Kickstart was a national scheme providing funding from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), to create new job placements for 16-24-year olds at risk of long-term unemployment.
Kickstart transformed lives by helping 16-24-year olds on Universal Credit who were at risk of long-term unemployment overcome the challenges and barriers they faced.
The below employers from Athena Manchester were committed to improving the wellbeing, confidence and employability skills of Greater Manchester’s young people by providing 6-month job placements with enhanced training and employability support.
The programme worked by providing funding to create new job placements for people who were on universal credit. Employers of all sizes could apply for funding which covered:
- 100% of the National Minimum Wage or the National living wage for 25 hours per week for a duration of 6 months
- Associated employer National insurance contributions
- Employers’ minimum automatic enrolment contributions
Athena’s programme supported over 250 of Manchester’s young people to overcome employment barriers to move them closer to training and work.
One Manchester was the approved gateway organisation leading Athena employers in the creation and delivery of high-quality 6-month work placements for young people across the whole of Greater Manchester as a part of the Plan for jobs.