Youth Jobs Grant
Department for Work and Pensions
Award
£3,000 – £25m
Total fund Up to £60m
Deadline
Closes 1 November 2028
Where
England, Wales, Scotland
North East, North West, South East, South West
Summary
The Youth Jobs Grant is part of the Youth Guarantee and provides financial support to employers to encourage the recruitment of young people who may otherwise find it difficult to enter the labour market. It is intended to complement, not replace, existing recruitment activity. Eligible employers may receive up to £3,000 per job outcome, paid in stages and subject to meeting all scheme conditions.
Who can apply
The grant applies to jobs where an employer recruits to a job registered with the scheme, a young person aged 18 to 24 who has been in receipt of Universal Credit and out of work for at least 6 months. The job must meet the scheme requirements, and all relevant checks must be completed before any payment is made. To take part in the Youth Jobs Grant, employers must meet the following eligibility criteria: operating in Great Britain registered with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) actively trading, with a minimum trading history of six months meet due diligence checks Employers are expected to provide accurate and complete information as part of their application. They must meet the eligibility and suitability criteria for the scheme, confirm when a young person starts employment, and comply with the scheme terms and conditions at all times. Applications are assessed by a central team within the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) before participation in the scheme is confirmed.
Full details
The Youth Jobs Grant Scheme launched on 30 June 2026 across Great Britain (GB). The scheme is designed to support employers recruit and train young people, addressing the high levels of youth unemployment and inactivity we see in the current labour market. The scheme aims to support up to 60,000 job opportunities over three years, approximately 20,000 per year, and is expected to be open to employers of all sizes and sectors and eligible claimants. The Youth Jobs Grant will operate for three years until it closes to new participants in October 2028. Employers across GB who recruit an eligible young person (18-24, on Universal Credit, unemployed for 6 months) will receive a £3,000 grant per qualifying job outcome. This grant will be staged across 4 months, with £1,800 paid from 6 weeks and £1,200 after 18 weeks, after earnings are verified through HM Revenue and Customs Real Time Information (RTI).