Baltic Creative & Transform Lives Company celebrate Kickstart success

Following its partnership with Transform Lives Company (TLC), Baltic Creative Community Interest Company (CIC) has helped to generate 26 jobs for previously unemployed young people in the Liverpool City Region, through the government’s Kickstart Scheme.

Ten digital and creative businesses based in Baltic Creative spaces have engaged with the initiative, including illustrator and card manufacturer, Lucy Maggie Designs and design studio, Unit3.

Baltic Creative has also recently advertised two newly created positions through the programme, with the team currently recruiting for both a property assistant and a communications assistant to support the CIC’s growth.

Kickstart encourages businesses to create new roles in their business that could be fulfilled by previously unemployed 16 – 24-year olds. Government funding then covers 100% of the national minimum wage, or the national living wage, depending on the age of the participant, for 25 hours per week for a total of six months. It also covers associated employers’ National Insurance contributions, allowing companies to benefit from additional human resource and provide valuable work experience, at no financial cost, whilst also creating vital job opportunities for younger people.

Since launching the partnership in October 2020, Baltic Creative and TLC have held regular joint Kickstart briefing sessions, ensuring both parties were on hand to offer support and advice to employers that had signed up to the programme, as well as participants.

Mark Lawler, managing director of Baltic Creative, said:

“There’s a huge amount of opportunity in the digital and creative industry, it’s an exciting sector to be part of and we’re proud to have contributed to bringing 26 young people into it through job creation.

“TLC has been very hands on since the beginning of our partnership, delivering skills sessions and ensuring that both the businesses and the participants felt informed and supported. The employers that we have spoken to have been blown away by the calibre of talent applying for the roles, and it’s great to hear that the experience has been mutually beneficial to both them and the young people employed through the scheme. We hope that this is the start of some flourishing new careers.”

With Kickstart now extended by the Chancellor until March 2022; businesses only have until the end of December to log their interest.  TLC is urging as many businesses to join the programme as possible and provide job placements for 16 – 24-year olds currently on universal credit.

Tracy Fishwick OBE, managing director of Transform Lives Company, said:

“It’s great news that Kickstart will be extended, it’s the right support at a time when young people have been disproportionately affected by job losses in the economy.

“At no cost to the company, the idea is simple, if a company can provide the work experience, young people get the chance they need to prove themselves. We can all remember the first person who gave us a chance, that’s what Kickstart is all about. We’ve met fantastic companies and filled a wide range of job roles, seeing young people flourish as a result.

“Our team at TLC provide all the background support, prepare them to apply for future jobs, and help with any support needs that might crop up.  Let’s do as much as we can while the funding is around, for Liverpool’s young people!”

Young people who are interested in taking part in the scheme should keep in touch with their local Job Centre and follow Baltic Creative and TLC’s Twitter accounts for the latest updates.