Press Release
Kickstarter scheme helps Ingatestone farm
Date: 7 September 2021
600 new jobs created for unemployed young people in Essex
Essex County Council is enabling over 500 jobs to be brought to market with small and medium sized businesses in Essex, as well as aiming to employ over 100 in-house.
Essex County Council acts as a Gateway offering information and support to employers and young people throughout their placements and beyond to give them the best chance to secure employment long term.
Since March 2021, 170 young people have already started work with local businesses, public sector and voluntary sector organisations through Essex County Council’s Kickstart scheme, unlocking up to £1.3 million of funding from central government, which will boost the local economy, local businesses and benefit young people in Essex. For more information visit: Kickstart scheme - Essex County Council
The Government’s Kickstart Scheme, run by the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP), provides funding to help young people gain valuable work experience. These funds cover 25 hours of wages and other contributions for 26 weeks as well as supporting participants in the workplace. The scheme ends in December, and the last start dates for candidates is 31st December 2021.
How to apply:Young people aged 16-24 years who are unemployed and in receipt of Universal Credit should ask their DWP Work Coach about Kickstart placements available locally or visit: Kickstart Scheme - Job Help (campaign.gov.uk)
Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Skills and Training said: “Kickstart Essex is a fantastic scheme offering young people the valuable opportunity to gain work experience and providing young talent for businesses from a wide range of sectors. If you’d like to learn more about the scheme get in touch.”
Case Studies
Ricky Dann at T Watts Farm (Ingatestone)
Ricky Dann has been working as a herdsman since June at T Watts Farm in Ingatestone. Ricky had a long-held desire to work on a farm and with livestock. In his role he helps to look after the livestock, helps maintain farm building and machinery and will soon be learning about operating the new milking parlour. Ricky said: “I was unemployed for a year before I came to work at the farm and now, I couldn’t be happier. I am well supported by the Manager and love being outside and the variety of work. I am keen to gain my licence and drive a tractor so that I can do more. Manager Paul Riorden said: “Ricky has settled in well, has picked up the job quickly and uses his initiative well. He takes pride in what he does and so far Ricky has learnt the basics of herding cattle into a cattle handling crush for inspection and to administer medication as needed. He also follows the morning checklist for animal inspection paying careful attention to animal welfare and security. He’s always on time and shows a keen interest in the job at hand. I feel within the next few weeks we will start to give Ricky a little bit more responsibility on his own.”