A NEW project aimed to help thousands more young people into apprenticeships has been launched across the region.
The ‘Path 2 Apprenticeships’ training programme hopes to give young adults aged between 19 and 29 the knowledge and skills they need to secure good apprenticeship jobs.
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has injected £7.5million into the scheme.
The WMCA say it will create 3,300 training places to encourage more young people into apprenticeships that lead to a job.
Path 2 Apprenticeships has been developed from a pilot scheme set up in partnership with Accenture last year, which proved highly effective in reducing the financial barriers often faced by young people when looking to start an apprenticeship.
Course participants will receive ongoing assessment, comprehensive employer training input and foundation training in green, digital and employability skills and on completion will be offered a guaranteed apprenticeship paying at least the National Minimum Wage (NMW.)
The news was announced by Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, at the Ladder for Greater Birmingham Skills Academies’ first year anniversary event and jobs fair at the Ladder Skills at the start of National Apprenticeship Week.
The Mayor said: “Our Path 2 Apprenticeship programme recognises the importance of an accessible transition pathway to support young adults into apprenticeships. Working with employers in the region, the programme has been developed to enable young people to recognise and build on their talents – supporting them to pursue careers in sectors in high demand like construction, hospitality and engineering.
“Together, we can create opportunities for young people right across our region – driving prosperity for those individuals, their families and the wider economy in the months and years ahead.”
The programme can offer up to 16 weeks of support and is aimed at 19 to 29-year-olds who are currently unemployed and in receipt of Universal Credit or economically inactive.
To find out more Path 2 Apprenticeships visit the WMCA website.
