A GROUP of businesses in Okehampton are getting together to apply to the Government’s Kickstart Scheme for funding to offer jobs to young people who are at risk of long-term unemployment as a result of the current crisis.

Rebecca Green, who runs the Allotment Club café in St James Street, sounded out other businesspeople in the town on the idea at a socially distanced meeting in The London Inn on Monday evening (September 7).

The businesses, who are meeting as ‘Okehampton Area Business Owners’ on Facebook, will be holding further meetings later in the month to take the idea further.

The Government is offering grants to businesses to employ 16 to 24-year-olds for at least six months for a minimum of 25 hours a week, paying at least the National Minimum Wage for their age group. The aim is to provide job opportunities at a time when the continuing coronavirus pandemic is affecting young people’s chances.

Rebecca said: ‘This is a chance to work together and create opportunities for the youngsters in the area. All those interested are welcome.To create a viable group we need to offer a minimum of 30 jobs.’

The Government scheme stipulates that all the jobs created should be new rather than vacancies that already exist in a company and should not lead to existing employees losing their jobs.

Meanwhile, Okehampton’s MP Mel Stride has joined forces with training company Moor Training in Okehampton to urge employers of all sizes to apply for generous cash incentives to help them take on new apprentices and get more people into work. Employers are being offered £2,000 for each new apprentice they hire under 25 and £1,500 for each newly recruited apprentice aged 25 and over.

This includes taking on an apprentice who has been made redundant. The funding is on top of the existing £1,000 payment for new 16 to 18-year-old apprentices, and those aged under 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan.

Mr Stride said: ‘Apprenticeships are an excellent way of gaining the qualifications and developing the skills needed to embark on a successful career while earning. We have excellent apprenticeship training centres in Central Devon and I would urge local businesses to consider whether they would benefit from taking on an apprentice, especially now with extra financial incentives available.

‘For more information visit www.apprenticeships.gov.uk.’