Kickstart Scheme employee paid only once in six months: tribunal awards £5,098
A Kickstart Scheme employee was paid just once during a six-month contract. The employment tribunal ordered Greater Manchester Football Club Limited to pay £5,098.36 in unpaid wages and a DBS fee.
1 min read · Last updated 18 May 2026
Case details
- #kickstart-scheme
- #unauthorised-deductions
- #breach-of-contract
- #dbs-fee
- #employment-status
- #strike-out
Key facts
- The claimant was employed under a 6-month fixed-term contract funded by the Kickstart Scheme.
- The claimant was paid only once (£710.64) during the entire 6-month period.
- The respondent did not bring the contract to an end early; the claimant remained employed until 13 August 2022.
- The respondent failed to reimburse the claimant for a £10 DBS check fee.
- The respondent did not attend the hearing and failed to provide documents.
Timeline
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Employment started
Claimant began work under a 6-month Kickstart Scheme contract, working 25 hours per week at National Minimum Wage.
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Claimant turned 21
Claimant became entitled to higher National Minimum Wage rate for 21-22 year olds.
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First and only payment
Claimant received £710.64 in wages. No further payments were made.
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Alleged removal from payroll
Mr Ishtiaq told the claimant that the DWP was notified he had left the club, but the tribunal found this was incorrect.
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Last contact from respondent
Mr Ishtiaq sent his final WhatsApp message to the claimant; thereafter the respondent ceased communication.
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Claim presented to tribunal
Claimant presented his claim for unauthorised deductions and breach of contract.
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Contract end date
The 6-month contract expired. Tribunal found claimant remained employed until this date.
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Unfair dismissal claim struck out
Employment Judge Allen struck out the unfair dismissal complaint due to insufficient service (less than 2 years).
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Substantive hearing
Employment Judge Slater heard the remaining claims. Respondent did not attend.
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Written reasons issued
Employment Judge Slater provided written reasons for the judgment.
The legal issue
Whether the respondent made unauthorised deductions from wages by not paying the claimant the full amount due under his Kickstart Scheme contract, and whether it breached contract by failing to reimburse a DBS fee.
The outcome
The tribunal upheld the claims for unauthorised deductions and breach of contract, awarding the claimant a total of £5,098.36.
- Unauthorised deductions: £5,088.36 for unpaid wages from 14 February to 13 August 2022.
- Breach of contract: £10 for the unreimbursed DBS check fee.
The claimant's unfair dismissal complaint was struck out earlier due to insufficient service (less than two years). The claim for breach of contract regarding employability support was dismissed.
Lessons & takeaways
- Kickstart Scheme employees have the same rights to be paid as any other worker – failure to pay can lead to substantial awards.
- Employment status under a government scheme does not exempt an employer from minimum wage obligations or contractual duties.
- If an employer fails to attend a hearing or provide documents, the tribunal can still decide the case based on the claimant's evidence.
- The two-year service requirement for unfair dismissal claims applies to Kickstart employees, so other claims (like unpaid wages) may be the only route.
This case shows what can happen when a government-funded employment scheme goes wrong. The claimant was hired under the Kickstart Scheme, which provides six-month jobs for young people at risk of long-term unemployment. But instead of gaining valuable experience, the claimant was paid only once – £710.64 – for the entire six-month period, despite working 25 hours per week.
What the employer did wrong
Greater Manchester Football Club Limited failed to pay wages from March onwards, did not reimburse a £10 DBS check fee, and stopped communicating with the claimant entirely. The club did not attend the tribunal hearing or provide any documents, leaving the claimant's evidence unchallenged. The tribunal found that the claimant remained employed until the end of the contract and was entitled to full pay.
Why this matters
The case is a reminder that participants in government schemes are still employees with legal rights. The tribunal awarded £5,088.36 in unpaid wages and £10 for the DBS fee. The unfair dismissal claim was struck out because the claimant had less than two years' service – a common hurdle for short-term contracts. However, the wage claim succeeded because it did not require a minimum service period.
For anyone in a similar position, the key takeaway is to keep records of hours worked and any communications. Even if an employer ignores the claim, the tribunal can still award compensation based on the evidence you provide.
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