REGIONAL businesses are being encouraged to join a new ‘Growing Talent’ initiative designed to connect young people with business, professional and financial services employers across Greater Birmingham and Solihull.
Growing Talent in #BPFS is a new, year-long programme of careers and skills activities by the social enterprise Ahead Partnership due to begin with a launch fortnight in November, sponsored by BMet College.
It aims to help support regional recovery by building young people’s career aspirations following popular West Midlands initiatives like #STEMFestWM. Key activities will include Covid safe careers panels; meet-the-employer events; live brief projects; video resources; and an innovative virtual work experience programme.
From SMEs to global firms, businesses of all sizes are encouraged to join an impressive line-up of regional employers already committed to sponsoring valuable activities.
With the pandemic creating a challenging job market and disproportionately affecting those from disadvantaged backgrounds, the much-needed scheme looks to help boost young people’s optimism for the future and “to diversify talent pipelines across the region”.
Stephanie Burras CBE, Chief Executive of Ahead Partnership, said: “We’re delighted to welcome businesses of all sizes across the Greater Birmingham and Solihull area to join us in what is set to be a truly inspiring and timely initiative for young people across the region.
“We have big plans to deliver safe, meaningful activity and help establish valuable employer connections at a time when young people really need our support, and so we’re inviting forward-thinking business, professional and financial services firms to pledge their support and play their part in facilitating inclusive economic recovery for the region.”
Spencer Wilson, Head of Skills at Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP, said: “Here at GBSLEP we are delighted to be working with Ahead Partnership, to create the future talent pathways not just deserved by our young people but required by our key employers; in this case across our key Business, Professional and Financial Services sector. This has never been more important than it is today and, through our relationship with Ahead Partnership, we will ensure the skills pipeline is in place to safeguard recovery and maximise the opportunities this brings.”
And Jan Myatt, Vice Principal at Matthew Boulton College at BMet, Birmingham, added: “We are thrilled to be part of this exciting project connecting young people with business, professional and financial services employers across our region.”
For more information on getting involved go to: aheadpartnership.org.uk/employers/growing-talent-bpfs
