£2.5 million Employment Grant Scheme launched

The Back to Work Employment Grant Scheme has been launched to encourage employers to take on people who have been unemployed for 12 months or more.

The £2.5 million scheme is being funded by the Back to Work programme and will provide financial assistance to employers who employ someone who has been actively seeking work for 12 months and is locally qualified for work under the Regulation of Undertakings Law having completed five years residence. Employers will be entitled to a maximum amount of £7,200 for each individual employed on a permanent contract of at least 18 months.

Social Security Minister Senator Francis Le Gresley has launched the scheme and said the intention was to encourage employers to take on local people and to help them provide the training and support needed.

“Unless positive action is taken now, the people who are unemployed today will find this highly competitive job market increasingly difficult and our aim has to be sustainable employment for all Islanders. The grant should give broader access to permanent employment to those who are furthest from it and offer businesses the support needed to train and retain these new employees.

“The Back to Work team would like to hear from any employer who is interested in the scheme and is happy to provide further details about the process for employers,” he said.

Senator Le Gresley said that the grant was the latest initiative for the Back to Work programme and would work alongside the training schemes and funding already put in place to help job-seekers and tackle unemployment. “The department will continue to provide the support needed by the long term unemployed to become ready for work,” he said.

Employers who take part in the scheme will source candidates through the Back to Work team. The grants will be available to businesses, States-owned utility companies, charities and non-profit organisations. The States of Jersey are excluded.

Employers should contact Back to Work on 447411 or backtowork@gov.je. Further details and guidelines are also available at www.gov.je/working/backtowork.

Tags: Back to Work Employment Grant Scheme, Back to Work programme, States of Jersey

Category: Community