Published: Tuesday 22 November 2022
The team from Healf.
A local online entrepreneur has moved his business onto the King’s Road, crediting new staff funded through Kensington and Chelsea Council. Owner of healthy living brand Healf opened his first store in Chelsea this month, spreading his mission to improve the four pillars of health: eat, move, mind and sleep.
Healf founder Lestat McCree was one of the first local employers to benefit from Quickstart funding, a Council initiative linking employers to job seekers aged 16-30 and on Universal Credit. With the rising cost of living, the Council has initially funded 20 Quickstart placements to help get local people into work. These paid positions offer a minimum of £11.95 per hour, which can lead to permanent jobs, offering new prospects of career progression.
The initiative follows the government’s national Kickstart scheme last year which Healf joined, covering wages, pension contributions and national insurance contributions for their two staff members Niall and Jessica for six months. The Council’s economic development team worked with over 50 employers and placed 121 young people into paid placements throughout its duration.
For business owners like Lestat, this initiative has proved to be a lifeline. He said:
“Our business definitely couldn't have survived without Kickstart and Kensington and Chelsea Council’s Quickstart schemes, we now have six employees, are growing strongly and excited to open our first store on King's Road. We’re hugely grateful for the support of the borough and the government, and can undoubtedly say that we wouldn't be where we are today without it!”
Cllr Josh Rendall, Lead Member for economy and employment recently visited Healf’s flagship store. He said:
“Many small businesses struggle when it comes to hiring great talent and some young people could do with extra help gaining paid experience to get their careers to the next level. Our Council-funded Quickstart programme helps to connect these two groups, creating a partnership that can hopefully extend beyond the initial placement, into paid employment.
“It’s wonderful to see an organisation such as Healf being able to grow and retain their initial trainees as employed members of staff, especially as they make the exciting move into their first premises. I look forward to seeing many more local businesses also flourishing thanks to the support of initiatives such as Quickstart.”
Seven Quickstart funded jobs are still available and other local businesses participating in the Quickstart Scheme include Goldfinger Design, The Natural History Museum, W10 GP’s Group and the Venture Community Organisation.
If you are a young resident looking for work, find out more about joining the Quickstart scheme by contacting Fiona Low at [email protected].
For information and advice on support available during the rising cost of living, including help to find a job, visit https://webtest.rbkc.gov.uk/cost-living-support-hub.