91 Project Brief - Kickstart
Customer & Corporate Support Services – to receive a report (C-039-2020-21) on the Kickstart Scheme that provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16 – 24 year olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long term unemployment.
Additional documents:
Decision:
The Cabinet considered and agreed:
(a) That the Council provide 8 – 10 Kickstart placements as an employer;
(b) Officers continue to work towards a West Essex Partnership to deliver the Scheme and become a Kickstart Gateway; and
(c) To progress the purchase of a support platform to support the Kickstart Scheme and other initiatives.
Minutes:
The Customer & Corporate Support Services Portfolio Holder, Councillor S Kane introduced the report on the Kickstart scheme.
The Cabinet noted that the Kickstart Scheme provided funding to employers to create job placements for 16 – 24-year olds on Universal Credit who were at risk of long-term unemployment. Employers of all sizes could apply for funding under the Scheme which covered:
· 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 could spread the start date of the job placements up until the end of December 2021.
Each job placement needed to help the young person become more employable.
The scheme was supported by the Housing and Community Services Portfolio Holder who said that it was an exciting scheme with a really good website.
It was noted that the funding came from part of the Covid budget for use during the emergency and for development after, and there was also some government funding they could try to access.
Councillor Wixley asked about the difference between the national minimum wage and the national living wage. The officer said that she would find out.
Decision:
The Cabinet considered and agreed:
(a) That the Council provide 8 – 10 Kickstart placements as an employer;
(b) Officers continue to work towards a West Essex Partnership to deliver the Scheme and become a Kickstart Gateway; and
(c) To progress the purchase of a support platform to support the Kickstart Scheme and other initiatives.
Reasons for Proposed Decision:
To progress the work to implement the Kickstart Scheme for the District’s young adults, preferably as a West Essex Partnership.
Other Options for Action:
Officers believe members would wish the Council to be involved in the Scheme either in Partnership or on its own merits and therefore there are no other options for consideration.