Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the impact of her Department's policies to help people under 25 get into work on levels of youth unemployment in the most recent period for which data is available.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department launched the Plan for Jobs as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This includes DWP’s Youth Offer and the Kickstart Scheme which are targeted at supporting young people aged under 25 to find employment.
The DWP Youth Offer provides intensive Work Coach support to young people aged 16 to 24 on Universal Credit and in the Intensive Work Search group. It includes the Youth Employment Programme, Youth Employability Coaches for young people with complex needs and additional barriers, and over 150 Youth Hubs across England, Scotland, and Wales.
Since the Kickstart Scheme’s launch in September 2020 over 163,000 Kickstart jobs have been started by young people. We know that young people have been hardest hit by the economic impact of the pandemic and are delighted that employers up and down the country have made over 235,000 jobs available for them to apply to. The final Kickstart job starts took place on 31st March 2022 and the last jobs will come to an end on 30th September 2022.
The Department has a range of evaluation activities in train to assess the impact these policies on young people, in particular in relation to the department’s evaluation of the Plan for Jobs, including the DWP Youth Offer and the Kickstart Scheme.
Official Labour Market Statistics are produced by the ONS. The latest data (Feb-April ’22) shows that 455,000 young people are unemployed, this is a decrease of 7,000 on the previous quarter and a decrease of 59,000 compared to pre-pandemic levels (Dec-Feb ’20).
Asked by: Nick Fletcher (Conservative - Don Valley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Kickstart scheme placements have been (a) approved, (b) advertised and (c) started by young people in each (i) sector, (ii) region and (iii) nation as of 11 May 2022.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The most recent data available is for the 8 May 2022. At that point over 162,600 Kickstart jobs had been started by young people. The last Kickstart jobs were started by young people on 31 March 2022, and we expect the number of starts to increase further as employers report commencement of employment.
We have previously published the number of jobs approved and advertised as of 31 January 2022, here. At that point, over 235,000 jobs had been advertised and over 305,000 had been approved. Kickstart has now closed to employer applications and, as of March 2022, all approved jobs proceeding to the advertisement stage, have been advertised. As such, these totals will not increase further.
Below are tables listing the number of Kickstart jobs which have been made available and started by young people to date by geographical area of Great Britain and work sector. The figures used are correct as of the 8 May 2022 and these figures have been rounded according to departmental standards.
Jobs made available (advertised) and job starts quoted here include some unfunded Kickstart jobs. Also included in the Great Britain total are a small number of jobs made available (less than 100 in total) that have an unrecorded job location.
The number of approved jobs is defined as the number of jobs associated with approved applications recorded on the Kickstart application system on the date above. This total excludes approved jobs that have been withdrawn from the Kickstart Scheme by agreement with employers and gateways. This is generally because, over time, some previously approved jobs were removed where the employer chose not to follow up the application.
Although care is taken when processing and analysing Kickstart applications, referrals and starts, the data collected might be subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system, which has been developed quickly.
The management information presented here has not been subjected to the usual standard of quality assurance associated with official statistics but is provided in the interests of transparency. Work is ongoing to improve the quality of information available for the programme.
