With youth unemloyment in danger of reaching 40% in some areas the government is trying to encourage firms to employ more yougsters by offering to help pay their wages and NI contributions. 

If you are thinking of employing someone between the ages of 16 and 24 currently on Universal Credit, the government is offering to help meet the cost for six months while you decide if they are the right person for you. 

The aid comes from a new Kickstart Scheme, which is now accepting applications from companies that want to take part. The first placings are expected in November.

A £2billion fund has been created to give employers 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum auto-enrolment pension contributions.

The aim is to create high quality work placements to move hundreds of thousands of those aged 16 to 24 who are at risk of becoming long-term unemployed off Universal Credit and into the workplace.

• If you are an employer looking to create job placements for young people, click here to see if you can apply for funding as part of the Kickstart Scheme.
• If you are considering becoming a representative for a group of employers, click here to check what information you need to provide to apply for a grant through the Kickstart Scheme.
• Click here to find more guidance and promotional materials.