North West water firm, United Utilities, has announced it will take on an initial 250 young unemployed people as part of the Government’s new Kick Start programme.

Kick Start funds six month placements with firms for 16-24-year-olds who are claiming Universal Credit and are at risk of long-term unemployment.

The Government funds 25 hours a week for six months and provides a grant of £1,500 per recruit to support skills development.

United Utilities says that over the next 12 months around half of the 250 recruits will be found placements in customer service and operational support roles and the rest will be with partners and contractors of the Warrington-based water and wastewater company.