Havant Borough Council are proud to announce further investment in local young people and businesses by creating new job opportunities for 18–24-year-olds across the borough.
The Youth Employment Scheme is launching on Tuesday 2 April and will support young people aged 18-24 living in the borough of Havant by paying the wages to the employer at National Living Wage for a maximum of six months, for up to 25 hours per week.
Employers can apply now through the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) and the Youth Hub to interview potential candidates and offer work placements to successful applicants. The Youth Hub is a shared project between DWP and Havant Borough Council which – since September 2022 – has supported 361 young people, with 185 going into long term work, and 228 attending various forms of training.
The decision to launch the scheme was based on the success of the Kickstart scheme. According to a DWP Report (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/kickstart-scheme-process-evaluation) 65% of Kickstart participants were either still in employment and/or undergoing additional training or education after their paid placement ended.
With relatively high numbers of residents who class as Not in Employment Education or Training (NEETs) across the borough, the Youth Employment Scheme Havant (YESH) will help to open up opportunities to those who struggle to access the job market. The scheme - provided by the Youth Hub Work Coaches - will ensure that both the young person and employer are supported throughout with scheduled one-to-one sessions.
The scheme has been piloted through Link Up Leigh Park, a programme supported by The Health Foundation as part of the Economies for Healthier Lives funding programme. Link Up Leigh Park has worked to commission interventions over the last few years, opening employment, education and health opportunities for 16-24-year-olds from Leigh Park through reducing social, environmental and economic barriers.
Councillor Alex Rennie – Leader of Havant Borough Council – said “It is great to see funding from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund - now in its final year - harnessed in such a positive way. The funded placements will be an invaluable asset for employers, whilst boosting the work skills and experience of our young people. I look forward to the scheme launching in April and encourage any business with a base in the Havant borough to contact the Economic Development team to express their interest”.
For more information on the Youth Employment Scheme, email the council’s Economic Development team at Economic_Development@havant.gov.uk. For more information on Link Up Leigh Park, visit https://linkupyouthhub.co.uk/.