Collection

Kickstart Scheme

The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Published: 2 September 2020
• Last updated: 25 January 2021, see all updates

The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to create new job placements for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long term unemployment. 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
• employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions

Employers can spread the start date of the job placements up until the end of December 2021.

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

The Kickstart Scheme has changed.

You no longer need a minimum of 30 job placements to apply directly for a grant.

You can now apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant by either:

• applying online yourself
• getting help from a Kickstart gateway who is already working with the Kickstart Scheme

Guidance about the Kickstart Scheme

• Apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant
  • 2 March 2021
  • Guidance
• Help employers with the Kickstart Scheme (Kickstart gateway)
  • 2 March 2021
  • Guidance

Contact information

If you need help with the Kickstart Scheme process or you want to add more job placements or employers to your grant agreement, you can contact:

• your local employer contact if you are located in a specific region
• the national employer contact if you are located across several regions

• Kickstart Scheme contacts
  • 3 February 2021
  • Guidance

Kickstart Scheme promotional material

If you are a supporter of the Kickstart Scheme, you can show your engagement by sharing the promotional material in your online and internal communications.

• Kickstart Scheme: promotional materials
  • 3 February 2021
  • Promotional material

Kickstart Scheme terms and conditions

If you want to read the terms and conditions for employers and Kickstart gateways you can find them on the Kickstart Scheme terms and conditions page.

• Kickstart Scheme terms and conditions
  • 22 December 2020
  • Guidance

Published 2 September 2020
Last updated 25 January 2021 + show all updates

1. 25 January 2021

   Added information about changes to the Kickstart Scheme announced on 25 January 2021. Applications from new Kickstart gateways will close on 28 January 2021 and all employers can apply directly online from 3 February 2021.

2. 30 October 2020

   Added Kickstart Scheme terms and conditions.

3. 21 September 2020

   Added 'Find someone to apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant on your behalf' to the collection.

4. 8 September 2020

   Added employer contacts page to the collection.

5. 2 September 2020

   First published.