SERVICE DETAILS
Are you between the ages of 16 - 24 years old, currently unemployed and looking for work?
The Kickstart Scheme is offering six-month paid placements, providing an opportunity for you to gain experience by working with some of Britain’s most exciting companies - including M&S, Pet at Home, JD Sports, Go Ape and more.
Kickstart Your Career
Are you between the ages of 16 - 24 years old, currently unemployed and looking for work?
The Kickstart Scheme is here to help you find your next job and prepare for your future.
A Kickstart job placement is a six-month paid job with a local employer that is 25 hours a week minimum (or more, depending on the employer), funded by the Government. It provides an opportunity for you to gain experience of working in some of Britain’s most exciting companies.
There are roles on offer in areas such as customer service, events, marketing and maintenance. These roles span many different types of industries including retail, sports and leisure, construction, hospitality and more across Scotland.
To Kickstart your career talk to a Work Coach at your local Jobcentre Plus today.
Tools and Resources...
Securing a placement is much easier when you've got these insider tips up your sleeve.
- CV Your CW RIGHT
- CAREER PLANNING
- INTERVIEW TIPS
- FIRST DAY ADVICE
Please see https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/help-for-young-people/kickstart-your-career
The Prince's Trust is working with employers to help young people move into Kickstart jobs and build their confidence and skills for work, so that they can get back on track in these difficult times. This includes employability support as part of Kickstart job placements so young people can gain skills to use on the job, and beyond!
In total, any young person who has a Kickstart job with an employer working with The Prince's Trust will have access to more than 30 hours of support from us across their six month job placement. This includes live interactive workshops, one-to-ones and live events.
Kickstart employers we are working with include:
Retail and Consumer...
Akzonobel, Boots, FatFace, Homebase, JD Group (Blacks, GO outdoors, Infinities, JD Sports, MILLETS, Tessuti), Lincolnshire Co-op, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, N Brown Group (JD Williams & Company), Next, Ocado, Pets at Home, Ricoh, Speedy Hire, Tesco, TKMaxx and Homesense, Very Group
Hospitality & Leisure...
Ambassadors Theatre Group, Edwardian Hotels, Go Ape, Go South West, The Gym Group, The Swan Hotel
Built Environment...
Balfour Beatty / Balfour Beatty Vinci, Costain, KBR, Laing O'Rourke, Mace, Reliable Contractors, Roocroft, Wates, WSP
Media...
LADBible, Zenith
How do I know if I’m eligible for a Kickstart job?
Kickstart jobs are available to young people aged 16-24, currently unemployed and in receipt of Universal Credit.
To see if you are eligible for Universal Credit or to apply visit the Universal Credit - GOV.UK website today.
What if I don’t meet the eligibility criteria?
If you are keen to work, but struggling to find employment, visit Help for young people for other employment opportunities or Prince’s Trust programmes.
There are also other schemes for young people that you might be eligible for, like traineeships, internships and work placements. Apprenticeship opportunities are also open to people of all ages.
What if I’m not registered at a Jobcentre Plus or I don’t have a Work Coach?
If you are currently receiving Universal Credit a Work Coach will have already been assigned to you. Login to your Universal Credit account to find out who your Work Coach is and how to contact them.
What type of job opportunities are available through Kickstart?
There are roles on offer in areas such as customer service, events, marketing and maintenance. These roles span many different types of industries including retail, sports and leisure, construction, hospitality and more Scotland.
What Kickstart jobs are currently available?
Check with your local Jobcentre Plus Work Coach for job placements available in your local area.
You can see what Kickstart jobs are available with our partner employers on our Live Opportunities Map at https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/help-for-young-people/kickstart-your-career.
What are my next steps? How do I secure a Kickstart job?
Talk to your Jobcentre Plus Work Coach and ask if there are any Kickstart opportunities open for applications or coming up in your area. When there are Kickstart jobs available that suit your interests and skill set, your Work Coach will discuss them with you and put in a referral for you. You can then apply for any roles you are interested in and, in some cases, may be asked to go through an interview to secure a job placement.
Can I choose who I apply to work with?
With your Jobcentre Plus Work Coach your skill set will be determined and suitable Kickstart opportunities will be discussed based on those, but it is always worth mentioning if you've heard of applications being accepted for an employer you are interested in or you think might have Kickstart job available that match your skill set.
What happens after I’m offered a Kickstart job?
Your employer will give you a start date and contract of employment to sign for the duration of your job placement. This will outline what is expected of you in your job role, the hours you'll work, when you'll be paid and how much.
What happens if I don’t get a Kickstart job?
It can take several attempts to secure the right job placement or role and we know it can be disheartening when you hear you’ve not been successful. Where possible, ask the employer for feedback on your application to find out how you can improve, and start to think about how you can put our interview tips into practice at your next opportunity.
If you’re interested in accessing another Kickstart job get back in touch with your Work Coach who will be able to tell you all about the other opportunities available.
What happens when the Kickstart job starts?
You will work the days and times covering a minimum of 25 hours a week (or more, depending on your empoyer) set out by your employer in your contract of employment and contribute to the business through your job role.
You should also be supported throughout with work skills and careers advice to help you learn from your Kickstart job and access long-term work opportunities afterwards.
If your employer is working with The Prince’s Trust, we provide ongoing employability support to all young people on their job placements including workshops, webinars and one-to-ones to help improve workplace skills as well as motivate and inspire.
When will I get paid if I am successful in getting a Kickstart job?
This will depend on the employer, it could be weekly, every fortnight or every month. If you’re not sure, reach out to your Work Coach to find out more.
I need support with my travel costs, who can I talk to?
You should reach out to your Work Coach to talk about support with travel costs if this will impact you getting to the interview or the job in the first month of work if you’re successful.
What happens when the Kickstart job ends?
Toward the end of the job placement, your employer and Work Coach will work together to advise you on future work opportunities either with the same employer or a new one.
If your employer is working with The Prince’s Trust we will be giving all young people continued access to The Trust's opportunities including free courses and mentoring support to further develop their confidence to find a career that's right for them.
