Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to raise awareness among small and medium-sized businesses in St Helens North constituency of the different local and national gateway organisations helping to facilitate Kickstart scheme access.

The department has published a list of organisations willing to act as gateway organisations, nationally and by region, to better allow small and medium-sized employers to find a Kickstart gateway. This list is available, online, through the gov.uk pages.

Officials have held a number of discussions with representatives from the Liverpool Local Enterprise Partnership, which represents businesses in the St Helens area. And local JobCentre Plus staff are also meeting with employers and organisations in their area. This engagement will promote and encourage participation in the Kickstart Scheme.