BHA welcomes Government's plans for Youth Contract

The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has welcomed the Government's £1b plan to provide subsidised work and training placements for young people.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg today announced the creation of the Youth Contract aimed at helping jobless young people get back into work or education.

The scheme will see the government subsidise 160,000 work places by providing £2,275 to any private-sector business willing to hire an unemployed 18- to 24-year-old. The subsidies will be worth half of the youth national minimum wage and will last for six months.

The Youth Contract will be administered by private-sector providers via the government's work programme, and young people signed up will be required to complete their placement or lose benefits. Any young person who fails to sign up to the scheme will be considered for "mandatory work activity".

The BHA said it welcomed any move to encourage more youth employment.

"Many employers are already doing much to encourage young people into the hospitality industry, which offers great career opportunities," said a spokesman.

"If more young people can be encouraged into the industry by the scheme, that's all to the good. Some employers are sure to take advantage of it."

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By Kerstin Kühn

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