In a bid to combat youth unemployment in the borough, Sandwell Council is investing £1million to offer multiple paid placements of six months to one full year for 16-24 year olds. The council says that the initiative could create more than 170 jobs and over 40 apprenticeships for young people in the West Midlands.
Sandwell College and other training providers are helping to drive the programme forward, and a proportion of the young people’s wages will be funded by the council, the rest being provided by local employers who sign up.
Director for regeneration and economy at Sandwell Council, Nick Bubalo, said: “As well as young people perhaps not having the necessary education or skills to obtain meaningful work, changes in the labour market, recruitment practices and lack of social contacts have been identified as possible causes for being unemployed.The Sandwell Guarantee will ensure young people in Sandwell are given access to jobs by providing a clear way into employment via an apprenticeship or job opportunity.”
