Kickstarting a career through the Half Moon

The government’s KickStart scheme was launched in September 2020 in response to Covid-19, to deliver funding for employers to create new roles for 16–24-year-olds claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment (sadly, applications for new placements have now closed). It has given young people like me the opportunity to gain vital experience by working in a wide range of entry-level roles, while receiving the National Living Wage for 25 hours a week for a 6-month contract.

It has been an essential and much needed programme for Half Moon, allowing them to bounce back from the pandemic and bring vital new talent into the organisation.

Like many others, lockdown interrupted my studies and I soon found myself facing unemployment and a lack of opportunities. Thankfully, I found KickStart and was offered a placement at Half Moon as a Marketing and Box Office Assistant in November 2021. The time has absolutely flown by. When you read this, I will have become an alumnus of the scheme, along with over 100,000 other young people at the start of their careers.

I am Half Moon’s fourth KickStart employee since 2020 and the second person to work in the marketing team – the original placement applied for and was appointed in a full-time role here as a Theatre and Programmes Administrator, which shows just how positive and successful the scheme can be at developing new skills, building confidence and giving people a crucial first foot on the career ladder.

My placement has been supported by Creative Access, an organisation which enables people from communities under-represented in the creative industries to access careers, progress and reach leadership. I have received personalised support, mentoring and training in the form of three check-in Zoom sessions where they helped me to set professional goals and get career advice through virtual workshops and masterclasses. These have been extremely useful.

I have loved my KickStart role at Half Moon and it’s helped me to find my next job in the creative industry – another success story for the scheme! My CV has expanded and I have gained a well-rounded understanding of the creative sector since being here.

A real highlight has been working in-person, in an actual office, alongside physical colleagues, which has been invaluable to a 2020 Covid-graduate. Half Moon also topped up my salary, so I received the London Living Wage, which was indispensable.

Although sad to be leaving, I am thrilled that my KickStart placement has truly lived up to its name and ‘kickstarted’ my own career!

Stella Werth was the Marketing and Box Office Assistant at Half Moon

Discover more about the KickStart scheme