Council calls on Island businesses to join Kickstart Scheme

The team is working as an intermediary for the Government's new £2 billion initiative ­— to help businesses employ a 16 to 24-year-old for 25 hours a week.

The scheme creates new six-month job placements for young people who are currently on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.

Any Isle of Wight company can now “bid” for a Kickstart employee through the IWCC and take advantage of the full benefits of the scheme.

The Isle of Wight Council is calling on businesses to join the scheme, working in partnership with the IWCC and the Federation of Small Businesses to create roles.

Cllr Paul Brading said: "The scheme provides funding to employers to create new six-month job placements for young people.

"Helping to create job opportunities is an important priority and we are doing everything we can to reduce the impacts of Covid-19.

"With as many as 1,000 young people in this age group registered as unemployed, we need as many companies as possible to offer placements.

"I very much welcome this government initiative, and as a council we will be working hard to make this programme a local success."

The government will pay the salaries of young people in placements for 25 hours and at minimum wage.

Employers can supplement hours and pay above the minimum required by the government.

What can you expect?

For each job placement, the Kickstart Scheme funding covers the following:

• 100 per cent of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week.

• The associated employer National Insurance contributions.

• Employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions.

Employers planning to offer more than 30 posts can apply direct to the scheme, while employers offering less can join a consortium the council is helping to put together.

Employers can register their interest by emailing chamber@iwchamber.co.uk

To find out more about the scheme, visit www.gov.uk/government/collections/kickstart-scheme