The Government issues a grant to get young people into work

As of the recent reporting period, February to April 2026, the UK youth unemployment rate is at 16.2 per cent, which is approximately 735,000 people.

While this may not be the highest youth unemployment rate in history, it is the highest rate in a decade.

In light of these statistics, the Government has created a grant designed to get young people into work, following a fall in vacancies that has led to one of the highest levels of youth unemployment.

This grant has been created because the Government fears that setbacks at the beginning of young people’s careers will have lasting negative consequences.

They want to provide young people with the opportunity to gain meaningful paid work opportunities that will give them skills and experience to improve their chances of sustained employment moving forward.

What is the grant?

The Youth Jobs Grant Scheme launched on 30 June 2026 across the whole of Great Britain and is designed to support employers in recruiting and training young people.

It is expected that the scheme will support up to 60,000 job opportunities over the three years it is open.

Employers up and down Great Britain can apply for the scheme, from small businesses up to global conglomerates, in any sector.

Employers who recruit an eligible applicant will receive a £3,000 grant per qualifying job outcome, staged across four months, with £1,800 paid after six weeks and £1,200 after 18 weeks.

This can only be paid if the earnings of the applicants are verified through HMRC and Customs Real Time Information.

Who is eligible for the grant?

This scheme is designed to support young people aged between 18 and 24 who have been out of work and in receipt of Universal Credit for at least six months.

However, companies are only eligible for the Youth Jobs Grant if they are: