Project aims to combat youth unemployment in the West Midlands
A project to help tackle the high level of youth unemployment in the West Midlands has been launched.YouthPath has been set up by charity Movement to Work and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to help create career opportunities for young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).Figures show more than 987,000 young people in the UK are classed as NEET, with Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Walsall having rates double the national average.West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said he wanted to create 20,000 training, work experience and apprenticeship placements in the next few years.
Encouragement
"I left school at 16 and went straight into work but was lucky enough to get the support and encouragement I needed to start out on a new career path," Mr Parker, said at the launch event in Birmingham on Wednesday."I want every young person to have the same opportunity I had so they can get ahead in life."He added: "We've already created 5,000 [placements] but there is still more to do and I'm calling on employers to work with me to help drive down youth unemployment."During October to December 2024, an estimated 14.4% of all male 16 to 24-year-olds were NEET, with 12.3% of all females in the same age group, the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures showed.Sareena Bains, chief executive of Movement to Work, said she hoped the project opened doors and helped businesses become "more inclusive and fit for the future"."We have over 10 years of experience in supporting businesses with their youth employment strategies – and as a charity, we do it all free of charge," she said."By joining YouthPath, West Midlands business leaders can help shape a brighter future for our region's young people."Katie Stansbie, who was in the NEET category before building a career with retailer M&S, said: "I'm so grateful to have completed the Marks and Start programme, it has given me full time employment, financial independence and a new sense of purpose and self-confidence."Engagement sessions will take place over the coming weeks, with businesses and organisations invited to pledge support to the scheme.
This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.
Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
West Midlands 'economic transformation' with £2.4bn funding
Mayor Richard Parker said plans are already in place to deliver metro links in Birmingham, as £2.4 billion investment for the West Midlands was announced by Chancellor Rachel funding, announced before the government's spending review next week, will go towards extending services from the city centre to the new sports Parker told the BBC that the money, matched with the £3 billion investment from private investor Tom Wagner, will help create links to the city for some of its most deprived areas. He said it would create up to 8,000 jobs as part of an "economic transformation" that he has always been committed to delivering. Mr Parker told BBC Radio WM: "Its fantastic news, it's a great day for the city and for the region."We've been to number 10 Downing Street, we've met with the Transport Secretary, and we put the case forward with conviction."The new transport link will connect the community to where the opportunities are, where the jobs are - this is just the start of it."He also said the investment would "unlock" the transport commitments he's made, adding: "It'll be paying for itself three or four times over, and the uplift will be given to some of our most disadvantaged communities in East Birmingham."The BBC understands a further £250 million will be awarded by the government next week. Speaking on the timeline of the plans - which would connect the city centre to the HS2 at Curzon Street, through Digbeth and up to the sports quarter - Mr Parker said the work on planning has already agreement with HS2 is already in place to begin tunnelling under Curzon Street to move the metro from the city centre, he the project is "a couple years away from significant progress", Mr Parker said there was no shortage of "commitment or conviction". An outline planning application is due to be submitted in the autumn. Mr Parker said: "There's going to be action on a multiple number of fronts to deliver the project as fast as possible."Andrew Carter, Chief Executive of Centre for Cities, said the announcement reflected a "welcome shift" toward a city region-led said: "Investment in the transport networks of our city regions is a critical step toward boosting local economies, by helping people access jobs and education opportunities more easily." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Glasgow Times
What are the transport projects being funded in the spending review?
Here the PA news agency looks at some of the schemes being funded. – A new tram network in Leeds Leeds is the largest city in western Europe without a mass transit system, with proposals to reinstate trams ongoing for decades. The Leeds Supertram project first emerged in the 1980s but was dropped in 2005. The Conservative government gave its support for Leeds to have a mass transit system in the integrated rail plan published in November 2021, to coincide with the decision to axe the planned HS2 extension to the city. Services on a tram network are expected to launch in the mid-2030s and will link Leeds with Bradford and other areas. – Extension of Birmingham's tram network Birmingham's tram network will be extended (Alamy/PA) The West Midlands Metro will be extended from Birmingham city centre to a new sports quarter in Bordesley Green. This will be the first phase of West Midlands mayor Richard Parker's ambition to deliver mass transit from east Birmingham to north Solihull. – Enhancing Greater Manchester's tram network New Metrolink stops will be opened in Bury and Oldham, and the line will be extended to Stockport. Also, the city's public transport Bee Network will become fully electric by 2030, including through the purchase of 1,000 new electric buses. – Extending the Tyne and Wear Metro The tram network will be extended from Newcastle to Sunderland via Washington. – Improvements to buses in the Liverpool City Region New rapid bus routes will serve Liverpool John Lennon Airport and both Liverpool and Everton's football stadiums. – Expanding Middlesbrough railway station A third platform will be built at the station to boost capacity. – A new mass transit system to connect Derby and Nottingham This will feature road, rail and bus improvements across the Trent Arc corridor.
Leader Live
4 days ago
- Leader Live
What are the transport projects being funded in the spending review?
Here the PA news agency looks at some of the schemes being funded. – A new tram network in Leeds Leeds is the largest city in western Europe without a mass transit system, with proposals to reinstate trams ongoing for decades. The Leeds Supertram project first emerged in the 1980s but was dropped in 2005. The Conservative government gave its support for Leeds to have a mass transit system in the integrated rail plan published in November 2021, to coincide with the decision to axe the planned HS2 extension to the city. Services on a tram network are expected to launch in the mid-2030s and will link Leeds with Bradford and other areas. – Extension of Birmingham's tram network The West Midlands Metro will be extended from Birmingham city centre to a new sports quarter in Bordesley Green. This will be the first phase of West Midlands mayor Richard Parker's ambition to deliver mass transit from east Birmingham to north Solihull. – Enhancing Greater Manchester's tram network New Metrolink stops will be opened in Bury and Oldham, and the line will be extended to Stockport. Also, the city's public transport Bee Network will become fully electric by 2030, including through the purchase of 1,000 new electric buses. – Extending the Tyne and Wear Metro The tram network will be extended from Newcastle to Sunderland via Washington. – Improvements to buses in the Liverpool City Region New rapid bus routes will serve Liverpool John Lennon Airport and both Liverpool and Everton's football stadiums. – Expanding Middlesbrough railway station A third platform will be built at the station to boost capacity. – A new mass transit system to connect Derby and Nottingham This will feature road, rail and bus improvements across the Trent Arc corridor.
