UNEMPLOYED youngsters could be helped into jobs by a new government scheme.

Businesses in the county are set to get £2,200 for every jobless young person they employ.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg yesterday announced the £126million scheme to get 16 and 17-year-olds back into employment or education.

It is part of the coalition's Youth Contract scheme, announced last November in a bid to tackle youth unemployment. It means charities and businesses will be invited to bid for contracts worth up to £2,200 to take young people on.

GCSEs

They will receive an initial payment, and more money when the youngsters progress.

Hundreds of 16 and 17-year-olds 'NEETs' (Not in Education, Employment or Training) in the county, who have no GCSEs at grades C or above, are expected to benefit.

David Owen, Chief Executive of GFirst, which drives Gloucestershire's Local Enterprise Partnership, said: "It is very tough out there for 16 to 24-year-olds at the moment so anything that helps our young people get into work has to be welcomed.

"In Gloucestershire we are already taking steps to stop this becoming a long-term problem. We are currently running a school's pilot programme, which is funded by Gloucestershire County Council, to ensure our private sector businesses are working with youngsters from primary school age onwards."