- Employers will receive funding of up to 100% of the National Minimum Wage from the Government for each employee (aged 16-24) covering a maximum of 25 hours a week.
- The Government will also cover the relevant employers National Insurance costs.
- The Government will also cover the relevant employer automatic enrolment pension scheme contributions.
- A business can pay in excess of the minimum wage and offer more hours of work but that will not be covered by the Scheme.
- The individual must be on Universal Credit and deemed to be at risk of long-term unemployment.
- The funding will be for each 6-month job placement.
- The employer can top up the wages if they so wish.
- Companies who take part in the scheme will have to prove that the jobs they are making available are new and are not replacing any already existing jobs
- They also have to be jobs ‘above and beyond’ any jobs they were expecting to create.
- Jobcentre plus will be the main driver enforcing this and act as a sort of matchmaker. However, when it is available, businesses will be able to advertise for eligible applicants or use a Recruitment agency to source suitable applicants.
- The Scheme was supposed to be up and running in August. It is likely to be from September now.
- Any employer is eligible to be part of the Scheme.
- There would appear to be no limit on the number of Kickstart ‘employees’ that can be recruited.
- There is a belief that the Government will set up a Gateway portal for participating businesses to claim back the Kickstart monies similar to what has occurred as regards the Job Retention Scheme.
- At present the scheme is intending to run through to the end of December 2021 but it will be under review throughout.