KICKSTART funding available for firms to take on local young people through Moray Chamber of Commerce

MORAY Chamber of Commerce is taking applications for the KICKSTART scheme to help young people get back into work.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the scheme earlier this year as part of his Plan for Jobs.

Employers can apply for funding to take on young people – a section of society disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

The scheme offers funding for businesses of all sizes to recruit young people aged 16-24 who are currently on Universal Credit.

KICKSTART funds an employer to recruit a young person for 25 hours a week for six months. The funding is 100 per cent of the relevant national minimum wage, the associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions.

There is no limit to the number of young people that an employer can take on but if it is under 30 – which for most businesses it will be – a "gateway organisation" must be used.

Moray Chamber of Commerce is an approved gateway organisation which enables employers to apply for as little as one post through KICKSTART. The Chamber will receive the wages and pay out to employers in arrears, so cashflow considerations must be taken into account.

Sarah Medcraf, chief executive of Moray Chamber of Commerce, said: "I am delighted that we are able to offer this for Moray businesses.

"Thirty new opportunities for most businesses is unrealistic, but 30 as a region is achievable.

"This isn’t necessarily a quick-fix programme due to the lead time in the administration, but it will provide a lifeline to some businesses. It will also allow a business to take a risk on a role that they may not have been able to previously, eg. a digital marketing role."

Moray Chamber of Commerce has been approved for its first batch of employers which included more than 100 placements for the region, which will go a long way in helping the 1200 young people on Universal Credit in Moray.

Due to the demand, the Chamber has now reopened the application process for a second batch. It aims to have 30 placements committed by mid-January to apply to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) for further funding for employers.

Sarah added: "In addition to the core costs funding, there is an additional £1500 for the employer per job placement available for set-up costs, support and training. This is paid at the start of the employment and can be used to support the employee as required. If required, we can also signpost to a range of support for employers."

There will be no need to advertise the job placement as the DWP will manage this and refer eligible young people direct to the business and businesses will have the opportunity to interview them, and if successful, recruit them. The positions must not replace a current role or cause existing employees or contractors to lose or reduce their employment.

Only registered companies or charities are eligible to apply. Businesses must have a Companies House number or charity number. Moray Chamber of Commerce is lobbying for expansion of the scheme.

The closing date for applications is Friday, January 15. For more information and to apply, visit www.moraychamber.co.uk/kickstart or email smedcraf@moraychamber.co.uk

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