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Written Question
Kickstart Scheme
Friday 4th February 2022

Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Kickstart Scheme placements have been (a) approved, (b) advertised and (c) started by young people by (i) nation, (ii) region and (iii) sector as of 31 January 2022.

Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)

As of the 31st January 2022, over 130,000 Kickstart jobs have been started by young people and over 235,000 jobs have been made available for young people to apply to through the scheme. Over 305,000 jobs have been approved for funding.

Below are tables listing the number of Kickstart jobs which have been made available and started by young people to date by geographical area of Great Britain and work sector. The figures used are correct as of the 31st January and these figures have been rounded according to departmental standards.

Jobs made available and starts quoted here include some unfunded Kickstart jobs. Over time, some previously approved jobs have been removed where the employer chose not to follow up the application. Included in the Great Britain total are a small number of jobs made available (less than 100 in total) that have an unrecorded job location. Data on approved jobs is taken from a snapshot of the Kickstart system at a point in time. This figure can be affected by retrospective changes resulting from previously approved grant applications being rescinded.

The number of approved jobs is defined as the number of jobs associated with approved applications recorded on the Kickstart application system on the date above. This total excludes approved jobs that have been withdrawn from the Kickstart Scheme by agreement with employers and gateways.

Although care is taken when processing and analysing Kickstart applications, referrals and starts, the data collected might be subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system, which has been developed quickly.

The management information presented here has not been subjected to the usual standard of quality assurance associated with official statistics but is provided in the interests of transparency. Work is ongoing to improve the quality of information available for the programme.

Table 1: Number of Kickstart total available jobs and job starts to 31st January 2022, Great Britain, by nation and region

Total jobs made available

Total jobs started

Total, Great Britain

235,000

130,000

England

204,000

113,000

East Midlands

14,000

8,000

East of England

18,000

9,000

London

51,000

28,000

North East

11,000

6,000

North West

30,000

17,000

South East

26,000

14,000

South West

14,000

8,000

West Midlands

21,000

12,000

Yorkshire and The Humber

19,000

11,000

Scotland

19,000

11,000

Wales

12,000

6,000

Table 2: Number of Kickstart total available jobs and job starts to 31st January 2022, Great Britain, by Sector

Sector

Total jobs made available

Total jobs started

Administration

57,350

32,660

Animal Care

1,610

1,060

Beauty & Wellbeing

1,720

1,080

Business & Finance

8,500

4,820

Computing Technology & Digital

15,840

10,490

Construction & Trades

7,230

4,200

Creative & Media

20,990

13,110

Delivery & Storage

6,380

3,710

Emergency & Uniform Services

520

290

Engineering & Maintenance

7,080

3,980

Environment & Land

4,620

2,710

Government Services

1,000

460

Healthcare

6,140

2,770

Home Services

1,560

730

Hospitality & Food

26,380

11,210

Law & Legal

650

410

Managerial

960

570

Manufacturing

6,430

3,600

Retail & Sales

34,970

20,450

Science & Research

990

650

Social Care

4,740

2,140

Sports & Leisure

5,920

3,200

Teaching & Education

11,000

5,410

Transport

900

330

Travel & Tourism

1,110

390


Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 08 Nov 2021
Oral Answers to Questions

"Does my hon. Friend agree that we must look at both money in and money out, and that the cost of living is causing pressures for worse-off families? Will he update the House on the work that the Department is doing in looking at the cost of living, particularly childcare …..."
Ben Spencer - View Speech

View all Ben Spencer (Con - Runnymede and Weybridge) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions

Written Question
Refugees: Afghanistan
Monday 8th November 2021

Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department has been taking to support Operation Warm Welcome.

Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)

The Department has played a key role in Operation Warm Welcome including legislating to exempt those arriving from Afghanistan from the usual residency tests which restrict access to certain benefits for new arrivals to the UK, including Universal Credit.

We recognise those arriving may require immediate help. Therefore, DWP work coaches are now working in bridging hotels to take claims for Universal Credit and other support, with over 2,900 claims already taken which covers 4,500 claimants (couples are treated as a single claim). The Department has also provided other assistance including help to set up bank accounts, access medical prescriptions, distribute essential items, arranging events to support wellbeing and providing reassurance and a contact point for individuals.

Moreover, employment is an important part of integration. That is why those arriving under the relocation and resettlement schemes have the right to work from day one. We are providing tailored support to those who are ready to start looking for work. Employment fairs are being run to highlight employment and training opportunities and online courses are available in bridging hotels. DWP are using our National Employment and Partnership Team to identify employment opportunities for those who are ready to work, and are working with the Refugee Employment Network to ensure we provide tailored support to this cohort.

DWP are also working with individuals to prepare them for work, looking at work experience opportunities, help with CV and practice interviews. As well as supporting the setup of English language classes either at hotels or the Department has arranged transport to locations so people can attend.


Written Question
Kickstart Scheme
Friday 5th November 2021

Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Kickstart scheme placements have been (a) approved, (b) advertised and (c) started by young people, by (i) nation, (ii) region and (iii) sector.

Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)

As of the 2nd November, 98,000 young people have started a Kickstart job. Over 215,000 jobs have been made available for young people to apply to through the scheme and over 304,000 jobs have been approved for funding.

From 28/09/2021 to 25/10/2021, on average over 6,700 Kickstart jobs were made available each week, and on average over 3,400 young people started a Kickstart job each week.

Below are tables listing the number of Kickstart jobs which have been made available and started by young people to date by geographical area of Great Britain and work sector. The figures used are correct as of the 2nd November and these figures have been rounded according to departmental standards.

Jobs made available and starts quoted here include some unfunded Kickstart jobs. Over time, some previously approved jobs have been removed where the employer chose not to follow up the application.

Although care is taken when processing and analysing Kickstart applications, referrals and starts, the data collected might be subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system, which has been developed quickly.

The management information presented here has not been subjected to the usual standard of quality assurance associated with official statistics, but is provided in the interests of transparency. Work is ongoing to improve the quality of information available for the programme.

Table 1- Kickstart jobs made available and started by location.

Location

Jobs Made Available

Cumulative Jobs Started

East Midlands

13,020

6,030

East of England

17,130

6,900

London

46,790

20,990

North East

8,660

4,600

North West

26,720

12,460

Scotland

16,040

8,400

South East

24,310

10,580

South West

15,080

6,230

Wales

11,100

4,730

West Midlands

19,270

9,070

Yorkshire and The Humber

16,830

7,830

*These numbers are rounded and so may not match provided totals.

Table 2- Kickstart jobs made available and started by sector.

Sector

Jobs Made Available

Cumulative Jobs Started

Administration

53,230

24,440

Animal Care

1,250

760

Beauty & Wellbeing

1,600

780

Business & Finance

7,770

3,570

Computing Technology & Digital

14,950

8,070

Construction & Trades

6,500

3,010

Creative & Media

17,550

9,750

Delivery & Storage

6,190

2,780

Emergency & Uniform Services

520

220

Engineering & Maintenance

6,680

3,000

Environment & Land

3,990

1,930

Government Services

780

280

Healthcare

5,330

2,060

Home Services

1,560

520

Hospitality & Food

25,080

8,110

Law & Legal

450

310

Managerial

1,070

460

Manufacturing

5,820

2,590

Retail & Sales

32,510

16,340

Science & Research

840

490

Social Care

4,750

1,590

Sports & Leisure

5,150

2,400

Teaching & Education

10,010

3,870

Transport

730

210

Travel & Tourism

700

280

*These numbers are rounded and so may not match provided totals.


Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 20 Sep 2021
Social Security (Up-rating of Benefits) Bill

"It is a pleasure to speak in this debate. Fundamentally, this is about fairness. When the triple lock was conceived, no one anticipated a pandemic that would lead to mass redundancies of people predominantly on lower pay, which, in turn, would lead to wage inflation, through those people losing their …..."
Ben Spencer - View Speech

View all Ben Spencer (Con - Runnymede and Weybridge) contributions to the debate on: Social Security (Up-rating of Benefits) Bill

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 15 Sep 2021
Universal Credit and Working Tax Credits

"It is a pleasure to be able to speak on this very important subject.

I wish to put on record my thanks to the people who work for the Department for Work and Pensions, particularly those in the Weybridge jobcentre whom I visited just a couple of months ago. The …..."

Ben Spencer - View Speech

View all Ben Spencer (Con - Runnymede and Weybridge) contributions to the debate on: Universal Credit and Working Tax Credits

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 15 Sep 2021
Universal Credit and Working Tax Credits

"Of course, the taper rate—which essentially operates as a participation tax of 63%—is an issue that I hope the Minister and the Department look into as they put forward bids to the Treasury.

Let me return to the cost of living. The cost of childcare is really striking. Our childcare …..."

Ben Spencer - View Speech

View all Ben Spencer (Con - Runnymede and Weybridge) contributions to the debate on: Universal Credit and Working Tax Credits

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 17 May 2021
Oral Answers to Questions

" What recent steps her Department has taken to help young people into employment. ..."
Ben Spencer - View Speech

View all Ben Spencer (Con - Runnymede and Weybridge) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 17 May 2021
Oral Answers to Questions

"I thank my hon. Friend for her response. Young people have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, given the high rates of unemployment in hospitality. Today I visited one of our local hotels, the Hilton Cobham, which has now fully reopened and is looking forward to welcoming the guests who …..."
Ben Spencer - View Speech

View all Ben Spencer (Con - Runnymede and Weybridge) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 07 Oct 2020
Pension Schemes Bill [Lords]

"The measures in the Bill could transform how we view and engage with pensions, and I welcome the huge progress that that represents. Pensions are technical and complicated, and decisions about saving for our future, and about what to do with all our savings, are incredibly important. Naturally, the Pensions …..."
Ben Spencer - View Speech

View all Ben Spencer (Con - Runnymede and Weybridge) contributions to the debate on: Pension Schemes Bill [Lords]