John Stevenson, in partnership with Job Centre Plus Carlisle (JCP), recently held a celebration event for local employers and young people who have gained work through the Kickstart scheme, at Carlisle College.
The Government’s Kickstart Scheme was designed to give young people at risk of long-term unemployment a future of hope and opportunity by creating high-quality, government-subsidised jobs across the UK, supporting them into work.
Introduced as part of the Plan for Jobs, the Kickstart Scheme allowed employers to offer young people between 16 and 24 who were on Universal Credit a six-month work placement fully funded by the Government.
Over the life of the scheme, Carlisle JCP were successful in facilitating 259 starts in employment for young people and achieved a retention rate of 80%, which were excellent results.
During the celebration attendees heard success stories from local employers such as Ernest Cook, Lakeland Fleet, VR Gateway, Watts Coffee and Multicultural Cumbria, as well as the positive experiences of the young people involved in the scheme.
Speaking at the event, John thanked Carlisle JCP staff, Carlisle College and local employers saying, “Partnership working has been key to the successes we have seen in Carlisle. The Kickstart Scheme has been a great way for local businesses to take on new talent and develop that talent from scratch.
Following the event, employers have been asked to continue to champion the recruitment support available from Carlisle Jobcentre who can offer a named employer adviser for any recruitment journey and have a range of recruitment services that can help employers such as advice on work experience and apprenticeships, business mentoring and access to work and the disability confident scheme. More details are available here www.dwp.gov.uk