Employers across Great Britain can apply for the Youth Jobs Grant, a government employment support scheme offering up to £3,000 for each qualifying job filled by an eligible young person. The scheme is designed to help people aged 18 to 24 who have been unemployed and claiming Universal Credit for at least six months move into sustained paid employment.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) launched the scheme on 30 June 2026. Employers of different sizes, including eligible sole traders planning to recruit staff, can apply if they meet the scheme requirements. The grant is paid in two instalments after employment and earnings are verified through HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

This guide explains who can apply, which jobs qualify, how the £3,000 payment is divided, how to register a vacancy and where to find official application information.

Official scheme information is available from the Youth Jobs Grant guidance on GOV.UK.

1. What is the UK Youth Jobs Grant?

The Youth Jobs Grant is part of the wider Youth Guarantee initiative. It provides financial support to employers who create suitable job opportunities for young people facing barriers to employment.

The scheme is intended to support genuine recruitment and sustained employment rather than replace existing employees or subsidise jobs that would otherwise be removed. Employers can receive up to £3,000 for each qualifying job, provided that the vacancy is registered correctly and all relevant conditions are satisfied.

The programme is open to employers across Great Britain. It is not limited to apprenticeship vacancies, so a qualifying ordinary paid job may also be eligible. Employers can register suitable vacancies and recruit through the scheme process.

The grant is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions. Payments are made directly to the employer through bank transfer after the required employment and earnings checks have been completed.

Official source: Government announcement on funding for employers hiring young people.

2. Who can qualify for the £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant?

There are separate eligibility requirements for the employer, the young person and the job being offered. Meeting only one set of requirements is not enough to guarantee payment.

Young person eligibility

• The person must be aged 18 to 24.
• The person must be claiming Universal Credit.
• The person must have been unemployed for at least six months.
• The person must not currently be eligible for the Jobs Guarantee, according to the scheme requirements.
• The employment and earnings must satisfy the applicable scheme conditions.

Employers should work with the relevant Jobcentre Plus contact or scheme recruitment process to identify suitable candidates. They should not assume that any applicant aged 18 to 24 claiming Universal Credit automatically qualifies.

Employer eligibility

• The organisation must operate in Great Britain: England, Scotland or Wales.
• The business must have been trading for at least six months before registering a vacancy.
• The employer must be registered with HMRC and have a Unique Taxpayer Reference and Pay As You Earn scheme.
• The employer must pass the required due diligence and compliance checks.
• The employer must not be a central government department, executive agency or non-departmental public body.
• The employer must meet its legal employment, insurance and workplace safety responsibilities.

Employers of any size may apply, including sole traders intending to employ staff. Local authorities and other eligible non-central public sector organisations may participate, subject to the scheme rules.

For the complete criteria, consult the official Youth Jobs Grant employer FAQs.

3. Which jobs are eligible?

The role must provide a genuine employment opportunity and meet the minimum requirements established by the scheme.

The grant remains £3,000 even if the employer offers more than 25 hours per week or pays above the minimum wage. Any employment costs beyond the grant remain the responsibility of the employer.

A business should therefore calculate the full cost of the job before recruiting. The grant is financial assistance, not a guarantee that all salary and employment expenses will be covered.

4. How is the £3,000 payment divided?

The Youth Jobs Grant is paid in two instalments. The DWP verifies employment and earnings using HMRC Real Time Information. The grant is paid only when the relevant conditions have been met.

These are the scheme payment milestones, not an unconditional promise of payment on a particular calendar date. The DWP must complete the required checks, including verification of earnings through HMRC records.

Employers should ensure that payroll reporting is accurate and timely. The scheme FAQ states that other evidence of earnings is not accepted in place of HMRC Real Time Information for the earnings verification process.

5. How can employers apply for the Youth Jobs Grant?

The application process involves employer registration, due diligence and vacancy approval. Employers should complete the process before relying on the grant to support recruitment costs.

1. Check your business eligibility. Confirm that your organisation operates in Great Britain, has traded for at least six months and meets HMRC registration requirements.
2. Prepare business details. Have your Unique Taxpayer Reference, PAYE information and other requested business records ready.
3. Apply through the official grant service. Locate the Youth Jobs Grant through the government Find a Grant service and follow the current application instructions.
4. Complete due diligence. Provide accurate information and complete the declarations and checks required by the DWP.
5. Wait for approval. If the application is approved, follow the scheme instructions to register suitable vacancies.
6. Recruit an eligible candidate. Confirm that the candidate meets the age, Universal Credit and unemployment requirements.
7. Provide the qualifying job. Ensure the job meets the hours, duration, wage and other employment conditions.
8. Maintain payroll records. Report earnings accurately through HMRC so that the DWP can carry out the required checks.
9. Receive eligible instalments. Payments are made by bank transfer after the relevant employment and earnings checks are completed.

