The deadlines for businesses to take advantage of Government financial incentives for recruiting young people are fast approaching. These incentives were introduced during the COVID 19 pandemic to help support businesses as they reopened and give young people the opportunity to get some valuable work experience.
The deadline for submitting a Kickstart vacancy falls on 17th December, with the £3,000 incentive for hiring an Apprentice ending soon after on 31st January.
Lisa Weir, Head of Apprenticeships and Quality at St Helens Chamber commented: “We’ve seen a fantastic uptake from local businesses who have taken on talented Apprentices and pledged Kickstart vacancies to give local young people claiming Universal Credit the chance to get work experience.
“Many of the Apprentices and Kickstarters placed in local businesses have quickly become assets to their teams and have been offered permanent positions – so we really want to encourage as many businesses as possible to claim funding before it’s too late.”
Government financial incentives mean that businesses can recruit with less financial impact. St Helens Chamber is on hand to support businesses through the whole process, from initial shortlisting through to delivering Apprenticeship training or training Kickstarters.
Lisa continued: “The Chamber can offer a lot in terms of support for businesses who want to take advantage of these amazing incentives. Our aim is to make it as easy as possible for businesses to recruit young people, and we offer a range of support packages to make the whole recruitment process run smoothly.
“Depending on the business’ needs, we can advertise vacancies, help you apply for funding, support with on boarding, offer training, and deliver the Apprenticeship qualifications. Our support means that businesses don’t need to worry about navigating the often-complicated funding process alone, our experts will be on hand every step of the way!”
The Kickstart scheme is available to businesses who would like to take on a 16–24-year-old who is claiming Universal Credit and includes up to 25 hours wages paid by the Government (NMW), national insurance contributions covered and a £1,500 grant towards training costs.
With the Apprenticeship incentive, businesses can claim £3,000 per Apprentice they hire to help cover on boarding costs and training.
Lisa added: “If any businesses are interested in finding out more about either of these incentives, then please do get in touch with our team who would be happy to discuss your options with you.”
To find out more about claiming Government incentives, register your interest for a call back or email workforce@sthelenschamber.com
