Home   Buckie   Article

Online event aims to kickstart retail careers for young people


By Alan Beresford

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!

YOUNG people with an interest in a career in retail are being invited along to an information event at the end of the week.

Retail careers are top of the agenda at the Kickstart Retail Hour online event.
Retail careers are top of the agenda at the Kickstart Retail Hour online event.

Friday will see the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) hold a Kickstart Retail Hour online from 1pm to 2pm.

Kickstart provides funding for employers to create six-month, 25 hours a week work placements for unemployed young people aged 16-24 who are at risk of long-term unemployment.

Participants get paid the national minimum wage based on their age at the end of the placement.

Kickstart District Account Manager Jane Munro, who is based in Forres Jobcentre, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for young people.

"For employers, the Kickstart funding includes 100 per cent of the young person's wages, NI contributions, employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions and an additional £1500 for the employer per job placement available for set-up costs, support and training.

"For employers who have vacancies that they would like to advertise and are creating fewer than 30 job placements, a Kickstart gateway can act on your behalf and apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant.

"Moray Chamber of Commerce have already registered as a gateway organisation and more details of Kickstart Gateways can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-someone-to-apply-for-a-kickstart-scheme-grant-on-your-behalf#scotland"

To contact Moray Chamber of Commerce Gateway, contact Laura Masling at lmasling@moraychamber.co.uk

Job placements created under the Kickstart scheme should support the participants to develop the skills and experience they need to find work after completing the scheme.

The work placement cannot replace a current role or cause existing employees or contractors to lose or reduce their employment.

Vacancies create under Kickstart are not advertised externally and are only available via DWP work coaches.

For full guidance on the scheme, visit www.gov.uk

Kickstart was introduced as it became clear during phase 1 lockdown last year that young people were more likely to have been furloughed, with many working in sectors disproportionately hit by the pandemic, such as hospitality.

Join the Kickstart Retail Hour at @JCPinNorthscot


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More