LEAP (Learn, Earn, Apply, Progress)
This project is supported by York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, using funding from the Department for Work and Pensions' Get Britain Working Economic Inactivity Trailblazer.
Employer Information
The York and North Yorkshire Wage Subsidy aims to provide employers with the opportunity to give someone who is economically inactive a part time employment opportunity for a minimum 3-month period. The employer supports the individual to get back into work, whilst the individual contributes their skills and knowledge to the business. The programme is fully funded so the employer can gain this extra resource at no cost to their business.
Employers who make a commitment to employ an eligible participant will receive a wage subsidy to cover the cost of employing them for 16 hours per week for a 3-month period, based on the national living wage rate of £12.71/hour. The subsidy also includes additional costs your business may incur as part of this commitment, further details will be available if you wish to find out more.
The Programme is a fantastic opportunity to add extra resource to your business, whilst also supporting someone to develop their skills in your business.
Employers who have work premises based in York and North Yorkshire are eligible, even if their Head Office/Headquarters are based outside of the area. Small and large employers are eligible, providing they meet the commitments outlined below.
Employer commitments
Employers need to provide an employment opportunity of at least 16 hours per week for a minimum 3-month period. If employers want to provide more than 16 hpw they can do so but must fund the hours more than 16 themselves. The individual matched would also have to confirm they were happy to work more than 16 hpw at the outset.
You are not expected to guarantee employment at the end of the 3-month contract, however if it has gone well and both the employer and the participant wish to continue, we can provide your business with a financial incentive to continue the employment for a further period.
Yes, you will be employ the participant on a 3 month fixed term contract.
Participants joining the programme will have different levels of experience and knowledge. Some participants may have specific sector knowledge from study or previous employment. However, most participants will not have worked recently so it is likely that entry level roles will be most suitable for the programme. Roles that require higher level qualifications, or specific sector experience are unlikely to be suitable for this programme but please contact us to discuss, we do have some specifically skilled and qualified participants.
If an individual is interested in the job you are able to offer, we will contact you to arrange a time for them to come to meet you at your workplace. They may be accompanied by a Support Worker, this may be as a reasonable adjustment due to a disability or it could be to aid their confidence and provide reassurance. We will call this a Meet & Greet Meeting. It is essentially an informal interview where you can ask them some questions about their skills, interests and attitudes/values to satisfy yourselves that their interest and skills match your job, they may ask you questions too. After the Meet & Greet, we will contact you and the participant to see if you both want to continue. If both parties want to continue, you will need to complete an Employer sign up form and you will commence the clearance process with the individual, as you would for any new employee.
Expression of interest form
If your business is interested, or you would like to find out more before committing to be involved, please complete the form below and a member of our team will contact you;
Once we have received your expression of interest form a member of our team will make contact with you and arrange a time for a discussion and to assess your organisations eligibility for the programme. Your organisation will receive written confirmation from us if you are eligible for the programme, and there will be some mandatory paperwork which your organisation must be completed and returned before any candidates are started on the programme. Candidates that are started prior to completion and return of paperwork by the employer will not be eligible.
This project is supported by York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, using funding from the Department for Work and Pensions' Get Britain Working Economic Inactivity Trailblazer.