Oral Answers to Questions

Alan Mak Excerpts

Monday 30th November 2020 Commons Chamber

[Mark Menzies (Fylde) (Con)]

What steps her Department is taking to encourage businesses to participate in the kickstart scheme.

[Alan Mak (Havant) (Con)]

What steps her Department is taking to encourage businesses to participate in the kickstart scheme.

[Dr Kieran Mullan (Crewe and Nantwich) (Con)]

What steps her Department is taking to encourage businesses to participate in the kickstart scheme.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mims Davies]

Businesses in my hon. Friend’s constituency are coming forward daily, and DWP employer advisers are running daily sessions to get young people ready to be matched with placements. In addition, we have created new youth hubs and are working with local partners to assist young people in removing any barriers. Alongside that, we have allocated every kickstarter an additional £1,500 of employability support to ensure that they are ready to take up future work opportunities.

[Alan Mak]

Small and medium-sized enterprises in my Havant constituency are major local employers and already support apprenticeships in large numbers. What steps is my hon. Friend’s Department taking to help kickstart gateway providers, particularly local authorities, to help SMEs to benefit from the scheme?

[Mims Davies]

We are determined that SMEs can take part in kickstart. We are actively working with a range of gateway organisations, including chambers of commerce, local authorities and charities, so that they can support smaller employers to offer kickstart roles. Guidance is regularly updated through the kickstart portal on gov.uk to clarify the process and highlight changes, and SMEs can access local employer contracts through those pages.