More than 100 organizations improve employment opportunities for young people | New

The Kickstart program is a national initiative that was introduced by Richmond Chancellor and MP Rishi Sunak last year. It was designed to help unemployed 16-24 year olds find high-quality jobs and offset the negative impact of the pandemic on them, as young workers were most likely to work in jobs affected by the pandemic. .

In North Yorkshire, more than 100 employers are now offering hundreds of Kickstart internships in the county to young people in a wide variety of fields in industries and organizations where opportunities might not have been offered to young people. They include internships as nursery nurses, site assistants, teaching assistants; in a community pharmacy and even as heritage maintainers, restoring and transforming local historic sites for the benefit of the community.

Under this scheme, the government pays the national minimum wage, national insurance and pension contributions for 25 hours per week during the six-month internship, and employers can supplement the salary if they wish.

The government is also giving employers £ 1,500 to set up support and training for those on Kickstart internships, help pay for uniforms and cover other set-up costs.

On July 30, Chancellor Rishi Sunak visited some of the North Yorkshire Kickstart participants in Northallerton, to tell them about the program.

We acted as a gateway organization, allowing employers to apply and access the Kickstart program through counseling and put in place employability support for small businesses and charities.

The Departmental Council thus appointed 83 Kickstart candidates, directly employing 28 of them.

These include Chelsea Mcgranaghan, who is currently working as a Business Support Administrator in Network Strategy Administration.

Prior to receiving her placement, Chelsea worked at Burger King, until her hours were reduced and she needed to find a new job. She now works part-time for the General Council and studies for a level 2 accounting course in her spare time.

Its role is to identify any potential disturbance that could be caused by road works or construction projects and to support applications for planning permission.

“I was aware of business support roles, but I didn’t realize how much work being a director is. I thought it was a pretty basic role; maybe by answering calls or emails, but an admin can take on a variety of tasks and keep up with the work in progress behind the scenes.

“I learned a lot of organizational and time management skills while working for the county council. Most of the time I have at least three tasks assigned, so I need to make sure I figure out which one to do first so that I have enough time in the day to do everything. I also realized that I liked working with maps, mainly because I always found them too difficult to understand. Now, I really enjoy exploring the street maps and finding the right places for my daily task.

“Before working here, I worked at Burger King, but my hours were reduced and I couldn’t keep the job with the number of hours I was offered. I started studying my level 2 accounting course and that’s when I got this job.

Chelsea added: “I would say to anyone who is considering starting a Kickstart placement, to go for it. Even if you might be worried about learning a new job, have the confidence to take this step as it is a great opportunity for you to develop your skills and experience.

Three other candidates gained valuable professional experience with the Northallerton-based charity Chopsticks, which was also visited by Rishi Sunak during his visit to Northallerton.

Chopsticks is a Northallerton-based charity that supports adults with disabilities by providing work activities that allow members to show off their skills, such as making gardening products as well as social activities.

The association hired three young people through the Kickstart program and provided a member with forklift training and qualification.

Rishi Sunak said: “It is great to see so many young people in North Yorkshire who would otherwise have been left behind by the impact of the pandemic seize this opportunity to launch their careers.

“I really enjoyed meeting them, hearing their enthusiasm for what to expect and talking to employers like Chopsticks and Sam Turners about what the Kickstart program can do for them.

“I am grateful to the County Council and other gateway organizations for helping to make the process as easy as possible for employers to give young people the start they need and to help their businesses as the economy is rebounding. ”

Phil Bramhall, Community Business Manager, said they are keen to participate in the program and provide valuable skills to help young people improve their employability, while recognizing the contribution they could make to the association and its staff.

He said: “We are very happy with the way the three Kickstarts applied, the way they learned to work with our clients and their willingness to get involved in a wide range of tasks.

“This program has allowed us to assess the potential of the three people and help them develop their skills and self-confidence, which will prepare them for a bright future. “

To apply for a Kickstart position, talk to your work coach at Jobcentre Plus about available Kickstart jobs and how to get involved.

Find out more if you are an employer who wants provide a Kickstart job in North Yorkshire.