• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • FAQ
  • Meet the Team
  • About The London Economic
  • Advertise
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
NEWSLETTER
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home News

‘Huge success’ Tory Minister claims as fewer than 2,000 young people start roles via £2bn job scheme

Another waste of money? The 'Test and Trace' system cost set to rise to 22 billion pounds.

Joe Mellor by Joe Mellor
January 25, 2021
in News

A £2 billion Government job scheme launched five months ago has seen fewer than 2,000 young people start in their new roles.

It comes as the ‘Test and Trace’ system, which has been heavily criticised after a series of high-profile failures, cost could rise to 22 billion pounds.

The government said in its COVID-19 winter plan that, “This strategy is backed by an additional 7 billion pounds for NHS (National Health Service) Test and Trace to increase testing and continue to improve contact tracing, taking the overall funding provided for Test and Trace this financial year to 22 billion pounds.”

The Kickstart programme was launched in September to support firms to offer six-month work placements for 16 to 24-year-olds who are in receipt of Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.

While more than 120,000 jobs have been created, just 1,868 people have started their placements in the UK as of January 15, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed.

Kickstart scheme
Chancellor Rishi Sunak (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)

Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey said Covid had hit the number of people taking up the Kickstart job scheme for 16 to 24 year olds.

Target was 120k, but not yet hit 2k.

“I think actually it has been a huge success,” she says.

— Theo Usherwood (@theousherwood) January 25, 2021

Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey said the impact of coronavirus was partly to blame for the delay in those beginning their new roles.

Coffey claimed “I think it’s been actually a huge success.”

RelatedPosts

Mail on Sunday denied permission to appeal against Meghan’s privacy victory

David Cameron is the latest ex-PM to receive a coronavirus vaccine

Pontins used ‘blacklist’ of Irish surnames to keep out Traveller families

Student who only learned to read aged 13 graduates university with top honours

She told LBC: “We need a COVID secure environment for young people to be working in but it’s also the training that goes with this and getting ready for the next run of the ladder. Those sorts of things, I understand why employers may not be ready yet to get the young people on that journey.”

Expressions of interest

Asked why the figure was so low, Ms Coffey told Times Radio on Monday: “The scheme only started in September for expressions of interest. We actually got our first kickstarters away in November.

“But I would suggest there was a combination of factors. The impact of Covid means that elements of job training to start were probably hindered, as well as the run-up to Christmas.”

In a separate statement, she said it was the Government’s “ambition” that by the end of 2021 some 250,000 young people will join the programme and begin their placements.

Coronavirus
Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Meanwhile, the DWP announced that from February 3 businesses will no longer be required to create a minimum of 30 jobs in order to apply for the scheme.

It is hoped that the move will encourage more firms to sign-up.

There have been huge swathes of job losses since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, with Government figures showing the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits increased by 282,000 between March and November last year.

Fight virus

A DWP spokesperson said: “We know that this is a challenging time for many businesses and workers as we continue the fight against the virus.

“Many young people have been able to safely start their placement and we are confident that this will ramp when we reopen our economy and build back better.”

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “Young people are among the hardest hit in times like these, which is why we’re doing everything we can to ensure they’re not left without hope and opportunity. The Kickstart scheme is central to this.

“With £2 billion available and no limit on the number of places, it’s now easier than ever for businesses across Great Britain to take part.”

Related: Sunak ‘wrong time and again’ due to ‘false choice’ between protecting public health and economy

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Support fearless, free, investigative journalism Support fearless, free, investigative journalism Support fearless, free, investigative journalism

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending fromTLE

  • All
  • trending

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

Stress, fear and homelessness: The threat looming over families confronted with eviction

File photo dated 07/11/03 of a prison cell.

The Other Prison Pandemic

Latest from TLE

Euro Millions results Tuesday 2nd March 2021

Mail on Sunday denied permission to appeal against Meghan’s privacy victory

Bishop of Leeds asks govt to explain why pooled sovereignty is a ‘positive’ with US and a ‘deficit’ with EU

Credit;PA

Trust ‘completely destroyed’ in complaints process after Patel bullying row

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: jack@thelondoneconomic.com

Commercial enquiries, please contact: advertise@thelondoneconomic.com

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech & Auto
  • About The London Economic
  • Meet the Team
  • Privacy policy

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.