South Tyneside Homes hopes £85,000 funding boost will create 10 new apprenticeship posts

They say the national Kickstart Scheme, which provides funding to employers to create job placements for 16 to 24 year-olds on Universal Credit, is right up their street.

Leaders at South Tyneside Homes, which manages estates and housing stock on behalf of the borough council, hope to secure £85,000 under the scheme.

Paid by the Education and Skills Funding Agency, the money will target support at youngsters at risk of long-term unemployment.

Gary Kirsop, Director of Asset and Property Services at South Tyneside Homes, said the financial boost could see the recruitment of 10 apprentices in the year ahead.

Mr Kirsop added: “In total we could receive up to £85,000 through government incentives.

“The Kickstart funding will allow us to expand our trainees into new fields, whilst supporting employment opportunities in South Tyneside.

“The additional apprenticeship funding will help support our apprenticeship offer.

“We have offered work experience in the past and T Levels are something we were discussing with local colleges prior to the pandemic.

“This is something we will also look to develop once restrictions in the workplace are relaxed.”

South Tyneside Homes was alerted to Kickstart by fellow members of the North East Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (NE AAN).

NE ANN is made up of two networks - the employer apprenticeship ambassador network and the young apprentice ambassador network.

Mr Kirsop said that, as a social landlord, South Tyneside Homes, which employs 632 people, wanted to promote sustainable employment within the borough.

The Kickstart programme aims to get youngsters into the workplace and provide training to develop transferable skills that will allow them to increase their chances of sustained employment

Trainees are paid a wage and the incentive payment will help the business to expand its scheme.

At the same time, Kickstart will support training longevity and create further employment opportunities.

If successful, South Tyneside Homes will also use the cash to pay for additional personal protective equipment and further apprentice training opportunities.

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