The UK government's Business Growth Service says employers in Great Britain can receive 3,000 pounds for each person aged 18 to 24 they hire if that person has been on Universal Credit and looking for work for six months or more. The scheme is available from June 30. Eligible jobs must be at least 25 hours a week and expected to last at least four months, with the payment split into 1,800 pounds in month two and 1,200 pounds in month five.
That is not the same as the Jobs Guarantee. GOV.UK guidance says the Jobs Guarantee began delivery in six areas in spring 2026 and is intended to guarantee six months of paid work for eligible young people who have been on Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months or more. The two programmes sit in the same welfare-to-work agenda, but they target different points in the unemployment spell.
Table: Two UK youth employment schemes
| Scheme | Eligible young people | Employer support | Duration condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Jobs Grant | Aged 18 to 24, on Universal Credit and looking for work for six months or more | 3,000 pounds per hire | Job must be at least 25 hours a week and expected to last at least four months |
| Jobs Guarantee | Aged 18 to 24, on Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months or more | Six months of paid work supported through local delivery | Programme began in six areas in spring 2026 |
Source: UK Business Growth Service; GOV.UK Jobs Guarantee guidance.
The Guardian reported that ministers will present the grant as part of a push to help 60,000 people aged 18 to 24 into work over three years, with Merlin Entertainments named as an early participating employer creating 300 jobs. That gives the launch a concrete employer example. It does not answer the policy question.