Webinar to help firms navigate bolstered employment support

A webinar to help employers discover how they can benefit from the Government 's employment support initiatives - including those bolstered in the Chancellor 's latest Budget - is being hosted by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce next week.

The webinar - Navigating Employment Support to Access New Talent - forms part of the Chamber 's Growth Through People campaign, which is designed to help firms boost productivity through improved leadership and people management skills.

The webinar will answer questions such as:

• What 's the difference between a T Level and an A Level?
• What 's Kickstart?
• How have apprenticeships changed?
• How are apprenticeships and traineeships different?
• What 's a Sector Based Work Academy?
• How can my business benefit from the billions of pounds committed to these schemes?

Speakers will include employment skills consultant Paul McCalla and Jeremy Clay, business development manager from BMet College.

Emily Stubbs, policy and projects manager at the Chamber, will chair the event.

Growth Through People workshops will continue throughout March, ending with a virtual conference on 30 March.

The conference will focus on topical leadership and people management challenges following the impacts of Brexit and Covid-19, featuring keynote addresses from Jess Phillips MP and Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE on empowering individuals to reach their full potential and authentic leadership in times of change.

It will also feature practical workshops and panel discussions, as well as providing an opportunity to network with other local leaders, managers and decision makers from businesses looking to grow through the adoption of new, best-practice ideas.

Both the conference and virtual events are free for Chamber members. Conference tickets are £15 for non-members.

Aston University, BMet College and the University of Birmingham 's Work Inclusivity Research Centre (WIRC) are headline sponsors of Growth Through People 2021.

Emily (pictured) said: “I very much look forward to this event next week, which is more topical than ever following the latest announcements from Rishi Sunak, including increases in cash incentives for businesses taking on trainees and apprentices.

“In August, claimant unemployment in the West Midlands reached the highest levels seen since 1993 and it remains worryingly high.

“Nationally, unemployment is currently at its highest level in almost five years, with younger and typically lower-paid workers bearing the brunt of job losses.

“This webinar will explore the skills landscape and set out how local businesses might utilise the various support available to get people back into jobs, upskill local talent and grow their teams. ”

Click here to register to attend Navigating Employment Support to Access New Talent.

Click here to register to attend other upcoming Growth Through People workshops.

Click here to register to attend the Growth Through People Conference on 30 March.