SMALL businesses across the district are being urged to sign-up for a scheme designed to help young people struggling to find work.

Kickstart will offer job opportunities to people aged 16 to 24 who are on Universal Credit and facing long-term unemployment.

Under the scheme, the Government will cover 100 per cent of employment costs for 25 hours a week.

Latest figures show that UK jobless rates are at their highest level for two years.

And those in the 16-to-24 age range are suffering the biggest drop in employment.

Merewyn Sayers, leader of the Federation of Small Businesses in West Yorkshire, says Bradford-district firms have a strong track record for introducing young people into workplaces – such as through apprenticeships.

And she says the Kickstart scheme offers another route into the workplace to gain practical hands-on experience.

“Small businesses are the biggest private employer in Britain and are an integral part of communities here in Bradford district,” she said.

“They are proven to offer more career and employment opportunities to those furthest from work, such as the long-term unemployed and young people who are not in employment, training or education.

“At this critical time, we have successfully worked with government to develop the new Kickstart scheme and help small employers to be part of the solution. I want to thank the Department for Work and Pensions and HM Treasury teams for being open to our suggestions on Kickstart, which will help thousands of young people in local communities currently struggling to find work.

“Our federation will now be a national gateway in partnership with Adecco Working Ventures. We have allied with Adecco due to its track record in creating job opportunities for young people. This will be alongside local authorities and others to create lots of choices to access the scheme. Small businesses have been keen to take part and they can now do so with the confidence that the support needed – for both the employer and the young person – will be in place.”

Small businesses are normally classed as those with fewer than 50 employees, but federation membership is open to any business with under 250 people.

For further information about Kickstart and to register, visit fsb.org.uk/kickstart.