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The Kickstart Scheme: How to Access Funding Through CEIS Ayrshire

CEIS Ayrshire are looking for employers who want to access funding through the Kickstart Scheme but do not have a minimum of 30 placements in their organisation so are unable to access funding by themselves.

What is the Kickstart Scheme and how can you access the funding?

The Kickstart Scheme is a new £2 billion government fund that will pay any employer of any size across the private, public and third sector to create quality 6-month work placements for young people with potential and who are ready for an opportunity, aged 16 to 24, claiming Universal Credit

and at risk of long-term unemployment.

The Government will fully fund each Kickstart job paying 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum auto-enrolment pension contributions. A £1500 grant per placement is also available to help with set up costs and to enable young people to develop new skills to help them move into sustained employment once their Kickstart funded job ends.

To be eligible, all job roles:

• Must be new jobs.

• Must be a minimum of 25 hours per week, for 6 months.

• Must pay at least the National Minimum Wage for their age group.

• Cannot replace existing or planned vacancies.

• Cannot cause existing employees or contractors to lose or reduce their employment.

• Cannot require people to undertake extensive training before they begin the job placement.

Applications are for a minimum of 30 job placements and if your organisation has more than 30 placements you can submit your application directly, but if your organisation has less than 30 job placements you must partner with other employers to meet this minimum number through a Kickstart Gateway.

A DWP Kickstart Gateway is an organisation who has proven expertise in supporting small and medium businesses to access funding and in supporting young people at risk of long-term unemployment to build their skills and access and sustain job placements.

CEIS Ayrshire is a Kickstart Gateway

CEIS Ayrshire has qualified as a DWP Kickstart Gateway and are on the DWP published list. We are looking for employers who want to become part of a CEIS Ayrshire partnership where we will act on your behalf and access Kickstart funding for you.

For further information please contact Rachael Quinn at rachael.quinn@ceisayrshire.co.uk or 07958 204 287.