Work placements available for young job seekers

MORE than 30 work placements created to help young people struggling are now ready to be filled.

In November, Harborough District Council invited businesses to apply for the national Kickstart scheme, which provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16 to 24-year-olds on universal credit.

Young people can apply for a range of job roles, including in retail,

IT, health, crafts, sports and marketing, through their Job Centre Plus.

Successful applicants will begin six-month paid work placements to help them gain skills, experience and knowledge.

Placements are funded by the government scheme.

Council leader Phil King said: “Young people nationally have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, so I am delighted we have reached the stage where they can apply for these placements.

“It is great that businesses have embraced this initiative, which will help them grow.”

Doug Andrews, managing director of Globe 2, which is taking part, said: “This is a real opportunity for us to expand and, at the same time, offer a good placement for a young person, who can learn, with the possibility of a job at the end of it.”

The council will support those in the work placements with a view to possibly developing apprenticeship opportunities after the six months.

Anyone on universal credit and aged between 16 and 24 can ask a Job Centre Plus work coach about the Kickstart placements.

Employers keen to get create work placements, which must be in place by December, should email:

The council said those not eligible for Kickstart placements, but who are looking for job opportunities, can join the first Harborough Jobs Week running from Monday to Sunday, March 28. It includes job vacancies and webinars.