Kent Businesses Encouraged To Unlock Up To £6,000 In Youth Employment Incentives
EKC Group is inviting businesses across Kent to discover how they can access significant Government funding and incentives for employing young people through a series of free employer webinars.
The webinars will provide a clear overview of the Government’s Youth Guarantee initiative, which is designed to help young people access apprenticeships, training and employment opportunities while supporting employers to grow their workforce.
Businesses attending the sessions will learn about a range of financial incentives available for recruiting and developing young people aged 16 to 24, including grants, apprenticeship support and National Insurance savings.
The free webinars will take place on:
- Wednesday 12th August 2026, 3.00pm – 3.30pm
- Friday 18th September 2026, 11.00am – 12.00pm
Employers who join the sessions will gain insight into:
Apprenticeship Support Available
- £1,000 employer payment for hiring apprentices aged 16–18, or 19–24-year-olds with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or care experience.
- Employer National Insurance savings for apprentices under 25 earning below £50,270 per year.
- £2,000 apprenticeship hiring payment for smaller, non-levy paying businesses hiring a new apprentice aged 16–24 from October 2026.
- 100% funding towards apprenticeship training costs for eligible SMEs.
New Youth Guarantee Support
- £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant available for each 18–24-year-old recruited who has been claiming Universal Credit and seeking work for six months or more.
Potential Combined Incentives
By combining available schemes, employers could benefit from:
- Up to £6,000 for SMEs hiring a 16–18-year-old.
- Up to £5,000 for SMEs hiring someone aged 19 or over.
- Up to £4,000 for levy-paying employers hiring a young person through the Youth Guarantee.
These incentives can be accessed alongside fully funded apprenticeship training, helping employers reduce recruitment costs while investing in the workforce of the future.
A spokesperson for EKC Group said:
“Many businesses are unaware of the financial support currently available for employing young people. These short webinars are designed to simplify the information, explain the funding opportunities and help employers understand how they can benefit while providing valuable career opportunities for young people across Kent.”
Businesses interested in learning more can register for one of the upcoming webinars via the Youth Guarantee webpage:
Register for a webinar
For further information, visit the Youth Guarantee – EKC Group website: www.ekcgroup.ac.uk/collaborate-with-us/youth-guarantee/
