Almost 3,000 young adults across Liverpool city region have secured paid placements through the Kickstart scheme, including one employed as an axe-throwing coach. Tony McDonough reports

Almost 3,000 young adults across Liverpool city region have secured paid six-month placements via Jobcentres as part of the Government’s Kickstart scheme.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled the Kickstart scheme in summer 2020 as part of his Plan for Jobs. It offers fully-funded six-month jobs placements for young people aged 18 to 24 who are in receipt of Universal Credit. It offers either Minimum or National Living Wage.

Each placement guarantees at least 25 hours a week and young adults in Liverpool city region have secured roles in sectors such as construction, hospitality and Retail. Gary Bell, employer & partnership manager for DWP in Merseyside, told LBN: “We have even supported somebody into an axe-throwing coach role.”

More Kickstart opportunities will be highlighted at an event organised by Merseyside Youth Association on Tuesday, November 23. It will take place at the Youth Hub on Hanover Street in Liverpool city centre.

For more information on Kickstart opportunities click here and search for ‘DWP Kickstart Scheme’. The DWP in Merseyside is also keen to highlight a number of bespoke training opportunities to prepare customers for work in sectors with skills shortages including:

• A Sector-Based Work Academy Programme (SWAP) to support people into roles as trainee fibre optic installation engineers in the civil engineering sector.
• A number of opportunities within the construction sector, including providing support via a SWAP for job roles as demolition worker and personal track safety engineer.
• In the logistics sector there are opportunities to become a port operative at the Port of Liverpool.
• Warehouse job opportunities are available with large employers in the Merseyside area including Home Bargains, B&M, Amazon, and Tesco.
• St Helens Chamber is holding a Kickstart Scheme Jobs fair on November 24 to promote the various opportunities they have within their employer network to 16-24 year olds.

Gary Bell, who also said the DWP had opened a new Jobcentre in Bootle Strand, added: “Taking on a job just before Christmas, even if temporary, is a great way for jobseekers to build key skills and confidence.

“It’s also a good way of giving themselves the best chance of securing a permanent role if one becomes available. I’d encourage jobseekers to visit Find a Job and locate their next local opportunity.”

Latest data shows that as of October 14, there were 172,256 people in Liverpool, Wirral, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Halton, in receipt of Universal Credit – a rise of 0.7% from 170,935 in September.

Knowsley saw the biggest percentage rise in UC claimants, up 1.4% to 19,418; followed  by Wirral, up 1.2% to 30,772; Liverpool, up 1.1% to 61,445; St Helens, up 1% to 18,942; Sefton, up 0.9% to 26,418; and Halton, up 0.4% to 15,761.