The Security Institute supports UK Kickstart Scheme

In the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (2020), 750,000 16-to-24-year-olds are claiming Universal Credit. This highlights the large numbers of young people being severely financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and unable to find work. 

To support young people looking for work during this difficult time the UK Government has launched the ‘Kickstart’ Scheme, with £2bn worth of funding being made available to employers. Through the Kickstart Scheme, the Government will provide funding for employers to offer work to young people on Universal Credit.

Ordinarily, to apply for the funding available through the Government’s Kickstart Scheme a single employer must be able to provide a minimum of 30 job placements. However, as a not for profit, the Security Institute has stepped up to become a Gateway Provider for the security industry. This allows many more employers within the security industry, that are looking to create 29 or fewer jobs placements for young people, to apply for funding through the Kickstart Scheme.

Kickstart funding

The government funding available through the Kickstart Scheme will finance 6-month work placements for young people. Employers will be paid 100% of the National Minimum Wage for 25 hours of work a week, plus National Insurance and Auto Enrolment Pension contributions. There is also the option for employers to pay for additional hours, helping the scheme best benefit the needs of a specific organisation.

Also, there is a £1,500 grant per job placement available to help employers pay for that setup, support and training costs that may be incurred when inducting a new employee.

After this 6-month placement, the employer can offer permanent employment to the young person or let them find other opportunities elsewhere with additional experience now on their CV to support future applications.

The Security Institute hopes that the Kickstart Scheme will help introduce more talented young people to the world of security and open the doors to a whole range of opportunities available within the sector. In order to improve standards and help build a strong foundation for the sector’s success in the future, the Security Institute recognises that the sector must attract and welcome the diverse talent amongst young people in the UK. Young people’s fresh perspective will help the sector better tackle a wide variety of different challenges faced by security professionals and will ensure that we are best equipped to meet the security threats of the future.

Many young people may not have even considered a role within security, there are a wide spectrum of roles that fall under the security umbrella and lots of potential opportunities for young people to establish a successful career regardless of their skillset or interests. It is hoped that by employers within the security industry participating in the Kickstart Scheme, more young people will see how fulfilling a career in security can be.

Speaking on the Kickstart Scheme and its importance for the security industry, the Security Institute’s Chief Executive, Rick Mounfield CSyP FSyI stated: “The challenges faced by the security sector continue to evolve and magnify, as such it is imperative that we seek to attract more talented young people to the world of security. The Kickstart Scheme has presented a fantastic opportunity for us to do this, with full financial support of the UK Government. As a growth sector with various skills gaps, the security industry can provide an array of interesting and fulfilling roles for young people.”

To get involved in the Kickstart Scheme by becoming a registered employer with the Security Institute please email [email protected] and you can find further information here: https://www.kickstart-security.com/