Industry jobs for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit
Kickstart, the Government scheme helping 16 to 24 year olds on universal credit into work, was a natural fit for us. It provided a great opportunity to further reach young people seeking employment and offer them the chance to experience working in a sector that they may not ordinarily be able to access.
Our members embraced this opportunity and also self-funded it, making ours one of only a few gateways which didn’t access taxpayers’ money. It has been a great success with 95% of the participants having completed the scheme and with more than 74% of them remaining in employment or with a job offer pending.
Building on the success we had supporting the Kickstart scheme, the team continues to work closely with the Department for Work and Pensions, spending time each month in specific job centres and supporting individual job seekers to make applications to our trainee programme. This not only helps to show how accessible the industry is to talent from a range of backgrounds but ultimately enables the sector to access a diverse pool of potential applicants.
Stacey Curzon, Kickstart Operations Engagement Team, DWP
“The level of support and commitment we have received from Investment20/20 and the investment management industry has been incredible. Participating investment managers self-funded the scheme, without using public money and it’s been a real joy to match young people to roles in firms that they would never have imagined entering. To see so many of them secure permanent roles has been heart-warming, giving them an amazing head start to build a career that can literally change their lives for the better.”
Ross Nicholas, Junior Analyst, Invesco
“Having done my Bachelors and Masters, I was surprised that finding a job was such a struggle but it was during the pandemic when a lot of young people were finding it hard. I was on Universal Credit and needed to find work to fully support myself. It was a depressing time. But being on Universal Credit was what got me into the Kickstart scheme and I was told about Investment20/20 and roles in the investment management industry. I was sceptical because I’ve seen similar careers stuff at university but when I saw others like me from different ethnicities and how invested Investment20/20 was in the whole process, I thought it could work. It was a detailed recruitment process but I got hired by Invesco as a Junior Analyst.
I’m amazed at the level of responsibility and learning I have been able to achieve in my short time – it’s been a great experience working with the portfolio managers and I can’t believe I have a permanent job. I can really see opportunities to grow.”
Ross Nicholas is a Junior Analyst at Invesco. Having completed his six-month Kickstart placement through Investment20/20, he has accepted a permanent role at the firm.
Courtney Riddock is a HR Trainee at Brooks Macdonald. Her six-month Kickstart placement through Investment20/20 has been extended which will give her a full year of work experience.
Courtney Riddock, HR Trainee, Brooks Macdonald
“Having left sixth form at 18 with a BTEC in Business, my job search started during the pandemic. I really struggled to find anything but the Kickstart scheme for young people on Universal Credit helped me to come across Investment20/20 who were advertising roles in investment management through the job centre. For the last six months, I have been working as a Trainee in HR at Brooks Macdonald and really enjoying my experience. I feel much more confident as a person and I’m learning so many amazing skills. The network of colleagues I have built so quickly through Investment20/20 has been a great support too. I’m from Thamesmead and always wanted to work in an office in the City. I’m really excited that I am here, making my own way.”
