The UK government has extended its Kickstart scheme to create new jobs for young people aged 16–24 to the end of March 2022 and its apprenticeships incentive for businesses until 31 January, it announced Monday.
The Kickstart scheme, which launched in September 2020, is open until 17 December for applications from employers and intermediary gateway organisations. It offers employers funding to take on a young employee for six months.
Job start dates are allowed up until 31 March 2022 with funding until 30 September 2022 if a young person starts their job on 31 March. The UK treasury department provided guidance for employers on the scheme.
The £3,000 incentive for businesses to take on an apprentice has been extended for four months beyond its September deadline to the end of January.
Also as part of the £500 million cash injection into its Plan for Jobs, the government is enhancing support for workers leaving the furlough scheme, which came to an end in September, and for unemployed workers aged over 50.
Specific funding for each measure will be confirmed in the government’s three-year spending review on 27 October — also the expected date for its half-yearly budget statement.
— Oliver Rowe (Oliver.Rowe@aicpa-cima.com) is an FM magazine senior editor.