Kickstart Scheme

Work and Pensions – in the House of Commons at on 28 June 2021.

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Photo of Chris Clarkson Chris Clarkson Conservative, Heywood and Middleton

What recent assessment she has made of the progress made by the kickstart scheme in creating jobs for young people.

Photo of Therese Coffey Therese Coffey The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

I am delighted to say that we have agreed funding for over 230,000 jobs. What matters, though, is whether young people are starting those jobs. Over 36,000 young people have—nearly doubling since the previous DWP questions—and there are about 100,000 jobs currently live in the system waiting to be filled, so it is a very exciting time for young people to get kickstarted.

Photo of Chris Clarkson Chris Clarkson Conservative, Heywood and Middleton

Getting young people into these kickstarter positions is hugely important, but it is only a first step, so will my right hon. Friend tell me what support is available to those young people to turn these kickstarter opportunities into permanent roles?

Photo of Therese Coffey Therese Coffey The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

One of the key features of the kickstart role is the £1,500 that is given for employability support. Combined with that, there are now over 27,000 work coaches right across Great Britain. What will tend to happen is that those young people, after four months of being on kickstart, will be engaged to see what the next role could be. That could be an apprenticeship or a permanent role, and we are already seeing people get permanent work with their kickstart employers. I particularly pay tribute to Tesco, which has been absolutely amazing in the process so far, and I encourage other employers who are equally standing up to the challenge to continue to try to make sure that every young person gets a chance.