employees expected to begin at the start of November 2020.