Hitchin MP Bim Afolami has welcomed the government's landmark new Kickstart scheme and called on employers in the town to sign up and help young people into work to mark the opening of the initiative.

The £2billion scheme has been designed to ensure young people at risk of long-term unemployment have a future of opportunity and hope by creating quality, government-subsidised jobs in Hitchin, north Herts and across the UK, helping to spur the country's economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the scheme, announced in June as part of the government's Plan for Jobs, employers that sign up will be able to offer youngsters 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 per cent 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 if they chose to.

In addition, the government will also pay the employer £1500 for each young person they take on, to support any training or associated costs like uniforms that they might incur when setting up the scheme.

Young people will be referred into the new roles through their Jobcentre Plus work coach with the first Kickstarts expected to begin at the start of November.

Speaking to Hitchin Nub News Mr Afolami said: "The Government's £2 billion Kickstart scheme launches today and I'm calling on local employers across Hitchin to sign up to provide Kickstart jobs.

"We cannot allow young people to be left behind as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and schemes like this will be vital for creating jobs and giving young people the skills to access them."

"I'm delighted the government is putting young people are the heart of its plans to build back stronger after the pandemic and hope as many as possible in Hitchin are able to take part."

The scheme will initially be open until December 2021, but there is the option for it to be extended.

Look out for a regular Nub News column from Hitchin's MP, Bim Afolami, in the near future.

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