Kickstart scheme six months on Published:
19 Apr 2021 We are now six months into the government’s Kickstart Scheme, so what has been the impact so far? And what is its future promise?
This month will see us take our first significant step on the long journey out of lockdown, with non-essential retail and outdoor hospitality set to reopen – and our collective excitement is palpable.
Restaurants and bars have reportedly had double the number of reservations they had upon reopening in July last year. Such enthusiasm will be good news for a sector which, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), currently has the highest redundancy rate in the economy.
BBC News
By Katy Austin
media captionRishi Sunak: We’re throwing absolutely everything at it
Fewer than 2,000 young people have so far started new roles under the government s £2bn Kickstart jobs scheme, data shows.
The programme, which launched in September, has created 120,000 temporary jobs to date.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak told the BBC coronavirus restrictions were making it harder for more young people to get started.
However, he expected the number to rise once restrictions are lifted. Obviously because of the lockdowns and restrictions, that hampers businesses ability to bring people into work, said Mr Sunak, What we can look forward to, as the restrictions ease, is more of these young people starting those placements.
A small business s guide to Peer Networks
The importance of peer group networks and access to mentors for business leaders has grown and developed in recent years, and in 2021 these groups will be invaluable as part of local support.
Last Updated: 21 Jan 2021
At times of uncertainty, especially during a national lockdown – and the ongoing pandemic, SME business owners should not feel isolated, they are not on their own.
By working with like-minded people who know business best, they can ensure they are getting the right support and advice to prepare them for future growth opportunities and to ‘build back better.’
How peer support is helping me and my business 21 Jan 2021
Four business owners explain how the Peer Networks scheme helped to solve their problems and why it s great for entrepreneurs
There has never been a more important time to invest in the future of your business by working with people who know business best. Other business leaders.
Peer Networks is bringing together business leaders to work collaboratively to find solutions to common problems and develop opportunities.
Whether an SME business is facing challenges around product development, HR, tech, finance or navigating through the third national lockdown or the UK’s exit from the EU, peer support can give business owners the opportunity to share these issues in a collaborative environment often leading to high-impactful tangible solutions that reflect on valuable feedback from their peers.
TWO Online Business Survival Clinics are being offered free by a group of Bolton and Bury business people keen to help companies survive lockdown and move on. The Collaboration Board was started two years ago by Bolton business coach Paul Heath of Ethical Business Mentoring. Now it meets monthly for mutual support for members across the neighbouring boroughs. It consists of a small group of businessmen and women from accounting, HR, finance, business strategy, business insurance, GDPR, wellbeing and media. The group has already run free webinars and on Friday, January 15 and Thursday, January 21 from 9am to 10am it will hold free Business Survival Clinics aimed at companies encountering problems caused by lockdown.