A million young people are out of work. Take one on?

The biggest jobs story in Britain today is aimed at young people.

The Sun has launched a campaign called Jobs Army.

It wants to find work for the 981,000 under 25s who are not in a job, in education or in training.

That is one in eight young people in the UK.

Six in ten unemployed young people have never had a job they could call their own.

Why small firms matter here

Big firms are pledging placements.

McDonald's, British Airways, Aldi and others are offering tens of thousands of work experience places.

But firms with fewer than 250 staff can advertise starter jobs on the campaign jobs board for free.

Most trade and service firms are 1 to 5 people.

A young worker often gets their first break in a small firm.

That makes this your story too.

The honest bit about cost

Hiring is more expensive than it was.

The British Retail Consortium says the employer National Insurance on a part time starter working 16 hours a week has risen from £58 in 2024 to £837 this year.

Firms pay that National Insurance on everything earned above £5,000 a year.

The minimum wage has risen too.

The new Employment Rights Act has made it harder for some firms to offer simple Saturday jobs.

Add it up and it is real money.

So rule the cost out first, not last.

The help that is on offer

Earlier this year the government announced a youth jobs scheme with hiring grants.

The reported figures were £3,000 for each 18 to 24 year old taken on after six months of job searching, and £2,000 for each new apprentice at a small or medium firm.

Check whether that scheme is still running before you rely on it.

Grants change.

The free job adverts on the Jobs Army board are live now.

Make the hire pay for itself

A young worker only works out if they earn their keep.

Three rules help.

First, price your jobs to cover the wage.

Add the true cost of the new pair of hands into your quotes, including National Insurance.

Second, get them billable fast.

A trainee who rides along is a cost to you.

The same trainee doing real chargeable work under your eye is an investment.

Plan their first weeks around jobs where they can add value quickly.

Third, track where their time goes.

If you know which jobs the extra hours went to, you know whether the hire is paying off.

How PlusWise helps

PlusWise keeps your quotes, invoices, clients and jobs in one place.

Build quotes that include the true cost of your team, so a new hire never silently eats your margin.

Send invoices fast and see what is paid and what is still owed at a glance.

A payment link on the invoice lets clients pay in one tap, so the money comes in quicker.

When a young worker joins, your cash flow has to cover an extra wage from day one.

Tidy quotes and fast invoicing are how you cover it.

PlusWise is built for 1 to 5 person trade and service firms that want the money in, fast and tidy.