13,000 work experience, training and apprenticeship opportunities created for West Midlands youth

Mayor Richard Parker said he is well on the way to creating the 20,000 opportunities targeted when he launched his Youth Employment Plan a year ago.

The plan sees him working with local businesses and partners and is aimed at tackling rising youth unemployment and kick-starting the regional economy.

Mr Parker said youth unemployment in some areas such as Birmingham, Walsall and Wolverhampton are double the national average with around 28,000 young people classed as unemployed across the region.

Last month, the Mayor also launched his Growth Plan which aims to transform the economy and create 93,000 quality, well paid jobs over the next decade.

He said: “I’m pleased we’ve now secured even more training and work experience pledges from employers across the West Midlands. We’re making a real difference every day.

“This is what our Growth Plan in action looks like. We’re backing young people with the skills and opportunities they need to thrive, while helping local firms grow the talent they need.

“By connecting people to good jobs in the region’s fastest-growing sectors, we’re not just changing lives – we’re building our economy.”

Young people are being given access to training, education, careers guidance and other forms of support so they can take their first step towards work.

This includes work readiness programmes and work preparation lessons at school.

Erdington resident Daniel Harte, aged 25, had to give up his career as a chef after six years when he developed a reaction to chemicals commonly used in a kitchen.

After a year unemployed he joined a West Midlands Combined Authority funded Engineering Path2Apprenticeship with Performance Through People (PTP) in October last year

He attended the PTP Walsall Training Centre two days a week to learn practical welding skills from scratch.

During the P2A programme, Daniel secured an apprenticeship at Rotadex Systems, an engineering and manufacturing storage solutions company, for a Level 2 LEAN Manufacturing Operative Apprentice, with PTP as the training provider.

He said: “Path 2 Apprenticeships made the learning very easy. It was fun and engaging, and the tutors were extremely helpful when I made mistakes – they always reassured me.

“But it also helped build my confidence I had struggled with interviews in the past, but the training gave me the confidence and guidance I need to present myself well and stand out to employers.

“I now have a great work-life balance, I feel happier than I have in years, and motivated to continue doing new things to progress my career.”