Start with the official Youth Jobs Grant application information. The page provides the scheme summary, eligibility information and route to apply.

Employers who need assistance can contact the Employer Services Line on 0800 169 0178. The published guidance lists opening hours as Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, excluding weekends and bank holidays.

6. Can the grant be combined with apprenticeship funding?

Yes. The official employer FAQ confirms that the Youth Jobs Grant can be combined with additional payments available for eligible apprenticeships. This means a qualifying vacancy can be registered under the Youth Jobs Grant while the recruited employee undertakes an eligible apprenticeship.

Depending on the apprentice and employer circumstances, other support may include:

• Government funding for eligible apprenticeship training and assessment.
• The £2,000 apprenticeship hiring payment for eligible non-levy employers recruiting qualifying new apprentices aged 16 to 24 from 1 October 2026.
• Additional payments for eligible younger apprentices or apprentices who meet specified care experience or education, health and care plan conditions.
• Support for eligible foundation apprenticeship recruitment.

These are separate schemes and each has its own eligibility rules. Employers should not assume that every payment is available for every recruit or that all amounts will be paid automatically.

Official details are available through the apprenticeship employer funding guidance.

7. Example: How the grant could help a small business

Consider a small company that has been trading for more than six months and wants to recruit a 22-year-old candidate. The candidate claims Universal Credit and has been unemployed for at least six months. The company offers a genuine job of 30 hours per week expected to last six months.

If the employer, candidate and vacancy satisfy all scheme conditions and the application is approved, the potential grant would be structured as follows:

The company must still pay the employee, meet employer National Insurance and pension obligations where applicable, provide a lawful and safe workplace and meet all other employment requirements. The grant is not a replacement for wages and does not remove the need to budget for the full cost of employment.

This is an illustrative example only. Actual payment depends on the approved vacancy, eligible candidate, employment conditions and successful verification by the DWP.

8. Common reasons a vacancy or claim may not qualify

Employers should review the conditions carefully before registering a vacancy. Potential problems include:

• The job offers fewer than 25 hours per week.
• The expected employment period is shorter than four months.
• The candidate does not meet the age, Universal Credit or six-month unemployment criteria.
• The employer has not completed the required registration and approval process.
• The business has not met the minimum trading period or HMRC registration requirements.
• The vacancy replaces an existing employee, worker, apprentice or contractor.
• The wage is below the applicable legal minimum.
• HMRC earnings information does not confirm the employment or required earnings.
• The employer supplies incomplete or inaccurate information during application or verification.

The DWP may carry out checks on tax information, employer declarations, employment obligations, insurance, compliance history and workplace health and safety. Employers should retain accurate records and follow the official scheme terms and conditions.

9. How long will the Youth Jobs Grant remain available?

The government Find a Grant listing states that the scheme opened on 30 June 2026 and is scheduled to close to new participants on 31 October 2028. The programme is intended to support eligible recruitment opportunities over three years, subject to funding availability and scheme conditions.

Employers should check the live official listing before applying because dates, application procedures and funding availability may change. Do not delay registration until after a candidate has been recruited unless the current scheme guidance explicitly permits the proposed process.

Official listing: Youth Jobs Grant on Find a Grant.

10. Frequently asked questions

Conclusion

The Youth Jobs Grant provides eligible employers across Great Britain with the opportunity to receive up to £3,000 for recruiting a young person aged 18 to 24 who has been unemployed and claiming Universal Credit for at least six months. The payment is divided into £1,800 after six weeks and £1,200 after 18 weeks, subject to the scheme conditions and verification of employment and earnings.

Employers should confirm their business eligibility, register vacancies through the official process, offer a qualifying job of at least 25 hours per week and four months, and maintain accurate payroll records. Businesses recruiting apprentices may also be able to combine the grant with eligible apprenticeship funding and other incentives.

Before making recruitment or financial decisions, read the latest DWP guidance and terms and conditions. Approval and payment are not automatic, and all funding remains subject to the official scheme requirements.