WHAT SUPPORT SCHEMES ARE AVAILABLE?
KICKSTART SCHEME
The Kickstart Scheme is a six-month paid job with a local employer, paid for by the Government. It provides a fully funded opportunity for young people to gain experience of working in one of Britain’s most exciting companies.
The Kickstart Scheme was announced by the Chancellor in the summer, and will offer hundreds of thousands of job opportunities over the next two years. A £2 billion pot will help to fund exciting positions in businesses across Britain.
Jobs from the Kickstart Scheme are open to 16-24-year-olds who are claiming Universal Credit and are at risk of long-term unemployment.
SECTOR-BASED WORK ACADEMY PROGRAMMES
SWAPs are an opportunity for jobseekers who are claiming either Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) to build their confidence in a new line of work, enhance their
CV, and gain invaluable work experience and training.
So far, they have helped over 40,000 people across the country with employers from a range of industries stepping up to offer placements. Each SWAP focuses on working in a particular industry, such as care, construction or logistics and lasts up to six weeks, consisting of three parts:
1. Pre-employment training – a short module of vocational training run by a local college or training provider,
2. Work experience with an employer in the industry – giving jobseekers the chance to learn new skills on the job.
3. At the end of the programme, either a job interview with an employer in the sector or, if an interview cannot be offered, help with the application process.
DWP / NEW ENTERPRISE ALLOWANCE (NEA)
NEA provides money and support to help people receiving certain benefits (including Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support
Allowance) to start their own business.
For the self-employed, it helps to develop their business.
Support includes a mentor, to give advice and guidance as the new business begins to trade, a weekly allowance worth up to £1, 274 over 26 weeks. They can also apply for a loan to help with startup costs if the business is less than two years old.
More than 215,000 jobseekers have become their own boss since the scheme launched in April 2011.
Visit gov.uk/jobhelp for help