What is Historic England doing?

Historic England is looking to become a Kickstart Gateway organisation for the heritage sector. They have already been talking to a number of partner organisations and are developing what a programme might look like. They anticipate using a model of working with both individual employers and strategic partners, such as membership organisations e.g. Heritage Alliance and professional bodies e.g. ICON and CIfA. They are currently developing an overall programme proposal, and comprehensively considering the implications, but are working to a timeframe that could have placements going “live” in early spring 2021.

If you are interested in being involved with what Historic England is doing around the Kickstart scheme, or just want to find out more, please contact Daniel Cook, Kickstart Placement Adviser Daniel.Cook@HistoricEngland.org.uk

What is the Kickstart scheme?

The Kickstart scheme provides funding from the Department for Work and Pensions to allow organisations to take on 6 month paid work placements specifically for 16-24 year old who are claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long term unemployment.
DWP provide a grant to cover the placement salary at National Minimum Wage for 25 hours per week, plus NI contributions and minimum automatic enrolment pension contributions.

The job placements must not:

  • replace existing or planned vacancies or cause existing employees to lose work or reduce their working hours
  • discriminate against an individual’s qualifications, age or work experience
  • require people to undertake extensive training before they begin the job placement.

As part of the scheme, organisations would need to provide the following:

  • support to look for long-term work, including career advice and setting goals
  • support with transferable skills, CV and interview preparations
  • support with basic work skills, such as attendance, timekeeping, teamwork, communications.

Why should I think about taking on a Kickstart placement?

Significant challenges are predicted to affect the heritage sector in future. Its aging and unrepresentative workforce means existing skills shortages and gaps risk being exacerbated. However, previous interventions have shown that work-based and vocational training in the heritage sector leads into employment.  Young people have been disproportionally impacted by the economic and social challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic (e.g. unemployment for young people 4 times higher than national average). Paid youth training opportunities, like Kickstart placements, in the post covid-19 environment will change the future of young people; providing them with a range of transferable skills needed for employment-readiness in the heritage sector and beyond and enhance the heritage sector’s growth at this critical time.