Cumbria Chamber says there are hundreds of roles for young people in Cumbria yet to be filled.
Cumbria Chamber of Commerce is calling those aged between 16 and 24 and out of work to check their Universal Credit eligibility as there are roles to be filled.
Cumbria Chamber has acted as a gateway for the Government’s Kickstart Placement scheme which allows those aged between 16 and 24 and claiming Universal Credit a six-month 25-hour placement funded by the Government. Cumbria Chamber has supported over 400 businesses to secure Kickstart roles, with over 500 roles being offered.
To date over 150 young people have filled these places but there’s still hundreds of roles to fill across the county, and suitable candidates are needed to fill the roles. Roles on offer include teaching assistants, marketing and events coordinators, finance assistants, composite boat builders, social media assistants and even horn workers.
Cumbria Chamber realised how valuable the scheme is, taking on their own Kickstarter.
Ellen Johnston, Cumbria Chamber of Commerce’s membership administrator through Kickstart said: “I’ve gained good insight into the working world and it’s been easier to adapt from being unemployed to working.
“It wasn’t as scary of a leap into work thanks to Kickstart and to the work coaches at Carlisle Jobcentre. Without their encouragement, I wouldn’t have taken that step.”
Eve Halliday, business growth manager at Cumbria Chamber said: “Ellen has fitted in seamlessly and is a great addition to the team. I know from the other employers who are offering roles and have filled them that they have had the same experience, and many of them are keeping their Kickstarters on in full-time employment or looking at apprenticeship options.
“If you think you might be eligible please don’t hang around, get to the jobcentre and see what’s available. Even if you haven’t gotten the grades you wanted or any grades for that matter, employers are more interested in your personality and willingness to learn. You’ve really got nothing to lose.”
As the scheme is only eligible to those on Universal Credit, Cumbria Chamber is urging those who may be between 16-24 and out of work to check the placements available out there. If the person didn’t get the GCSE or A-level grades they expected, or the traditional route of school/college/university isn’t what they’d hoped for.
Cumbria Chamber is hosting all placements (filled and vacant) at: https://www.cumbriachamber.co.uk/policy-and-representation/kickstart-placement-vacancies.
