Plan for Jobs employment support schemes extended to 2022

A number of employment support schemes announced as part of the government’s Plan for Jobs programme of support have been extended with a further £500 million of funding.

The extension of the schemes coincides with the end of furlough and new programmes were also announced to support older workers, and provide additional employment support to Universal Credit recipients.

More young people aged 16-24 and on Universal Credit will be able to benefit from the Kickstart Scheme, which is being extended to March 2022 and will be open to applications from employers and gateways until 17 December 2021. Over 76,900 young people – an average of 3,600 a week – are starting new placements, and this extension will see more young people developing the skills, confidence and experience to support them into long-term sustainable employment.

The government is also extending its Youth Offer to 2025 and expanding eligibility to include 16 and 17 year olds in addition to 18-24 year olds. This provides additional support to unemployed young people on Universal Credit who are searching for work through its Youth Employment Programme, supportive Youth Hubs and specialised employability coaches.

The Government is also extending its £3000 incentive payment or every apprentice a business hires up until 31 January 2022.

A new package for older workers will provide guidance on later life planning, helping over 50s make informed choices and supporting them to plan their career and remain in work.

The Government is also prioritising support for those coming off furlough and on Universal Credit through the Job Finding Support (JFS) scheme. This scheme provides online, tailored, one-to-one support for people unemployed for less than 3 months, including recruitment advice from a skilled adviser, support with CVs, and, a mock interviews.

In addition, the Government is extending the Job Entry Targeted Support Scheme (JETS) to September 2022; this scheme provides tailored support for people who have been unemployed for over three months.