David Rutley MP has welcomed the new Kickstart scheme and has urged employers in and around Macclesfield to find out more, sign up to the scheme and help more young people into work to mark the launch of the initiative.

The government's £2 billion scheme aims to ensure young people at risk of long-term unemployment are better able to secure work by creating quality, government-subsidised jobs across the UK, helping to spur the country's economic recovery during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Rutley has discussed the scheme in his meetings with Macclesfield Jobcentre Plus and Macclesfield College, and is pleased that there is real interest locally.

Under the scheme, announced in June as part of the government's "Plan for Jobs", employers that sign up will be able to offer young people aged 16-24, who are claiming Universal Credit, a six-month work placement that is fully funded by the government.

This means the Government will pay 100% of the young persons' age-relevant National Minimum Wage, National Insurance and pension contributions for 25 hours a week, which the employer can top up should they choose to.

In addition, the government will also pay the employer £1,500 for each young person they take on, to support any training or associated costs such as uniforms that they might incur when setting up the scheme.

Guidance for employers has been published and the online application for employers and representative organisations looking to create roles can be found on the government website.

Referrals of candidates for roles will be through the Jobcentre Plus network and employers will be able to interview candidates.

It is expected that the first participants will be able to take up Kickstart roles from November and the scheme will remain open until December 2021, with the final cohort of six-month roles to end in Summer 2022.

Commenting on the scheme, Mr Rutley said: "I strongly welcome the Government's new Kickstart scheme. We must not allow young people to be left behind as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and schemes like this play a vital role in creating jobs and giving young people the skills and experience they need to succeed in the world of work.

"I am pleased to see that there is already real interest in Kickstart locally and very much hope that as many local businesses as possible participate in the months ahead."