The Skills & Enterprise Partnership are offering wage subsidies to small enterprises.  The Wage Subsidy scheme is designed to help unemployed individuals who are having difficulty finding full or part-time work due to a lack of skills or work experience. The subsidy will contribute towards an individual’s wage and training costs for a period of 26 weeks and will assist those individuals in receipt of a working age benefit. Enterprises have the opportunity to apply for a full or part time subsidy depending on their needs. 

The offer

• A  £1,500 or £3000 contribution towards an individual’s wage and training costs over a 26 week period

• Employment opportunity based on the following: 

1. Employers offering a minimum of 16 hours per week and no more than 30 hours will be eligible for a £ 1,500 subsidy

2. Employers offering a minimum of 30 hours per week or more will be eligible for a £3,000 subsidy 

• Candidates will be offered a menu of activities to support their personal development, e.g. access to short course certificates, employability skills training, adult career interventions, budgeting skills, basic skills, etc.

• As part of the employment opportunity, workplace support and mentoring support will be provided through the Partnership

Eligible employers must:

• be owned, managed and based within West Cumbria

• be a registered enterprise with a legal enterprise name and number and have been in business for at least a year 

• be a small enterprise and employ 49 employees or less

• have a position to fill that is part of your ongoing enterprise operations 

• be able to offer a minimum of 16 hours per week

• agree to pay at least the national minimum wage rate for the age of the candidate for the full duration of the opportunity

• agree to consider some form of accredited or recognised training that is relevant to the type of work being carried out.

This offer runs until Sept 2025 – to find out more contact Chris Cunliffe 07385 363798 or email chris.cunliffe@cumberland.gov.uk