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Llandrillo's Kickstart scheme set to benefit Conwy business


October 18, 2020 - 1007 views

Grŵp Llandrillo Menai is supporting local businesses to create new job opportunities through the Kickstart fund.

The unprecedented £2 billion employability fund will create hundreds of thousands of fully funded 6-month work placements for young people aged 16-24 throughout the UK, and the scheme is off to a flying start locally with over a hundred North Wales businesses involved.

Paul Bevan, Executive Director for Busnes@LlandrilloMenai commented: "Only large businesses can apply directly however we have partnered with Kickstart to become a 'Gateway provider' which means that the many small and medium sized businesses of North Wales are also able to take advantage of this opportunity.

"We see the scheme as offering a great opportunity for businesses to bring on new, young people, without the cost and risk normally associated with recruitment. We will be working with employers and the 'Kickstarters' to provide wider work-relevant training and to support progression to a sustainable apprenticeship or other role.

"Kickstart will create vital work experience opportunities for young people, opportunities we need to support the recovery from Covid-19 and boost the regional economy."

The Kickstart scheme was announced in July by Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

Not only will it cover the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week for each work placement it will also cover the associated employer National Insurance contributions, minimum automatic pension enrolment contributions and make funding available to support young people to develop new skills and help them move into apprenticeships or other sustained employment after they have completed their Kickstart-funded job.

Businesses of all sizes are eligible, however smaller companies that have less than 30 jobs to offer must apply through an authorised Gateway provider. Busnes@LlandrilloMenai is working with North Wales Training, an authorised Gateway provider to provide access to the scheme.

North Wales Training is a specialist in employability programmes and part of the grŵp's business-facing branch, Busnes@LlandrilloMenai.

Gareth James, Managing Director - North Wales Training explained: "Both North Wales Training and Busnes@LlandrilloMenai have strong track records of working with employers across the region, running a range of employability and apprenticeship programmes as well as extensive experience with stakeholder groups for example Jobcentre Plus, DWP and the Prince's Trust.

"We believe that we will be able to support many young people into work opportunities through Kickstart. The interest we have seen in just the first couple of weeks is phenomenal; it is great to see that businesses are committed to supporting new talent.

"We hope to convert as many of these initial expressions of interest into real work experience opportunities."

To find out more or to register for the scheme contact busnes@gllm.ac.uk or call 08445 460460.