Table 1: Number of Kickstart total available jobs and job starts, Great Britain, by nation and region (figures rounded to nearest 100*)
| Total jobs made available | Total jobs started |
Region / Nation Split | (DATA RETAINED FROM 31/01/22) | (DATA EFFECTIVE 08/05/22) |
|
|
|
Total, Great Britain | 235,000 | 162,600 |
|
|
|
England | 204,000 | 140,200 |
East Midlands | 14,000 | 10,300 |
East of England | 18,000 | 11,800 |
London | 51,000 | 32,800 |
North East | 11,000 | 8,100 |
North West | 30,000 | 20,600 |
South East | 26,000 | 17,300 |
South West | 14,000 | 9,800 |
West Midlands | 21,000 | 15,800 |
Yorkshire and The Humber | 19,000 | 13,700 |
Scotland | 19,000 | 14,300 |
Wales | 12,000 | 8,000 |
Table 2: Number of Kickstart total available jobs and job starts, Great Britain, by Sector (figures rounded to the nearest 10*)
Sector Split | Total jobs made available | Total jobs started |
| (DATA RETAINED FROM 31/01/22) | (DATA EFFECTIVE 08/05/22) |
Administration | 57,350 | 40,000 |
Animal Care | 1,610 | 1,330 |
Beauty & Wellbeing | 1,720 | 1,320 |
Business & Finance | 8,500 | 5,930 |
Computing Technology & Digital | 15,840 | 12,360 |
Construction & Trades | 7,230 | 5,190 |
Creative & Media | 20,990 | 16,730 |
Delivery & Storage | 6,380 | 4,430 |
Emergency & Uniform Services | 520 | 360 |
Engineering & Maintenance | 7,080 | 4,900 |
Environment & Land | 4,620 | 3,450 |
Government Services | 1,000 | 710 |
Healthcare | 6,140 | 3,460 |
Home Services | 1,560 | 900 |
Hospitality & Food | 26,380 | 14,060 |
Law & Legal | 650 | 520 |
Managerial | 960 | 660 |
Manufacturing | 6,430 | 4,400 |
Retail & Sales | 34,970 | 26,450 |
Science & Research | 990 | 790 |
Social Care | 4,740 | 2,640 |
Sports & Leisure | 5,920 | 4,170 |
Teaching & Education | 11,000 | 6,800 |
Transport | 900 | 460 |
Travel & Tourism | 1,110 | 580 |
* Due to rounding, sum of figures may not match declared total
Asked by: Shabana Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Ladywood)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of instances of fraud committed by Kickstart scheme gateways.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
We embedded a number of controls and checks in the design of the Kickstart Scheme to reduce the risk of fraud and error, including using the Cabinet Office Spotlight tool to support financial checks on applicants. Further information on the Spotlight Tool can be found here.
Where an allegation of fraud is made, or criminal activity suspected, the Department will investigate. If there is sufficient evidence, the Department will refer the case to the Crown Prosecution Service, or Crown Office/Procurator Fiscal Service in Scotland, to consider a prosecution.
All Kickstart participants have Employment Contracts, meaning they are entitled to legal protections, and DWP will advise individuals on how to take action in the rare case that the is not resolved through DWP channels.
We are unable to disclose details regarding suspected fraud. If cases are under investigation, releasing any information could prejudice those investigations.
Asked by: Caroline Ansell (Conservative - Eastbourne)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Kickstart Scheme placements have been (a) approved, (b) advertised and (c) started by young people by (i) nation, (ii) region and (iii) sector as of 22 April 2022; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The most recent data available is for the 24 April 2022. At that point over 162,000 Kickstart jobs had been started by young people. The last Kickstart jobs were started by young people on 31 March 2022, and we expect the number of starts to increase further as employers report commencement of employment.
We have previously published the number of jobs approved and advertised as of 31 January 2022 here. At that point, over 235,000 jobs had been advertised and over 305,000 had been approved. Kickstart has now closed to employer applications and, as of March 2022, all approved jobs proceeding to the advertisement stage, have been advertised. As such, these totals will not increase further.
Below are tables listing the number of Kickstart jobs which have been made available and started by young people to date by geographical area of Great Britain and work sector. The figures used are correct as of the 24 April 2022 and these figures have been rounded according to departmental standards.
Jobs made available (advertised) and job starts quoted here include some unfunded Kickstart jobs. Also included in the Great Britain total are a small number of jobs made available (less than 100 in total) that have an unrecorded job location.
The number of approved jobs is defined as the number of jobs associated with approved applications recorded on the Kickstart application system on the date above. This total excludes approved jobs that have been withdrawn from the Kickstart Scheme by agreement with employers and gateways. This is generally because, over time, some previously approved jobs were removed where the employer chose not to follow up the application.
Although care is taken when processing and analysing Kickstart applications, referrals and starts, the data collected might be subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system, which has been developed quickly.
The management information presented here has not been subjected to the usual standard of quality assurance associated with official statistics but is provided in the interests of transparency. Work is ongoing to improve the quality of information available for the programme.
