Over 70 per cent of college learners secure care jobs at city charity

Job seekers across Birmingham have been given a fresh start to gain career-enhancing skills that could lead to employment in the care industry, thanks to a partnership between BMet College and Focus Birmingham.

Through a series of recruitment programmes, more than 70 per cent of participants have progressed into part-time or permanent care support roles with the charity. 

Over the past 6 months, BMet – working in conjunction with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and the West Midlands Combined Authority – has delivered recruitment programmes specially designed to benefit jobseekers and employers.

Each programme runs for three weeks and includes bespoke pre-employment training, sector-specific skills development and a guaranteed interview with Focus Birmingham. 

Fatmata, now a care support worker at Harborne Day Centre, said: “I was pleased when my job centre informed me about the care work opportunity, as I have been looking for work for a while and was pleased that something that I was interested in came up!

“I was able to learn key competencies that are fundamental to care including effective communication, the importance of dignity and creating support plans during my training.” 

Netsai, who previously worked in domestic care, added: “The tutors at Matthew Boulton College, part of BMet, were brilliant and enabled everyone to develop skills that are fundamental to the care industry.

“The training certainly gave me a good grounding for the job I am now doing and love.” 

Ebele, a University of Birmingham medical student who undertook the programme during a leave of absence, said: “It has all been a really rewarding experience.

“The Focus Birmingham team have been very welcoming and it’s wonderful working with adults with complex needs.

“I feel this experience will help me in my career.” 

Through the SWAP, candidates gain a care certificate aligned to national occupational standards, tailored employability and interview skills, in-house training and work experience with Focus Birmingham as well as ongoing support via a buddy system.

Paul McCalla, senior business development manager at BMet said: “Working in partnership with a growing number of employers across the West Midlands is truly rewarding.

“Our recruitment programmes give people the chance to gain real skills, real experience and real job opportunities and the results with Focus Birmingham show just how effective this model can be.” 

Shannen Sawyer, Director of People and Resources at Focus Birmingham said: “The BMet SWAP scheme has been a huge success for us, enabling us to employ a number of talented individuals who have gone on to make a real and positive difference.

“Their contribution supports our mission of helping make lives better, and working in partnership with BMet throughout the scheme has been a genuinely positive and rewarding experience.”

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Businesses tell me they often struggle to find people with the right skills for the jobs they need to fill, and this is a particular challenge in the care sector.

“The SWAP programme is doing its part to tackle this directly, working with businesses to provide opportunities for people to learn the skills needed to make a positive impact on the lives of some of our more vulnerable residents.

“Getting people into rewarding careers is a key part of my Growth Plan – we must create the opportunities for people to reach their full potential so they can play their part in growing our regional economy.”

Further recruitment programmes are scheduled to run in February 2026.

For more information or to secure a place, please call BMet’s Job Skills Recruitment team on 0121 362 1174 or email [email protected].