We know that the period of Coronavirus has been hard for many across our country. With many across all sectors being furloughed and some facing redundancy.
That is why I welcome the Government’s landmark new Kickstart scheme.
The £2 billion 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.
Under the scheme, 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.
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.
The scheme will initially be open until December 2021, but there is the option for it to be extended. Young people will be referred through their work coach with the first placements expected to begin at the start of November.
I’m calling on local employers across Solihull to sign up to provide Kickstart jobs. Details can be found online at: bit.ly/3h6Qyq3
Another of the Government’s flagship policies came to an end last week. The Eat Out to Help Out scheme, which ran throughout August, was a real success for the hospitality industry across the country and our town.
In total, more than 100 million meals were claimed across the UK under the scheme, with more than 105,000 of these meals being eaten in Solihull, according to the latest statistics.
I am absolutely thrilled at the level of support local people in Solihull have provided to our brilliant restaurants and hospitality businesses.
Eat Out to Help Out was always about far more than just giving people money off their meals – it was about protecting jobs which are reliant on businesses which have really struggled through coronavirus.
Eat Out to Help Out and the Kickstart scheme are just parts of our ambitious Plan for Jobs – a £30 billion strategy to create, protect and support jobs as the country bounces back from coronavirus.
