THE GTC WILL BE LOOKING TO DISSEMINATE ANY UPDATES ON THE INFORMATION BELOW AS WE RECEIVE THE DETAIL ON PLANS TO SUPPORT EMPLOYERS CONSIDERING RECRUITING OR GIVING WORK EXPERIENCE TO QUALIFYING LEARNERS:
£1 billion Government package to tackle youth unemployment:
Almost £1 billion will be spent over the next three years to provide unemployed young people with extra help as part of a new 'Youth Contract'.
New opportunities for young people
The Youth Contract will provide nearly half-a-million new opportunities for young people, including apprenticeships and work experience placements. It also marks a substantial increase in the support and help available to young people through the Work Programme, Jobcentre Plus and sector-based Work Academies.
The measures announced today, Tuesday 29 November include:
Payments to encourage employers to recruit young people
There will be 160,000 job subsidies available worth up to £2,275 each for businesses who take on an 18-24 year-old from the Work Programme. This will more than cover an employer's National Insurance contributions for a year.
Extra 250,000 work experience places
Every 18 to 24 year-old will be offered a work experience place before they enter the Work Programme. Figures show that the work experience scheme has been effective; half of under-25 year-olds have come off benefits within three months.
Apprentices
The government also announced 20,000 extra incentive payments worth £1,500 each. These aim to encourage employers to take on young people as apprentices, and would take the total number of payments available to 40,000 next year.
