Businesses will receive £3,000 for every person between the ages 18 and 24 that they employ who has been searching for a job for six months or more, while small and medium firms will be paid £2,000 for every new apprentice they take on. In the final quarter of last year, the number of young people not currently in education, employment or training - also known as Neets - neared one million. An existing jobs guarantee assuring young people a six-month job if they are on Universal Credit and have been looking for work for 18 months will also be expanded from the current age range of 18-21 up to 24-year-olds. Michelin star chef Tom Kerridge gave his backing to the scheme, saying "these incentives will give our industry a great boost". The Conservatives have claimed the government's Employment Rights Act and hike in national insurance contributions on employers has had an impact on young people looking for work. Under the act, which applies to England, Scotland and Wales, workers will have the right to claim unfair dismissal from six months into their employment.