Get ready to benefit from the government Kickstart scheme

Our flexible and collaborative work placement scheme exists because I’ve always believed that young people had so much to offer businesses. There are so many young people who just need a chance to show their uniqueness, who just need to be trusted and to be given ownership of things. I saw through our pilot and our progressive approaches to hiring that young people just need space to show what they are capable of - instead of being questioned, tested, pulled apart and made to fit into a box.

At the same time I’ve also deeply understood the barriers that stop small businesses and freelancers from hiring interns or apprentices. I started my working life at my Dad’s printing factory - he always desperately wanted to be able to hire more staff, train up apprentices and provide people with good work but all too often the government apprenticeship schemes were inaccessible and the risk of creating full-time positions if the work wasn’t there were too great.

Collaborative Future welcomes the latest announcement from Rishi Sunak about the government’s new £2 billion Kickstart Scheme which will provide funding to encourage businesses to employ 16-24 year olds claiming universal credit or at risk of long-term unemployment. For 6 months they will cover 100% of the National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week – and employers will be able to top this wage up.

However, not only are these schemes difficult for small businesses to navigate and gain access to but taking on a new employee can often require time and effort that many small businesses don’t have. From the difficult task of actually finding the right people to the planning involved in ensuring your new employee has enough work to do - there will be so many things that will continue to hold businesses back from hiring.

This is where we see our programme as a great way for both businesses and young people that could benefit from government scheme to start preparing themselves now and ready to grasp the opportunity when the scheme is officially open. Through our programme businesses gain flexible access to 5, 10, 15 or 20 days of paid intern support which will allow them to connect with diverse talent and explore what a new hire might be able to contribute to their business. But this experience isn’t just about connecting people to work together, it’s also about supporting them with how to work together effectively. In addition to accessing paid intern support the businesses involved in the programme will also get to access a wide-range training workshops, 1-2-1 coaching sessions and opportunities to exchange knowledge and ideas with other businesses. 

At the same time young people can gain access to paid work experience with at least three different businesses - helping them to build a wide range of experience and connections. They also receive coaching and training to help them develop their skills and take control of their future. All too often traditional internship and apprenticeship models fail when young people invest months and years into a business only to find there is no permanent job at the end for them. We’re giving people an opportunity to not just connect with businesses who might offer them a permanent position but also to explore how they might build a stable income and create meaningful work for themselves through options like self-employment.

I believe our programme is leading the way with creating work that works for everyone. Apply to become a Collaborative Future intern or find out more about participating in the scheme as a business.