From education to employment

Apply for a grant through the Kickstart Scheme

If you are an employer looking to create jobs placements for young people, apply for funding as part of the Kickstart Scheme.

Who can apply

You can use the Kickstart Scheme to create new 6-month job placements for young people who are currently on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.

You must make sure the roles are eligible for the scheme.

How to apply

You can submit your application online.

If you are applying for 30 or more job placements, you can apply directly.

If you are applying for less than 30 job placements, you must apply through a representative of a group of employers. They can submit an application on your behalf, using other employers to create 30 or more job placements in one application.

What you need to provide during the application

You will need:

  • the Companies House reference number or Charity Commission number
  • the organisation address and contact details
  • details of the job placements and their location
  • supporting information to show that the job placements are new jobs and meet the Kickstart Scheme criteria
  • information about the support the organisation can give to develop employability skills of young people

Apply online

After you have applied

Your application will be reviewed to check it meets the requirements of the Kickstart Scheme. It will then go to a panel for consideration. This is not a competitive process, but Kickstart will only provide funding when the job placements meet the criteria.

We may contact you for further information as part of your application.

We aim to respond to your application within 1 month.

If your application is successful

If your application meets the requirements of the scheme, you will receive a letter with a grant agreement. This agreement will include what your company has agreed to provide, and how much funding you will receive from the Kickstart Scheme.

You must sign and return your grant agreement, using the details in the letter, before any job placements can begin.

You will need to provide job descriptions for each of the job placements you applied for. This should include what candidates need to do to apply for the job placement.

You will then be contacted by the young people who have been matched to your job placement.

If your application is unsuccessful

If your application does not meet the requirements of the scheme, we will explain why and give feedback. You can submit a new application with further information. There is no limit to the number of times you can apply for funding, however there is no legal right of appeal.

What happens next

Candidates will apply for the job placements and you can choose who to employ.

You will only obtain funding if you appoint a young person that we have introduced.

How funding is paid

You will receive initial setup costs when you have confirmed the young person has started work, is enrolled on your payroll and is being paid through PAYE.

DWP will use information from HMRC to check that the young person is still employed, and will pay the grant in arrears.

DWP may contact you or the young person during the job placement to check what employability support has been offered. This is to make sure the young person has the best experience from the scheme.


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