How the Jobs Guarantee can benefit your business

• The Jobs Guarantee gives employers access to funded six-month placements up to 25 hours per week at National Minimum Wage.
• The scheme connects businesses with 18 to 24-year-olds who are keen to gain experience, develop new skills, and build their careers.
• By offering placements, employers can support young people into work, strengthen local communities, and help tackle youth unemployment across Greater Manchester.

A strong team is the foundation of every strong business. Yet, recruiting and keeping hold of the right people remains a major challenge for employers.

This is where the Jobs Guarantee can help. The scheme has been designed to help address common challenges with recruitment, while also opening the door to a new generation of talent across Greater Manchester.

Backed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and delivered by the Growth Company, the Jobs Guarantee provides funded six-month work placements for eligible young people, helping businesses strengthen their workforce while also supporting their local communities.

What is the Jobs Guarantee?

The Jobs Guarantee is part of the government’s wider Youth Guarantee, which aims to make sure as many young people as possible can access education, training, or employment opportunities.

Young people are eligible for the Jobs Guarantee if they are aged between 18 to 24 and have been in receipt of Universal Credit for 18 months or more.

The programme matches jobseekers with employers across Greater Manchester for a six-month paid work placement, giving them the opportunity to develop their skills and gain experience in a real working environment.

For employers, the programme offers:

• Funded wage costs at National Minimum Wage
• Six-month placements (up to 25 hours per week)
• Recruitment and onboarding support
• Ongoing guidance throughout the placement
• Support from the Growth Company team from start to finish

The scheme is available to employers across all ten Greater Manchester boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan.

Key benefits that the Jobs Guarantee can bring for your business

• Reduce recruitment costs. Recruitment can be a significant investment, particularly if you’re a smaller business. With wage costs funded through the programme, employers can increase capacity and provide support to existing staff with limited financial risk.
• Bring fresh ideas to your team. Young people often offer new ways of thinking and are confident with modern technology. By welcoming new people into your workforce, you can introduce different perspectives while helping them gain valuable experience.
• Add capacity and flexibility. Every business has different needs. Whether you require support in administration, customer service, marketing, operations, hospitality, logistics or another area, placements can be tailored to complement your organisation. This flexibility allows employers to create opportunities that deliver value to both the business and the participant.
• Give back to your local community. Businesses increasingly recognise the importance of social impact. By offering a Jobs Guarantee placement, you'll play a direct role in tackling youth unemployment across Greater Manchester, helping young people gain confidence, workplace skills, and meaningful work experience.

How the Growth Company can help you

Employers will receive end-to-end support from the Growth Company throughout the process, including assistance with recruitment, onboarding, and ongoing in-work guidance.

In return, employers are expected to provide a safe, supportive working environment, meaningful work for the participant, and appropriate supervision.

Want to take part?

Employers of all sizes and from every sector are encouraged to get involved.

If you're interested in offering a placement, the first step is to register your interest with the Jobs Guarantee team. If you're ready to apply, support is available to help you complete the application process and ensure all funding requirements are met.

To register your interest or find out more, visit our dedicated web page, email employersupport@gcemployment.uk, or phone 0161 233 2612.

The Growth Company

The Growth Company is an award-winning social enterprise with a 35-year history of enabling growth, creating jobs, and improving lives. We help people and businesses to develop, grow, and succeed through a range of employment, skills, and business support services. We provide employment, justice, and health services across the North of England and beyond.

Learn more about the job support that we deliver.