£2bn scheme for job placements hailed by initiative to get young people in work

The founder of a Fife-based initiative to help young people into work has praised the chancellor’s £2 billion scheme to create job placements.

Gerard Eadie, founder of Dunfermline glazing company CR Smith and the Hand Picked jobs programme, said the announcement of the Kickstart scheme and incentives to create apprentices was “welcomed wholeheartedly”.

Last year 118 young people went on a three-month paid jobs placements arranged by Hand Picked in addition to almost 1,200 school pupils in Fife completing workshops at local employers.

Announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, the Kickstart Scheme will pay towards six months of wage costs of 16 to 24 year olds at risk of unemployment while firms will receive payments for taking on apprentices and trainees.

Mr Eadie said: “Right now, young people need our support more than ever and this has to be through genuine and meaningful paid jobs.

“The pandemic has created many more challenges for school and college leavers looking for work but I believe these can be tackled with businesses, government, local authorities and schools coming together with a consistent and single-minded approach to help.

“Getting young people into employment, where they learn what it means to have a job and can learn on the job, means that they won’t be left behind.”

The emphasis on apprenticeships and training was also welcomed by Dundee-based trades training organisation Alexander Community Development.

Centre manager Kara Swankie said: “It’s raised the profile of the opportunities out there and hopefully encourage employers to invest in the future of their workforce.”

Perth-based energy firm SSE welcomed the chancellor’s Green Homes Grant, which will see the government pay the majority of the cost of home improvement measures.

Most families will receive vouchers of up to £5,000 to cover two-thirds of the cost of improvement work such as insulation, eco-friendly boilers and new windows. The poorest households will receive up to £10,000.

SSE chief executive Alistair Phillipsdavies said: “Funding for green homes and energy efficiency is a welcome boost but more action will be needed in the National Infrastructure Strategy and the Autumn Budget to build a long-lasting green recovery.

“We’ve already put our money where our mouth is with £7.5bn of low-carbon investment over the next five years and government can unlock more from industry with stronger policy signals, particularly on carbon capture and storage.”