Table 1: Number of Kickstart total available jobs and job starts, Great Britain, by nation and region (figures rounded to nearest 1000*)
| Total jobs made available | Total jobs started |
Region / Nation Split | (DATA RETAINED FROM 31/01/22) | (DATA EFFECTIVE 24/04/22) |
|
|
|
Total, Great Britain | 235,000 | 162,000 |
|
|
|
England | 204,000 | 141,000 |
East Midlands | 14,000 | 10,000 |
East of England | 18,000 | 12,000 |
London | 51,000 | 33,000 |
North East | 11,000 | 8,000 |
North West | 30,000 | 21,000 |
South East | 26,000 | 17,000 |
South West | 14,000 | 10,000 |
West Midlands | 21,000 | 16,000 |
Yorkshire and The Humber | 19,000 | 14,000 |
Scotland | 19,000 | 14,000 |
Wales | 12,000 | 8,000 |
Table 2: Number of Kickstart total available jobs and job starts, Great Britain, by Sector (figures rounded to the nearest 10*)
Sector Split | Total jobs made available | Total jobs started |
| (DATA RETAINED FROM 31/01/22) | (DATA EFFECTIVE 24/04/22) |
Administration | 57,350 | 39,920 |
Animal Care | 1,610 | 1,330 |
Beauty & Wellbeing | 1,720 | 1,320 |
Business & Finance | 8,500 | 5,910 |
Computing Technology & Digital | 15,840 | 12,340 |
Construction & Trades | 7,230 | 5,170 |
Creative & Media | 20,990 | 16,700 |
Delivery & Storage | 6,380 | 4,430 |
Emergency & Uniform Services | 520 | 360 |
Engineering & Maintenance | 7,080 | 4,890 |
Environment & Land | 4,620 | 3,450 |
Government Services | 1,000 | 710 |
Healthcare | 6,140 | 3,460 |
Home Services | 1,560 | 900 |
Hospitality & Food | 26,380 | 14,030 |
Law & Legal | 650 | 520 |
Managerial | 960 | 660 |
Manufacturing | 6,430 | 4,390 |
Retail & Sales | 34,970 | 26,410 |
Science & Research | 990 | 790 |
Social Care | 4,740 | 2,640 |
Sports & Leisure | 5,920 | 4,150 |
Teaching & Education | 11,000 | 6,790 |
Transport | 900 | 460 |
Travel & Tourism | 1,110 | 580 |
* Due to rounding, sum of figures may not match declared total
Asked by: Selaine Saxby (Conservative - North Devon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Kickstart scheme placements have been (a) approved, (b) advertised and (c) started by young people by (i) nation, (ii) region and (iii) sector as of 31 March 2022.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
As of the 31st March 2022, around 160,000 Kickstart jobs have been started by young people. The last Kickstart jobs were started by young people on this date and we expect the number of starts to increase further as employers report commencement of employment.
We have previously published the number of jobs approved and advertised as of 31st January, here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-01-31/114956. At that point, over 235,000 jobs had been advertised and over 305,000 had been approved. Kickstart has now closed to employer applications and as of March, all approved jobs proceeding to the advertisement stage, have been advertised. As such, these totals will not increase further.
Below are tables listing the number of Kickstart jobs which have been made available and started by young people to date by geographical area of Great Britain and work sector. The figures used are correct as of the 31st March 2022 and these figures have been rounded according to departmental standards.
Jobs made available (advertised) and job starts quoted here include some unfunded Kickstart jobs. Also included in the Great Britain total are a small number of jobs made available (less than 100 in total) that have an unrecorded job location.
The number of approved jobs is defined as the number of jobs associated with approved applications recorded on the Kickstart application system on the date above. This total excludes approved jobs that have been withdrawn from the Kickstart Scheme by agreement with employers and gateways. This is generally because, over time, some previously approved jobs were removed where the employer chose not to follow up the application.
Although care is taken when processing and analysing Kickstart applications, referrals and starts, the data collected might be subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system, which has been developed quickly.
The management information presented here has not been subjected to the usual standard of quality assurance associated with official statistics but is provided in the interests of transparency. Work is ongoing to improve the quality of information available for the programme.
