On Tuesday 12 July, senior Cabinet Ministers awarded young people
and employers for their contribution to tackling high youth
unemployment through the Kickstart Scheme, as the country
recovered from the pandemic.
Launched in September 2020, the scheme secured over 163,000 jobs
for young people nationwide as part of the government’s drive to
help those aged 16-24 start their career and gain vital work
experience.
At an awards ceremony in Lancaster House on Tuesday 12 July, six
young people were awarded for their outstanding contribution as
recognised by their employer, while 11 employers were recognised
for their work in supporting young people out of the pandemic.
The Kickstart Awards come as the latest data shows that 7 out of
10 young people had earnings four months after their Kickstart
job ended, showing its success in providing young people with the
right skills to enter the labour market.
Unemployment is now at an almost 50 year low, and when the
Kickstart Scheme ended in March, youth unemployment was the
lowest since records began.
Recipients of the awards included a young woman from Surrey who
worked in a women’s support centre supporting victims of domestic
abuse, and a young Scottish man trained by his employer in AI
development.
Some of the roles on offer by shortlisted employers included film
making, archaeology, landscape architecture, animal sanctuary
support and hospitality.
Kickstart provided a crucial lifeline to businesses, with many
keeping young people on in permanent roles, including through
apprenticeships. And many of these businesses have continued to
work with their local jobcentres through the Way to Work scheme,
which saw half a million more people move into work in five
months earlier this year.
Prime Minister said:
Our Kickstart Scheme has transformed the lives of thousands of
young people, giving them their vital first step into the
workplace and the confidence to develop skills, while businesses
have benefitted from fresh talent, energy and enthusiasm.
I want to congratulate all those who have made a success of this
fantastic programme, with many still in work today, and I want to
thank all the employers who joined us on our mission to invest in
the next generation and help ensure unemployment stays at its
near 50 year low.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Thérèse Coffey said:
Kickstart has been a huge success for our young people with over
163,000 of them having a first taste of work after a challenging
time in the pandemic. With around 30,000 still on the scheme,
most Kickstart graduates are still in work, which is fantastic
news. I’d like to thank every business that worked with us to
create opportunities and improve the prospects of a generation of
talent.
Looking ahead, ministers have renewed their focus on supporting
those with additional barriers get into work, so that everyone,
no matter their age or career stage, has access to a stable and
rewarding career, utilising the national network of jobcentres.
People are now being supported by their jobcentre to progress,
helping them to earn more money, get more hours, and use their
experience as a springboard for their career, while boosting
economic growth to address the cost of living.
