Kickstart scheme welcomed, but more needs to be done

The government has introduced a new Kickstart Scheme that will provide funding to employers in order to create job placements for 16-24-year-olds.

Although this announcement has been very much welcomed, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is calling for a renewed focus on technical education and skills including the new T Levels, with an urgent need for clarity on the apprenticeship scheme that was announced before the summer.

Mike Cherry, FSB National Chair, explained, “The past few months of serious disruption have highlighted how important it is to be learning face to face and getting hands on experience. For young people to avoid being left behind, we need to see a reinvigoration of efforts to make sure they have more opportunities available to them. Our research has shown small businesses are disproportionately likely to employ from labour market disadvantaged groups including younger people.

“The first experience young people have of work is incredibly important for the future of the economy which is why access to the kickstart scheme will be so important. So it’s good to see details of this finally being issued by the government.”

Cherry added, “Also crucial to the development and upskilling of young people too are apprenticeships and traineeships which is why funding and easy access for employers is so critical if they are to have the positive effect that we need to inject some energy into the economy as well as to help provide high quality education as well as industry placements.

“The introduction of T Levels is a crucial element to help the government’s ambitions to achieve a long overdue parity of esteem between technical and higher education, and over the next few years this new qualification could be alternative to provide quality education as well as practical experience that will prepare them for the future.

“Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, if they struggle to survive we will see communities suffer, competition stifled and unemployment rise. Which for our young people could risk further damaging the life chances of a generation already impacted by truncated exams and lost education.”

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