Birmingham Careers Hub to launch 'Work with Me ' project

The potential for employers to access a wider talent pool and relieve skills shortages is being explored.

This could be done by developing their confidence working with young people with social, emotional and/ or mental health needs.

Birmingham Careers Hub are offering to help local businesses explore this possibility - linking with their core mission to remove barriers and tackle disadvantage across the city.

They are offering a free programme to help employers offer supported work experience to young people. The 'Work with Me ' programme launches in January for forty young people aged 16 - 17 years from local colleges.

Ruth Broome, strategic hub lead at the Hub, explained: “Most of us have seen the long term effects the pandemic has had on the confidence and overall mental health of our young people. With a few reasonable adjustments - employers can help develop their resilience and self-esteem, so they can fully realise their aspirations.

“The positive influence of being in a workplace around new adults - other than teachers or family, can be a real eye opener for many young people and has the power to steer them in a whole new direction.

“We identified a gap in the guidance available to employers keen to develop the talent of those young people needing a little more support with taking their first steps into the workplace. ”

To find out more please contact: [email protected]

Pictured: Young person being mentored in the workplace by an employee mentor