Geoffrey Cox MP welcomes Government ‘Youth Contract’

Geoffrey Cox MP has welcomed an announcement that the government will support 410,000 young people aged 18-24 into jobs in a £1 billion programme to be in place by next April.

The announcement will see up to 400,000 work and training placements will be created in England, Wales and Scotland by giving employers wage incentives equivalent to half of the youth national minimum wage. The government subsidised wages can equal £2,275 for employers of the first 160,000 young people employed for six months.

Geoffrey comments: “It is vital for Torridge and West Devon that we offer employment support to young people through paid work experience placements, and we hope that providing incentives to businesses will assist this. Whilst on placement, it will not be possible to claim JobSeekers Allowance, and it is hoped this will facilitate a move away from benefit dependency which had become so prevalent under the Labour government.”

“Young people may have opportunities to learn transferable skills, but have a chance also to be employed permanently after their eight week programme finishes. This will encourage an increase in skills to support our local businesses.”

“I have heard from constituents desperate to be in work and trying their utmost to find a job, and I hope many young people will take advantage of the scheme. I believe that businesses will take up the opportunity of employing a young worker and pass on their trade skills to these young people. I will do what I can to assist both in ensuring this scheme benefits Devon to the utmost.”