The Kickstart Scheme is an initiative that provides six-month paid job placements with a local employer, entirely funded by the government, and the first round of jobs has just gone live.

It was launched in response to the global pandemic by Chancellor Rishi Sunak to provide job opportunities to hundreds of thousands of young people who are currently unemployed.

Who can apply?
The scheme is only open to 16 to 24-year-olds who are claiming Universal Credit, and are at risk of long-term unemployment. The scheme is accessible across England, Scotland and Wales, and across all sectors – whether creative or not.

When’s the deadline?
For ‘Phase One’ roles, you’ll need to apply by 24th March 2021. These jobs will start from mid-April to early May 2021. For ‘Phase Two’ roles, you’ll need to apply by 4th September 2021. These jobs will start in October 2021.

How much will I be paid?
If you secure a six-month work placement via the Kickstart Scheme you’ll either be paid 100% of the National Minimum Wage, or the National Living Wage depending on your age. This will be for 25 hours per week for a total of six months. Remember, as part of the Chancellor’s budget, the National Minimum Wage will go up to £8.91 from April 2021.

Your Jobcentre Plus Work Coach
When claiming Universal Credit, you are entitled to a Work Coach from Jobcentre Plus who’s there to guide you on your job hunt. You can speak to them about which vacancies are currently live via the Kickstart Scheme. If you don’t currently have a Work Coach, contact your local Jobcentre Plus office to enquire. You can find the address or email address of the nearest one to you by typing in your postcode here.

If you already have a Work Coach, it’s likely that they’ll have already contacted you about the roles they feel you’re best suited to. Once you’ve decided on which roles you’re interested in, your Work Coach will fill you in on the next steps, and send you to an online form to complete.

Attend an information application support session
You can also take part in sessions to learn more about the Kickstart Scheme, connect with the organisations that are hiring, and find out how you can put yourself forward. For example, Create Jobs is holding session a session on 19th March. Have a look and book here!

The Kickstart Scheme doesn’t just cover roles in the creative industry – it’s available to all sectors and is expected to host a diverse range of roles from various businesses across England, Scotland, and Wales.

Where are roles being posted?
While there isn’t one designated place to search for roles, you can start by browsing roles online which you can later discuss with your Work Coach. You can also find region-specific roles by searching ‘Kickstart Scheme’ on social media platforms like LinkedIn and specifying your location.

For regular updates, it’s also worth keeping your eye on the Kickstart section of the Gov.uk website, following the Department for Work and Pensions Press Office Twitter page, as well as organisations like Create Jobs and Creative Access.

The following are a sample of some London-based roles, as collated by Create Jobs, including an opportunity to work with us here at Creative Lives!

• Activate the City!, Design Assistant
• Artillery CIC, Festival Assistant
• Animade, Production Coordinator
• A New Direction, Communication Assistant
• A New Direction, Programmes Assistant
• Becave Ltd, Business Developer
• Becave Ltd, Junior Web Developer
• Becave Ltd, Junior Graphic Designer
• Becave Ltd, Customer Service Representative
• Becave Ltd, Assistant
• brillea (Growth Hacking Ltd), Marketing Assistant
• Create, Development Administrator
• JARIRAM, Admin and Sales Support
• Harbour Collective, Marketing, Advertising and Communications Intern
• Magnum Photos, Education Trainee
• Mi Media, Media Apprentice
• Migration Museum Project, Creative Producer
• Nicholas Daley Ltd, Creative Studio Assistant
• Nula Carbon, Social and Digital Media Intern
• Outset Studio, Studio Assistant
• Siobhan Davies Studios, CONTINUOUS Network, Production Assistant
• Smartify, Social Media and Content Officer
• Sound Connections, Programme Trainee
• Social Spider CIC, Advertising Sales Assistant
• Anyways Creative, Creative Placement X1
• Anyways Creative, Project Executive
• Creative Lives in Progress, Editorial Assistant
• It’s Nice That, Editorial Assistant
• White Weft, Design Studio Assistant
• Wieden + Kennedy, Account Handling Intern
• Wieden + Kennedy, TV Production Intern
• Wood Street Walls CIC, Tour Guide & Cultural Ambassador X2
• YOUTH CLUB Archive, Museum of Youth Culture, Digital Assistant
• Denier Studio, Assistant Designer and Studio Assistant
• Just So, Junior Designer
• Just So, Social Media Coordinator

• Acamar Films Ltd, Production Intern
• Activate the City!, Creative Assistant
• ATC Live, Administrative Assistant
• Driift Live, Administrative Assistant
• Becave Ltd, Junior Account Manager
• Bow Arts, Job Title TBC
• British Youth Music Theatre, Production Assistant
• BJSS Ltd, Flipside Trainee
• Creoate Limited, Account Executive
• Creoate Limited, Marketing Executive
• Denier Studio, Assistant Designer and Studio Assistant
• Hato Press Ltd, Publishing and Buying Assistant
• Hato Press Ltd, Printing Assistant
• Hato Press Ltd, Design Assistant
• Just So, Social Media Coordinator
• Lover Management Ltd, Digital Assistant x5
• Ministry of Stories, Operations Marketing Assistant
• MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology), Bloomberg Archive Project Assistant
• MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology), Finance Assistant
• Neil Laidlaw Productions Ltd, Production Work Placement
• Pyramid Theatre Company Ltd, Backstage Work Placement X3
• Neil Laidlaw Productions Ltd, Production Work Placement
• Worldwide FM, Job Title TBC