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I recently attended the Kirklees Business Summit at the Galpharm Stadium to eat sausage sandwiches, talk with some friends and find out more about what Kirklees Council are going to do to help local businesses. The event was part of an initiative by Kirklees Council to improve communications with local businesses and it was really well attended – perhaps you were also there and par-taking of the breakfast offerings?

If not, then no doubt more information will be available on the Council’s website (www.kirklees.gov.uk). However, there were a couple of funds available for employment and skills that made my ears prick up on behalf of my employer clients! These funds appear to have a dual purpose of encouraging local businesses to grow through employment and of enabling youth employment – both worthy causes in my book.

The first fund is for apprentices. This is a national fund and provides employers with a grant of £1,500 to take on an apprentice aged between 16 and 24. Now, as you might expect, there are some rules – for example, the employer should have less than 1,000 employees and should not have recruited an apprentice in the last 12 months. But if you are able to take advantage of the grant it will come with contribution towards the apprentice’s training costs as well as advice and support from Kirklees Apprentice Hub who will even help advertise your apprentice vacancy and shortlist applicants for you!

If you would like to find out more, you should contact Kirklees Apprentice Hub on 01484 437075 or at apphub@kirklees.gov.uk

The second fund is the Kirklees Jobs Fund, which has been set up by Kirklees Council. The fund is available for new job vacancies created in your business before 1 October 2013 – the aim is to promote business growth and so the fund isn’t available for filling existing vacancies or replacing a staff member.

If you would be interested in taking part in the programme by creating job opportunities then you should contact Kirklees Jobs Fund Team Kirklees.JobsFund@kirklees.gov.uk for an initial discussion. Employers will need to submit an Application Form, which will be assessed before the jobs can be created.

The Kirklees Jobs Fund Team will assist you in filling the vacancy - this must be done through the Job Centre and the vacancy must be filled by someone aged between 18 and 24 who has been unemployed for up to 6 months. If the vacancy and the person appointed to fill the vacancy meet the above requirements then the fund will assist you with paying the new employee’s wages at National Minimum Wage rates for between 16 and 30 hours per week for up to 26 weeks.

I hope that this information is of help to you. Please note that it was gleaned from an introductory workshop from representatives of Kirklees Council and so there may be additional terms and conditions that determine eligibility to access the funds!

Best wishes
Kate
Posted Thursday 25th of July 2013