Table 1: Number of Kickstart total available jobs and job starts, Great Britain, by nation and region (figures rounded to nearest 100*)
Region / Nation Split | Total jobs made available | Total jobs started |
| (DATA RETAINED FROM 31/01/22) | (DATA EFFECTIVE 31/03/22) |
|
|
|
Total, Great Britain | 235,000 | 159,800 |
|
|
|
England | 204,000 | 137,600 |
East Midlands | 14,000 | 10,200 |
East of England | 18,000 | 11,600 |
London | 51,000 | 32,100 |
North East | 11,000 | 7,900 |
North West | 30,000 | 20,300 |
South East | 26,000 | 17,100 |
South West | 14,000 | 9,700 |
West Midlands | 21,000 | 15,400 |
Yorkshire and The Humber | 19,000 | 13,400 |
Scotland | 19,000 | 14,000 |
Wales | 12,000 | 7,800 |
Table 2: Number of Kickstart total available jobs and job starts, Great Britain, by Sector (figures rounded to the nearest 10*)
Sector Split | Total jobs made available | Total jobs started |
| (DATA RETAINED FROM 31/01/22) | (DATA EFFECTIVE 31/03/22) |
Administration | 57,350 | 39,370 |
Animal Care | 1,610 | 1,300 |
Beauty & Wellbeing | 1,720 | 1,310 |
Business & Finance | 8,500 | 5,830 |
Computing Technology & Digital | 15,840 | 12,210 |
Construction & Trades | 7,230 | 5,100 |
Creative & Media | 20,990 | 16,480 |
Delivery & Storage | 6,380 | 4,370 |
Emergency & Uniform Services | 520 | 340 |
Engineering & Maintenance | 7,080 | 4,800 |
Environment & Land | 4,620 | 3,400 |
Government Services | 1,000 | 690 |
Healthcare | 6,140 | 3,350 |
Home Services | 1,560 | 890 |
Hospitality & Food | 26,380 | 13,780 |
Law & Legal | 650 | 510 |
Managerial | 960 | 650 |
Manufacturing | 6,430 | 4,360 |
Retail & Sales | 34,970 | 26,060 |
Science & Research | 990 | 770 |
Social Care | 4,740 | 2,580 |
Sports & Leisure | 5,920 | 4,030 |
Teaching & Education | 11,000 | 6,670 |
Transport | 900 | 460 |
Travel & Tourism | 1,110 | 570 |
* Due to rounding, sum of figures may not match declared total
Asked by: Cherilyn Mackrory (Conservative - Truro and Falmouth)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Kickstart Scheme placements have been (a) approved, (b) advertised and (c) started by young people by (i) nation, (ii) region and (iii) sector as of 15 March 2022.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
As of the 15th March 2022, over 152,000 Kickstart jobs have been started by young people. The last date a young person can start a Kickstart job is 31st March 2022.
We have previously published the number of jobs approved and advertised as of 31st January, here. At that point, over 235,000 jobs had been advertised and over 305,000 had been approved. Kickstart has now closed to employer applications and as of March, all approved jobs proceeding to the advertisement stage, have been advertised. As such, these totals will not increase but may decline as a result of vacancies being withdrawn or removed by the employer.
Below are tables listing the number of Kickstart jobs which have been made available and started by young people to date by geographical area of Great Britain and work sector. The figures used are correct as of the 15th March 2022 and these figures have been rounded according to departmental standards.
Jobs made available (advertised) and job starts quoted here include some unfunded Kickstart jobs. Also included in the Great Britain total are a small number of jobs made available (less than 100 in total) that have an unrecorded job location.
The number of approved jobs is defined as the number of jobs associated with approved applications recorded on the Kickstart application system on the date above. This total excludes approved jobs that have been withdrawn from the Kickstart Scheme by agreement with employers and gateways. This is generally because, over time, some previously approved jobs were removed where the employer chose not to follow up the application.
Although care is taken when processing and analysing Kickstart applications, referrals and starts, the data collected might be subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system, which has been developed quickly.
The management information presented here has not been subjected to the usual standard of quality assurance associated with official statistics but is provided in the interests of transparency. Work is ongoing to improve the quality of information available for the programme.
