Kickstarting careers

HOW THE GOVERNMENT’S PLAN FOR JOBS IS BOOSTIN PEOPLE’S C INTO THE WORLD O

STARTING out in your career is never easy and young people have had a particularly tough time in the pandemic – but the government’s Plan for Jobs is creating fresh opportunities for employees as businesses begin to thrive again.

Schemes such as Kickstart, Apprenticeships (which are also open to older age groups), Traineeships and T Levels are giving firms incentives to help new recruits develop skills and experience. Businesses should always carefully check their eligibility for each of the schemes before applying.

In the Kickstart Scheme, which aims to create new jobs for 16- to 24-year-olds, businesses receive a £1,500 grant for each person they take on, to help provide employability support. Kickstart funds a new recruit’s salary and national insurance contributions for six months – so it’s a win-win for employers and employees, as business owners are discovering.

The Kickstart Scheme has given our small company the chance to grow

Among them is Paola Dyboski-Bryant, founder of Dr Zigs Extraordinary Bubbles, which makes eco-friendly children’s bubble mixes and accesories in Bangor, North Wales. “It’s been challenging to graduate in a pandemic with that anxiety and not knowing if there were jobs,” she says. “Young people have had such a rollercoaster ride.”

Paola has taken on six Kickstarters this year, and they are earning as they learn new skills.

“We have to make sure we deliver and give our Kickstarters the best training they can get,” explains Paola.

“We’re really nurturing them. I’ve always been very keen to support youngsters, so they’ve had really good training and good management, but even so I’ve been surprised by how fantastic they have been. They’re such a lovely bunch.

“Investing in people always has its rewards. The Kickstart Scheme has given us, as a small company, the opportunity to grow and recruits the chance to do something they wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise.”

Kickstart recruit Tecwyn Emrys Jones, 21, agrees. “What made me apply for Dr Zigs was the job description. It had a varied amount of tasks on it and I’m a jack-of-all trades type of person so it really suited me,” says Tecwyn (left). “I did my GCSEs and some of my AS levels and was ready for work.

“At the moment I’m packing and bottling on the manufacturing side, and the people here are nice. And it’s pretty decent to be earning money.

“I would say that if you see a Kickstart role then go for it – it’s really good for experience and for getting into the world of work.”