Giving young people a kickstart
In September 2020 the Government launched the Kickstart Scheme , an initiative devised to help tackle youth unemployment .
Youth unemployment rose to 14.5 % between August and October 2020 , with 587,000 people aged 16 to 24 unemployed , up from 11 % in the same period in 2019 .
Youth unemployment rose to 14.5 % between August & October 2020
The rise was driven by the pandemic , with young people working in the most affected sectors or leaving college and entering a really difficult labour market .
The Kickstart Scheme , which is open until the end of December 2021 , provides funding to employers to create six-month job placements for young people age 16 to 24 who are currently on Universal Credit and at risk of longterm unemployment .
The Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership was selected as a local Gateway Organisation for the Kickstart programme supporting businesses in the area able to offer Kickstart placements .
Since going live in September 2020 , SWLEP ’ s Growth Hub has supported 200 businesses in the area with information , advice and guidance on the Kickstart programme , and at the time of writing is looking to have over 300 placements approved by the Department for Work and Pensions . SWLEP itself has also made a commitment to create five placements with three Kickstarters having already started . Paddy Bradley , SWLEP ’ s CEO , said , “ We wanted to not only offer the employability skills and experience to local