The Reviving the Heart of the West End organisation says the scheme is good for both employers and young people.
A regeneration charity in the North East is urging companies to consider recruiting young people through the Government’s Kickstart scheme.
Newcastle’s Reviving The Heart of the West End (RHWE) says the scheme can both aid the recovery from lockdown and create opportunities for unemployed young people.
Reports have suggested that the North East has some of the lowest uptake of the scheme, in which the Government covers the cost of employing a young person for six months.
RHWE chief executive Alexandra Johnson said: “It’s disappointing that we have such low take up in the region, as we know that many businesses have been hit hard by Covid and that young people losing work or graduating during the pandemic are finding opportunities harder to come by. We can only assume businesses simply aren’t aware of the scheme or how to access it.
“We’ve seen organisations thrive from these fully funded placements, and we know that young people have so much to offer and yet are unable to realise their potential due to the current climate.
“I think there’s often a perception that schemes like this demand huge investment from a supervisory point of view, but we’ve seen some incredibly talented young people making waves in their Kickstart placements and securing permanent roles. It’s a win-win situation.”
As a Government approved Kickstart Gateway organisation, RHWE is working with employers and young people on the scheme.
Employers that recruit via the scheme will receive a Government grant of £1,500, National Minimum Wage for 25 hours per week for six months, plus associated employer NI contributions.