MP welcomes £2bn scheme to help create young people's jobs

 

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes MP (pictured) has welcomed the UK Government’s new Kickstart Scheme, designed to create thousands of new jobs for young people across the UK.

The £2bn scheme has been developed to enhance job opportunities for 16-24 year olds as part of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Plan for Jobs.

The idea is a way for young people on Universal Credit to take part in a six-month placement to acquire skills and experience to take into full time employment within the future. 

Businesses across the UK are now able to sign up, with Tesco and The Prince’s Trust already pledging their support.

Employers are able to top up the wage of workers and the Government has promised to pay employers an additional £1,500 to assist with support and training, alongside paying 100% of the age-relevant National Minimum Wage, National Insurance and Pension contributions.

Simon Baynes said: “I’m delighted to see the UK Government supporting young people here in Clwyd South and across the whole of the UK in developing their skills and opportunities ready for future employment.”

“There have been an additional 250,000 young people claiming employment benefits since March, with Covid-19 having a significant impact on employment opportunities for those looking for work. However, I’m very optimistic that this scheme will help those who are only just starting out in the world of work.”

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: "This isn’t just about kickstarting our country’s economy – it is an opportunity to kickstart the careers of thousands of young people who could otherwise be left behind as a result of the pandemic.”

Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart said: “We have taken unprecedented action to secure Wales’s economic recovery from the pandemic. More than 500,000 Welsh jobs have been protected through the Job Retention and Self Employed schemes while over 40,000 businesses in Wales have received more than £1.4 billion in loans.”