Companies create 140 Kickstart vacancies for 16-24-year-olds ST HELENS Chamber has been approved as a Kickstart Scheme Gateway organisation to help businesses create new opportunities for people aged 16-24 through this new Government scheme. As a Gateway organisation, St Helens Chamber will now be able to apply for the Kickstart Scheme funding on behalf of local businesses – and can also manage everything from finding candidates to dealing with payments. The Kickstart scheme gives businesses the opportunity to recruit unemployed young people aged 16-24 who are registered with their local job centre. The Government will pay National Minimum Wage for 25 hours per week for every young person a business hires; with funding lasting for 6 months. Additionally, employers will receive a £1,500 grant to support with recruitment and training costs.