New Support for Employers: Jobs Guarantee and Youth Jobs Grant

Training Providers and Employers are increasingly asking for clarity on two major government initiatives aimed at supporting young people into work: the Jobs Guarantee and the Youth Jobs Grant. Both schemes form part of a wider package designed to help employers build their future workforce while opening up meaningful opportunities for 16–24‑year‑olds.

Jobs Guarantee – launching Spring 2026

The Jobs Guarantee will offer eligible young people a six‑month paid job of up to 25 hours per week. Initially available to 18–21‑year‑olds who have been on Universal Credit for 18 months, the scheme will expand later in 2026 to include 18–24‑year‑olds.

For employers, the offer is straightforward:

• Reimbursement for 25 hours per week at the age‑relevant National Minimum or Living Wage
• National Insurance and minimum pension contributions covered for six months
• Local delivery partners providing wraparound support to help young people succeed in the workplace

The first phase will begin in Spring 2026 across areas with the highest need, including Birmingham and Solihull, the East Midlands, Greater Manchester, Hertfordshire and Essex, Central and East Scotland, and Southwest and Southeast Wales. A full national rollout is expected from Autumn 2026.
DWP will publish a list of delivery partners for each area once contracts are awarded, enabling employers to connect directly with intermediaries to offer placements.

Youth Jobs Grant – available from June 2026

From June 2026, employers will be able to access a £3,000 grant for every eligible young person aged 18–24 they hire who has been on Universal Credit and looking for work for at least six months.

The grant is designed to:

• Reduce recruitment costs
• Encourage employers to bring young people into sustained roles
• Support businesses to grow a motivated early‑career workforce

Employers can now pre‑register their interest via the government’s online enquiry form, selecting Youth Jobs Grant as the area of interest.

Additional Government Support for Workforce Development

The government’s wider “Build Your Future Workforce” offer also includes:

• Apprenticeships – with financial incentives for SMEs, fully funded training for eligible 16–24‑year‑olds from August 2026, and NI relief for under‑21s and apprentices under 25
• Work Experience and Work Trials – short, low‑risk opportunities to assess candidates and support young people with limited work history
• Sector‑based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) – up to six weeks of tailored pre‑employment training, a work placement, and a guaranteed interview, fully funded by government

These programmes give employers access to motivated young people while shaping training around real workforce needs.

Find out more

Employers can explore the full range of support and register interest in the Youth Jobs Grant here:
business.gov.uk/campaign/recruit-with-jobcentreplus/build-your-future-workforce