Kickstart Scheme

The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to create new jobs for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long term unemployment.

Young people will enter a work placement with an employer and the UK Government will pay them minimum wage for 6 months. Employers will be able to top up their wages if they want to.

To be eligible for the scheme, a Universal Credit claimant aged 16-24 must be identified as being at risk of long term unemployment by their work coach at the Jobcentre Plus.

Employers of all sizes can apply for funding which covers:

• 100% of the National Minimum Wage (or the National Living Wage depending on the age of the participant) for 25 hours per week for a total of 6 months
• associated employer National Insurance contributions
• minimum automatic enrolment pension contributions

Employers can spread the job start dates up until 31 December 2021. You’ll get funding until 30 June 2022 if a young person starts their job on 31 December 2021.

Further funding is available for training and support so that young people on the scheme can get a job in the future.

If you're an employer looking to create jobs for young people, you can apply for funding as part of the Kickstart Scheme.

A Kickstart gateway helps an employer get a Kickstart Scheme grant. They may also offer employability support to the young person on the scheme.

Find out more