Local people to find out about career opportunities from Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

Residents from across the West Midlands are being invited to join an event to find out more about thousands of job, training and volunteering opportunities coming from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), which funds training to equip local people with the skills needed by employers, is holding a webinar this Thursday (20 May) from 1pm to 2.30pm, to explore the opportunities being created as part of the Games.

These include free training, funded by the WMCA, for 1,500 residents to gain new skills to help secure jobs during and after the Games. Courses include event management, digital marketing, hospitality, health, lifestyle and science, sports coaching and team leading.

So far, more than 250 people have signed up to the webinar, and places are still available.

To register to join this free event, visit www.wmca.org.uk/yourcareer

Speakers from Birmingham 2022, the organisers of the Commonwealth Games, the National Careers Service and the WMCA will talk about how West Midlands residents can access work, training and volunteering opportunities, the support available and how to apply.

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said:

One of the main reasons I was so determined to help secure the 2022 Commonwealth Games for the region was the employment opportunities it would create across the West Midlands. The pandemic has hit our workers incredibly hard, so we must use our big wins like the Games to realise my plan of creating 100,000 new jobs in just two years.

The Games and its legacy in the years that follow could create up to 35,000 jobs, and the impact of coronavirus means it’s more important than ever that local people are able to secure these jobs. That’s why the WMCA is funding training for the Games, and I would encourage anyone who is interested in finding out more about the jobs and training being made available to join the webinar this Thursday.”

Cllr Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, said:

The Games is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve the lives of local people by generating business, delivering much-needed regeneration, being bold by promoting the city on the global stage and bringing our communities together. In addition to the jobs being created, around 13,000 volunteers will play a critical role in delivering the event. Most of these roles will not require any previous experience and this is an amazing opportunity for residents across the region to be the face of the Games.”

Suki Gill, Employment and Skills Manager for Birmingham 2022, is presenting at Thursday’s webinar and said:

Birmingham 2022 is much more than just a fantastic celebration of sport and culture, it’s also providing local people with a huge number of opportunities, including giving them access to training and jobs. We are working closely with our contractors to get a better understanding of their recruitment needs, and we have already identified many roles that we hope local people, with the right training, will be able to apply for. Attending this webinar will provide people with a chance to find out more about the Games, the free training that’s available, and about all of the jobs that will be advertised over the next few months.”

The WMCA is funding training for 1,500 residents as part of the Commonwealth Jobs and Skills Academy, which is accelerating and amplify plans to improve regional skills and employment opportunities through the Games, with a particular focus on supporting young people and unemployed adults.

The free training opportunities, leading to Level 2 or Level 3 qualifications, are available for anyone aged 19 and over who lives in the WMCA area.

For more information visit https://beta.wmca.org.uk/what-we-do/commonwealth-games-jobs-and-skills-academy

The Commonwealth Jobs and Skills Academy is an umbrella brand for all employment and skills programmes linked to the Games and was set up by the WMCA, Birmingham City Council, Birmingham 2022, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Department for Education, Jobcentre Plus and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Other partners include local authorities across the region, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and further education colleges.

ENDS