Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason companies have been limited to employ one Kickstart member of staff per three existing employees.

The ratio of existing employees to potential Kickstart participants is one element that is examined when an application for funding from the Department for Work and Pensions’ Kickstart scheme is assessed. Organisations taking on young people through the Kickstart Scheme need to be able to provide support to help the participant have a good experience from the Scheme. A ratio of less than three members of staff to each participant person does not result in an automatic rejection but is one of a number of factors we take into account when reaching a determination about the quality of job placement being proposed.

We have recently improved the assessment process to allow more nuanced approach when considering applications. Whilst maintaining a high standard for Kickstart places, these changes mean that more applications are now successful