Industry Kickstart Programme Launched

The British Racing School has developed a support programme for horse racing businesses and charities interested in employing an individual under the government-funded Kickstart scheme.

Kickstart provides funding to create new jobs for 16- to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long-term unemployment which covers 100% of the National Minimum Wage for 25 hours per week for six months plus £1,500 per employee for setup costs. The BRS has launched a coordinated approach supported by the Racing Foundation and the Resume Foundation to help employers in racing make use of the programme, and thus hopefully attract new staff to the industry across a variety of roles. A guide for potential employers can be found here.

Zoe Elliott, head of careers marketing and recruitment at the British Horseracing Authority, said, “This cross industry approach to the DWP Kickstart Scheme will support racing employers while introducing new staff to the industry. There is a strong and supportive relationship in place with the Department for Work and Pensions and we are excited to see what Kickstart opportunities can be generated by racing to put in front of young people.”

Rob Hezel, chief executive officer of The Racing Foundation, said, “By coordinating racing's approach to the Government's Kickstart Scheme, the Racing Foundation is delivering on its purpose to be a catalyst for improvement in the industry. Our aim is to support individual Kickstarters to gain work in our brilliant industry while offering employers additional resources. This comes at a time when racing, along with the rest of the country, opens up and becomes busier than ever after the uncertainty of the last 18 months. Streamlining the process to get a Kickstarter into their workforce will hopefully incentivise racing employers across the country to take advantage of this great opportunity.”