Employers could potentially net up to £2,500 if they recruit and train individuals who have been claiming jobseekers allowance for six months or more, under a new programme devised by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which runs Jobcentre Plus.
Under the scheme, employers can benefit from a £1,000 recruitment subsidy as well as a £1,500 cash boost to help train new staff members.
One company that has already recruited through the scheme is Scottish firm Kidd’s Distribution, which received £500 on recruiting an individual, and will receive a further £500 three months after the employee’s start date.
Employers have to offer new recruits at least 16 hours of work per week and must have a minimum of a six months of work available.
Nestor Healthcare Group, Royal Mail, Poundland and Dunelm Mill are four of the 142 companies that have confirmed they are considering taking part in the scheme.
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Sonia Sharples, head of HR at Poundland, said the incentive would drive recruitment at the company.
“The recruitment subsidy will enable us to encourage all of our store managers to offer more people jobs. We will continue to recruit into our new stores, for which we have at least 30 planned for this financial year – creating approximately 1,200 new jobs.”
