Plans backed to get young local job seekers into work in the East Riding

East Riding Council has backed government plans to get young local job seekers into work as its cabinet heard updates on a raft of measures to support employment through coronavirus.

East Riding Council’s cabinet heard government grants worth £93,462 would help job centres get 18 to 24 year olds into work through its ‘No Limits’ employment programme.

The scheme is set to target the 1,807 Universal Credit recipients currently seeking work in the East Riding by helping them with job applications, developing skills and improving motivation.

Cabinet members heard from the council’s Economic Regeneration lead Alan Menzies that 94 small to medium sized businesses had approached officials interested in creating apprenticeships.

Mr Menzies added government grants were being offered directly to businesses to take on apprentices under Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s A Plan for Jobs scheme unveiled in his Summer Economic Update.

Council leader Richard Burton said the measures would help tackle the economic crisis spawned by the pandemic.

Mr Menzies said the council had access to £1.2m from the Apprenticeship Levy fund to create posts internally and in local authority run schools.

The officer added the council was looking at transferring up to 25 per cent of surplus funding from the Levy to the Humber Coast and Vale Excellence Centre to support new health and social care roles.

The total includes £1.2m in government top up funding and helps to fund staff training as well as taking on new apprentices.

Councillors heard a total of 263 people were undertaking apprenticeships under the scheme at the end of September, with 52 posts created since April during the pandemic and lockdown.

Mr Menzies said:

“The apprenticeship scheme offers training up to levels four, five and six, or postgraduate level qualifications.

“Employers are now also eligible for grants for every apprentice they take on, with £2,000 available for under 25s and £1,500 for 25 year olds and over from August 1 to 31 January 2021.

“The council is responsible for maintaining the mopeds under the Kickstart scheme, while individuals are responsible for basic maintenance.

“That’s a model we’ve had across the county for 20 years, it’s been quite challenging at times but it helps young people access jobs.”

Cllr Victoria Aitkin, portfolio holder for economic development, said the council had a responsibility to support employment particularly during the coronavirus pandemic.

Cllr Aitkin said:

“All cabinet members will be aware and concerned about future employment prospects going forward, particularly with coronavirus.

“It’s incumbent on the council to engage with our workforce and to support young people and we need to make sure everyone interested in this has access to it.”

Cllr Burton said:

“Coronavirus is a public health crisis, but it is also an economic crisis.

“We need all the tools we can get to address that, and apprenticeships are a key element in getting people back to work.”