The new UK Kickstarter Scheme will create hundreds of thousands of high quality 6-month work placements aimed at those aged 16 to 24 who are on Universal Credit and are deemed to be at risk of long term unemployment. Funding available for each job will cover 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus the associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions.
The Scheme requires individual employers to provide a minimum of 30 new job placements in order to qualify for support. This will be unachievable for the majority of businesses in the UK leather sector. However, potential employers can come together to create a collected pool of 30 placements, which can be headed up by a representative body, such as a trade association.
Leather UK is willing to act as a representative body for the UK Leather sector. If you are interested in taking part in the Kickstarter Scheme, please contact us with:
If we reach the critical mass of 30 placements across the industry, we will undertake the application process.
This represents a great opportunity to bring new workers into the industry, with much of the cost borne by Government.
We look forward to hearing from you,
Leather UK