Job scheme offers Birmingham and Solihull employers funded placements while helping young people into work

Birmingham and Solihull residents aged 18 to 21 who have been unemployed and claiming Universal Credit for 18 months or more are being offered paid work placements through a new pilot programme working with local employers to create opportunities for young people to enter the workplace.

The Jobs Guarantee programme is being delivered in Birmingham and Solihull by Catch22 following selection by the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP), with the aim of helping young people currently out of work into sustainable employment.

The West Midlands is one of five pilot sites, with the scheme also being rolled out in Manchester, Hertfordshire/Essex, South Wales, and Scotland.

In the West Midlands pilot, Catch22 will support 275 young people into fully subsidised six-month work placements with local employers.

Working closely with Jobcentre Plus, young people will be referred directly into the programme and supported into employment opportunities that build skills, confidence and long-term prospects.

For employers, Jobs Guarantee: West Midlands offers a straightforward route to filling vacancies, with funding covering up to 25 hours per week at national minimum wage and support from Catch22 and partners to guide employers through the process.

Once enrolled in the programme, Catch22 will provide one-to-one employment support to every young person it places, in line with a commitment to helping people sustain in good jobs.

Through the programme, young people will receive two weeks of intensive pre placement support, followed by ongoing in-work wraparound from a dedicated Career Coach.

They can also access a £300 bursary, and specialist mental health support to help them to sustain in work.

Catch22 is delivering the pilot in partnership with Supplytrain CIC, who bring extensive experience of employer engagement from the Kickstart programme, and West Midlands employment charity Sport 4 Life UK, strengthening local delivery and routes into work.

Andy Canniford (pictured), chief officer for Impact and Growth at Catch22, said: "Far too many young people face barriers when trying to secure long-term employment, and the longer someone remains out of work, the more challenging it can become to build a successful career.

“In delivering DWP's Jobs Guarantee programme we are investing in young people's potential through by combining paid employment with personalised support, helping participants gain the skills, experience and self-belief needed to succeed in today's workplace.

“We’re proud to be delivering the Birmingham and Solihull pilot with our partners, working closely with Jobcentre Plus and local employers to create meaningful placements that open the door to sustainable employment."

Nick Cheese, operations manager at Sport 4 Life UK, added: “We are proud to partner with Catch22 as part of the Youth Jobs Guarantee. With the youth claimant rate in Birmingham currently at double the UK national average, it is more crucial than ever that all organisations have a responsibility to work together to tackle this growing issue.

“We are committed to creating a powerful support system for young people in Birmingham and Solihull to ensure that those that are furthest from the job market don't just find a job, but gain the skills and resilience needed to build a sustainable career.”

Further information on the programme, including how to express interest in employing a young person through the Jobs Guarantee: West Midlands programme, can be found on the pilot’s website.

Young person referrals can be made through Jobcentre Plus in the coming weeks.