A new government-funded Youth Jobs Grant has launched across Great Britain, offering employers £3,000 to help cover the costs of recruiting and training young people who are struggling to access the labour market.
Introduced on 30 June 2026 as part of the government’s Youth Guarantee, the scheme aims to help businesses tap into a pool of motivated young talent while tackling youth unemployment and economic inactivity.
Who can employers recruit?
Employers receive a £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant when they recruit an eligible young person to a job registered with the scheme, if they are:
- aged 18 to 24
- claiming Universal Credit and unemployed for at least six months
- recruited into a role of at least 25 hours per week at National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage for at least four months
Supporting business growth and young people
The grant is designed to help employers offset recruitment, onboarding and training costs, making it easier to create meaningful job opportunities for young people who need a foothold in the workplace.
The programme is expected to support around 60,000 job opportunities over the next three years and is currently expected to remain open to new participants until October 2028, subject to funding availability.
For wider recruitment support visit Recruit the right people with Jobcentre Plus and complete the online enquiry form or call Employer Services on 0800 169 0178 and a local Recruitment Consultant will call you back to discuss how they can support you.
Alternatively, if you are ready to apply you can view the grant application form at Youth Jobs Grant – GOV-UK Find a grant and full terms and conditions are available at Youth Jobs Grant – GOV.UK
