The Government’s Kickstart Scheme, offering 16 to 24 year old’s fully-funded work placements, has continued to from strength to strength since it was introduced to the golf industry by Promote Golf back in January. To-date over 200 young people have started work at golf clubs across England and Wales, with a further 1,000 grants approved and in the process of recruitment.
The success of the scheme has attracted the endorsement of some high-profile political figures too. Ranil Jayawardena (MP for North East Hampshire), Derek Thomas (MP for St Ives, West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly) and the Rt Hon Michael Gove (MP for Surrey Heath and Minister for the Cabinet Office) have all visited Kickstart recruits in their workplaces at North Hants, Cape Cornwall and Windlesham Golf Club’s respectively.
The Scheme, which is still open to golf clubs looking to recruit for the Autumn, offers 100% salary funding for 6-months as well as a uniform budget and online training courses offered by Promote Golf. In total, golf clubs have saved over £3.7M from the salary funding so far.
David Reeves, Managing Director of Promote Golf, comments, “We’re thrilled that the initiative has been so popular and we’re working hard with Job Centres and golf clubs to ensure that the remaining 1,000 grants are put to good use with enthusiastic and dedicated young people.”
Promote Golf are now also looking further ahead with the prospect of future recruitment at golf clubs in the Autumn. As a previous golf club general manager, it’s something David is excited to offer, “The winter time is the perfect opportunity for golf clubs to undertake many on-course projects that they can’t during the summer because of golfer traffic and grass cutting. This can include bunker renovation, tree clearance work, course furniture restoration, ditch and waterways clearance – there really is lots that can be achieved. The Kickstart Scheme can help support clubs in providing fully-funded labour for much of this work.”
Promote Golf offer a wide variety of services in addition to their involvement in the Kickstart Scheme, including marketing support, golf business consultancy and online education and training.
For more information, visit https://promotegolf.co.uk/kickstart/