Table 1: Number of Kickstart total available jobs and job starts, Great Britain, by nation and region (figures rounded to nearest 1000*)
| Total jobs made available | Total jobs started |
Region / Nation Split | (DATA RETAINED FROM 31/01/22) | (DATA EFFECTIVE 15/03/22) |
|
|
|
Total, Great Britain | 235,000 | 152,000 |
|
|
|
England | 204,000 | 132,000 |
East Midlands | 14,000 | 10,000 |
East of England | 18,000 | 11,000 |
London | 51,000 | 33,000 |
North East | 11,000 | 7,000 |
North West | 30,000 | 19,000 |
South East | 26,000 | 16,000 |
South West | 14,000 | 9,000 |
West Midlands | 21,000 | 14,000 |
Yorkshire and The Humber | 19,000 | 12,000 |
Scotland | 19,000 | 13,000 |
Wales | 12,000 | 7,000 |
Table 2: Number of Kickstart total available jobs and job starts, Great Britain, by Sector (figures rounded to the nearest 10*)
Sector Split | Total jobs made available | Total jobs started |
| (DATA RETAINED FROM 31/01/22) | (DATA EFFECTIVE 15/03/22) |
Administration | 57,350 | 37,500 |
Animal Care | 1,610 | 1,200 |
Beauty & Wellbeing | 1,720 | 1,300 |
Business & Finance | 8,500 | 5,600 |
Computing Technology & Digital | 15,840 | 11,800 |
Construction & Trades | 7,230 | 4,900 |
Creative & Media | 20,990 | 15,600 |
Delivery & Storage | 6,380 | 4,200 |
Emergency & Uniform Services | 520 | 300 |
Engineering & Maintenance | 7,080 | 4,600 |
Environment & Land | 4,620 | 3,200 |
Government Services | 1,000 | 600 |
Healthcare | 6,140 | 3,100 |
Home Services | 1,560 | 800 |
Hospitality & Food | 26,380 | 13,200 |
Law & Legal | 650 | 500 |
Managerial | 960 | 600 |
Manufacturing | 6,430 | 4,200 |
Retail & Sales | 34,970 | 24,900 |
Science & Research | 990 | 800 |
Social Care | 4,740 | 2,400 |
Sports & Leisure | 5,920 | 3,800 |
Teaching & Education | 11,000 | 6,300 |
Transport | 900 | 400 |
Travel & Tourism | 1,110 | 500 |
* Due to rounding, sum of figures may not match declared total
Asked by: Kieran Mullan (Conservative - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support her Department provides to young jobseekers.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Plan for Jobs provides a comprehensive package of support for young people, including the Youth Offer and Kickstart.
The Kickstart scheme is dedicated to helping 16 to 24-year olds at risk of long-term unemployment develop their skills and experience through fully funded six-month jobs. As of January, over 130,000 Kickstart jobs have been started by young people.
We are extending the DWP Youth Offer to 2025 and have expanded eligibility to include 16 and 17-year olds, in addition to 18 to 24-year olds, who are claiming Universal Credit and searching for work. The Youth Offer currently provides intensive work search support through the Youth Employment Programme, specialised Youth Employment Coaches for young people with additional barriers to work, and over 160 Youth Hubs across England, Scotland and Wales.
DWP is delivering a comprehensive package of support for young people in collaboration with the Department for Education and National Careers Service in England, the devolved administrations, and other partners.
Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Kickstart Scheme placements have been (a) approved, (b) advertised and (c) started by young people by (i) nation, (ii) region and (iii) sector as of 31 January 2022.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
As of the 31st January 2022, over 130,000 Kickstart jobs have been started by young people and over 235,000 jobs have been made available for young people to apply to through the scheme. Over 305,000 jobs have been approved for funding.
Below are tables listing the number of Kickstart jobs which have been made available and started by young people to date by geographical area of Great Britain and work sector. The figures used are correct as of the 31st January and these figures have been rounded according to departmental standards.
Jobs made available and starts quoted here include some unfunded Kickstart jobs. Over time, some previously approved jobs have been removed where the employer chose not to follow up the application. Included in the Great Britain total are a small number of jobs made available (less than 100 in total) that have an unrecorded job location. Data on approved jobs is taken from a snapshot of the Kickstart system at a point in time. This figure can be affected by retrospective changes resulting from previously approved grant applications being rescinded.
The number of approved jobs is defined as the number of jobs associated with approved applications recorded on the Kickstart application system on the date above. This total excludes approved jobs that have been withdrawn from the Kickstart Scheme by agreement with employers and gateways.
