The newly launched Youth Jobs Grant gives employers the opportunity to access motivated young talent while receiving financial support to help offset the costs of hiring and developing new staff. The scheme opened for applications on 30 June 2026 and is available to employers across Great Britain.

Why employers are getting involved

Many businesses are facing recruitment challenges, skills shortages, and rising employment costs. The Youth Jobs Grant helps you:

– Receive £3,000 for every eligible young person you recruit.

– Access pre-screened candidates through Jobcentre Plus recruitment support.

– Fill genuine vacancies with enthusiastic young people looking to build their careers.

– Strengthen your workforce while making a positive impact in your local community.Jobs Grant Employer Toolkit

The scheme is expected to support around 20,000 recruitment opportunities each year, meaning employers who engage early will be well positioned to benefit.

Could your business be eligible?

You may qualify if your organisation:

• Operates in Great Britain
• Is actively trading and registered with HMRC
• Has traded for at least 6 months
• Intends to recruit employees into genuine paid roles. Businesses of all sizes, including sole traders, can apply

What roles qualify?

Eligible jobs must:

• Be at least 25 hours per week
• Last for a minimum of 4 months
• Pay at least the National Minimum or Living Wage
• Be genuine vacancies that do not replace existing employees
• Provide a safe, lawful and suitable working environment

The process is straightforward

1. Submit a simple online application (typically takes around 20 minutes).
2. DWP completes eligibility checks.
3. Once checks are approved, you will be invited to submit your vacancies.
4. Receive recruitment support and candidate matching.
5. Recruit your preferred candidate.
6. Receive grant payments once conditions are met.

Guidance and application

Apply here: Youth Jobs Grant – Find a Grant

Further guidance and Terms and Conditions: Youth Jobs Grant Guidance

If you are unsure whether the grant is right for your business, join the Employer Information Webinar where you can hear more about:

• How the Youth Jobs Grant works
• Employer eligibility requirements
• The application process
• Recruitment support available through DWP
• Questions from employers considering the scheme

Webinar Details

Thursday 3 September 2026
9:30am – 10:30am
Online Via Eventbrite

Whether you are actively recruiting now or simply planning, the webinar will provide a useful overview of the support available and how other employers are incorporating the scheme into their recruitment strategies.

A simple next step

Even if you have no immediate vacancies, attending the webinar will help you understand what support is available when recruitment needs arise.

To reserve your place, REGISTER HERE

The Government has launched a consultation on proposals to merge the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) into a single, unified Industry Training Board (ITB).

The consultation will remain open until 14 June 2026, providing a defined window for industry stakeholders to shape the future of skills and workforce development across both sectors.

The proposed merger could mark a major change in the way training is organised, funded, and delivered across the industry. The consultation looks at important areas such as future skills needs, how accessible and effective current training provision is, and how levy arrangements can best support ongoing investment in the workforce. While bringing the sectors together under a single ITB may offer better alignment, it is vital that the distinct requirements of different parts of the industry are properly recognised.

As a CITB Prescribed Organisation, FIS is gathering member feedback to inform its formal response. To support this, we have developed a short survey to capture your views on the proposals and their potential impact. Your input will help ensure that our response is evidence based and fully reflects the priorities and challenges faced by our sector.

This is an important opportunity to influence how industry training and funding will be shaped in the years ahead. We strongly encourage all members to take a few minutes to complete the survey by 29 May and share their views.

A strong response will enable FIS, in its role as a Prescribed Organisation, to represent our sector with authority and ensure your voice is heard.

Full details of the consultation are available here Industry Training Board reform – GOV.UK, and members can also submit their views directly via the ITB Reform Consultation portal

Members will be aware of the recent changes to CITB funding arrangements for training and development across the sector.

CITB has now provided a further update and clarification, specifically regarding funding for Employer Networks.

Full details of the update, including guidance on eligibility and next steps, can be found below:

“Following recent articles that have been published, we wanted to ensure that the correct information is being shared.

It is incorrect that CITB has stopped taking all bookings for training and we have not said there is no more money for training courses. Employer Networks are a budget-led initiative and due to the significant increase in uptake, our current budget for this financial year is fully committed and therefore we cannot accept training for bookings between 20 February and 31 March. Training can be booked that takes place after 1 April and any training that is already booked in ahead of 1 April will continue as planned.

We understand that this news may be frustrating for some, but we do see it as a positive that we have supported more employers with their training needs.

We continue to support plant and scaffolding training, apprenticeships and other key courses through our grants scheme. Further to this there are a number of free courses and resources that are available through our various funded projects.

We would also like to address the comments about our reserves. It has been published that CITB reserves are currently sitting at £78.9m – this figure is from our Annual Report and Accounts published in December 2025 and demonstrates the reserves as of March 2025. As a charity and Arm’s-Length Body we are required to maintain a minimum reserve level of £50m. CITB expects to be close to its reserves policy floor of £50m by 31 March 2026.”

Update: Employer Networks bookings and CITB Reserves – CITB

If you have any queries or questions, please reach out to Beena Nana or Marie Flinter