How can the government ensure the effectiveness of the Kickstart scheme? Learning from evidence

Kickstart is a £2 billion scheme to provide young people at risk of long-term unemployment with Government-subsidised six-month workplace training placements. In order to be effective, the Kickstart scheme will move young people into sustainable, unsubsidised employment in newly created jobs. 

This policy memo examines the evidence on youth unemployment schemes, and in particular the forerunner Future Jobs Fund, to highlight three factors which can materially improve the likelihood of new, sustainable job placements being created: effective local partnerships, substantial private sector involvement and targeting of support. 

We provide seven recommendations which show how Kickstart can be implemented in a way that will enhance these three factors, while at the same time supporting related agendas around devolution, responsible business, and levelling up.