Although care is taken when processing and analysing Kickstart applications, referrals and starts, the data collected might be subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system, which has been developed quickly.
The management information presented here has not been subjected to the usual standard of quality assurance associated with official statistics but is provided in the interests of transparency. Work is ongoing to improve the quality of information available for the programme.
Table 1: Number of Kickstart total available jobs and job starts to 31st January 2022, Great Britain, by nation and region
| Total jobs made available | Total jobs started |
Total, Great Britain | 235,000 | 130,000 |
|
|
|
England | 204,000 | 113,000 |
East Midlands | 14,000 | 8,000 |
East of England | 18,000 | 9,000 |
London | 51,000 | 28,000 |
North East | 11,000 | 6,000 |
North West | 30,000 | 17,000 |
South East | 26,000 | 14,000 |
South West | 14,000 | 8,000 |
West Midlands | 21,000 | 12,000 |
Yorkshire and The Humber | 19,000 | 11,000 |
Scotland | 19,000 | 11,000 |
Wales | 12,000 | 6,000 |
Table 2: Number of Kickstart total available jobs and job starts to 31st January 2022, Great Britain, by Sector
Sector | Total jobs made available | Total jobs started |
Administration | 57,350 | 32,660 |
Animal Care | 1,610 | 1,060 |
Beauty & Wellbeing | 1,720 | 1,080 |
Business & Finance | 8,500 | 4,820 |
Computing Technology & Digital | 15,840 | 10,490 |
Construction & Trades | 7,230 | 4,200 |
Creative & Media | 20,990 | 13,110 |
Delivery & Storage | 6,380 | 3,710 |
Emergency & Uniform Services | 520 | 290 |
Engineering & Maintenance | 7,080 | 3,980 |
Environment & Land | 4,620 | 2,710 |
Government Services | 1,000 | 460 |
Healthcare | 6,140 | 2,770 |
Home Services | 1,560 | 730 |
Hospitality & Food | 26,380 | 11,210 |
Law & Legal | 650 | 410 |
Managerial | 960 | 570 |
Manufacturing | 6,430 | 3,600 |
Retail & Sales | 34,970 | 20,450 |
Science & Research | 990 | 650 |
Social Care | 4,740 | 2,140 |
Sports & Leisure | 5,920 | 3,200 |
Teaching & Education | 11,000 | 5,410 |
Transport | 900 | 330 |
Travel & Tourism | 1,110 | 390 |
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department plans to take to support young people aged 16 to 24 in (a) Solihull and (b) England to find employment.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Plan for Jobs provides a comprehensive package of support for young people, including the Youth Offer and Kickstart.
The Kickstart scheme is dedicated to helping 16 to 24-year olds at risk of long-term unemployment develop their skills and experience through fully funded six-month jobs. As of the 31st January 2022, over 130,000 Kickstart jobs have been started by young people.
The DWP Youth Offer provides intensive work search support to young people aged 16 to 24 on Universal Credit and in the Intensive Work Search group. It includes the Youth Employment Programme, Youth Employability Coaches for young people with complex needs and additional barriers, and over 150 Youth Hubs across England, Scotland, and Wales.
In Solihull, Support for Schools advisers are engaging with secondary schools across Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC), including supporting a recent careers fair at Solihull College. Solihull Youth Hub in Chelmsley Wood is co-located and co-delivered with SMBC to support young people into employment, education, and training opportunities. We are also working with Solihull Children in Care team to ensure that all 16 to 24-year olds leaving care are included in the Universal Credit advance claim process and receive Work Coach support.
We continue to work with partners to deliver job fairs and Kickstart employer events as part of our commitment to supporting young people into sustainable employment.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent steps they have taken to help support Scotland's recovery from the COVID-19 outbreak.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK Government’s furlough and self-employed support schemes supported more than 900,000 Scottish jobs at their peak and more than 100,000 Scottish businesses have benefitted from £4 billion of UK Government Covid loans. Going forward, the Government is directly investing £191 million in Scotland through the Community Renewal Fund, Community Ownership fund and Levelling Up Fund. The UK Government is also investing billions of pounds to help people of all ages back into work, including through our £2 billion kickstart scheme.