The programme encourages organisations to create six-month job placements for people aged between 16 and 24 who are on Universal Credit.
The Government will fund 100 per cent of the relevant national minimum wage, National Insurance and pension contributions for 25 hours a week, with organisations receiving £1,500 per job placement.
The initiative is designed to protect young people deemed at risk of long-term unemployment due to the economic impact of COVID-19.
A requirement of the programme is that an organisation takes on 30 placements, which may be prohibitive to smaller businesses.
The PRCA will act as a representative body for smaller agencies who can join forces with others to pool placements.
The programme, and the PRCA’s pooling initiative, has been well received in the communications industry, with several agency leaders indicating they will take up the offer.
Gloucestershire-based businesses: the Kickstart Scheme is a chance to give young people that could do with a leg up an opportunity. We @Radioactive_PR will commit to 5 jobs, can we offer 25+ more as a collective to reach eligibility?
— Rich Leigh (@RichLeighPR) September 2, 2020
More info/join here > https://t.co/Vt6nEHH0FM
Superb leadership from @PRCA_UK supporting job creation in the PR industry for younger people backed by @CIPR_UK
— PRKezza (@PRKezza) September 8, 2020
Will be sending some fantastic new talent your way! #KickstartScheme https://t.co/Gb6K9nK60w
Yass @PRCA_UK! Looking forward to getting involved! The #kickstart scheme has the potential to help so many young people get their careers going #Bringonthetalent https://t.co/LzHt0UNSXS
— Amanda Lowe (@amandalowe_bham) September 8, 2020
“This new programme has the potential to radically improve the lives of many young people who currently face the bleak prospect of unemployment right at the beginning of their careers,” PRCA director-general Francis Ingham said.
“We are proud to represent the UK PR industry, and to offer organisations of all sizes the opportunity to offer jobs to talented individuals. I would strongly encourage employers to grasp this opportunity, and to join us in promoting it.”
The CIPR is supporting the PRCA taking the lead on this initiative.
“We urge any CIPR members and employers with opportunities to offer young people to take advantage of the scheme,” CIPR chief executive Alastair McCapra said.
“It's a great chance for the profession to play its part in providing a basis for young people to enter the job market and help them better understand the world we operate in."
Information on the Kickstart Scheme and how to apply using the PRCA as a representative body can be found here.
