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UK Shared Prosperity Employer Recruitment Incentive

This scheme is currently closed. Please email w4u.grants@west-dunbarton.gov.uk to arrange a funding discussion.

The fund offers an employer a grant amount of up to £4,000. This is based on the hourly rate of pay and contracted hours for each employee as shown in this table:

All employers are encouraged to pay the Real Living Wage of £12.60. Find Real Living Wage information on the Living Wage Foundation website.

You can use the fund to help with the costs of recruiting and keeping a person in employment, including an apprenticeship. Costs may include, but are not limited to:

  • Wages.
  • Additional supervisory costs.
  • Training.
  • Specialist support designed to help a person sustain a post.
  • Other job-related costs.

For a job to be eligible for funding, it must:

  • Offer a minimum 26-week contract of employment.
  • Guarantee a minimum of 16 hours’ employment each week. (If your employee regularly does not receive the agreed hours, your funding amount may be amended or stopped.)
  • Pay a salary greater than the funding received.

The following do not meet the eligible criteria:

  • Unpaid voluntary work.
  • Employment fully or part financed by additional public-sector funding (e.g., Intermediate Labour Market (ILM) projects).
  • Registration with an employment agency (unless employees are employed solely for the agency and no other party).
  • Employment which has already started.
  • Zero-hours contracts.

For more information and to enquire about a grant, please contact W4U.grants@west-dunbarton.gov.uk.

Contracted min 16 hours a week. Priority will be given to Real Living wage employers. Employers must state which Fair Work Practices their organisation promotes.

Priority will be given to employees who are:

1. Lone parents who are unemployed

2. Parents with a disability or families who are unemployed and have a disabled child

3. Parents who are unemployed and have 3 or more children

4. Parents from a minority ethnic background who are unemployed

5. Parents who are unemployed and have a youngest child under 1 years of age

6. Parents who are aged under 25 who are unemployed.

7. Classed as economically inactive

8. Vulnerable young people

9. Disabled

Aged under 18 or first year apprentice

  • £2500 (£4000 if paying RLW)

Aged 18 - 20 

  • £3000 (£4000 if paying RLW)

Aged 21+

  • £3500 (£4000 if paying RLW)