One stop shop launched to help more than 6,000 local people get Commonwealth Games related jobs
Published: Wednesday 06 Oct 2021
A ‘one stop' shop has been launched to give people the skills they need to land thousands of jobs at next summer's Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The bespoke, on-line portal has been set up by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to offer valuable information on training courses that are matched to Birmingham 2022 jobs.
The Jobs and Skills Academy portal is part of the WMCA's commitment to train more than 6,000 local people for jobs that are available right now as well as during and after the 11-day sporting spectacle.
Training courses aim to give thousands of local people the skills to land jobs before, during and after the Games
The ‘one stop shop' offers access to a wide range of courses in sectors which are expected to see large numbers of jobs created by the Games such as security, stewarding, logistics, catering and cleaning. Courses are free to West Midlands residents with an annual income of less than ¬£18,135*.
Commonwealth Games contractors are also part of the initiative so local people can be connected directly to those companies helping to stage the Games.
Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: The Commonwealth Games was always about so much more than medals and athletes, and it was this legacy of jobs and improved opportunities that made me so determined to land this global event for our region.
Now the jobs being offered by the Games and created as part of the legacy have become even more critical, as the pandemic has left many people out of work and others worried about their future. That's why the WMCA, working closely with our local authorities and other partners, is funding this comprehensive training programme ahead of next summer's games to ensure local people can get the skills they need to fill the jobs being created.
I would urge anyone who is out of work or looking for a job to use our ‘one stop shop' and find out how they can get trained for an exciting new career
The Academy was set up by the WMCA in conjunction with Birmingham 2022 to help local people gain the skills needed to capitalise on the opportunities created by the Games.
It is working with adult education providers such as colleges, local authorities and independent training companies to ensure that the training delivered aligns to the future needs of the Commonwealth Games contractors.
Ian Reid, Chief Executive for Birmingham 2022, said: The Jobs and Skills Academy is a fantastic initiative that will allow local people to gain the skills they need so that they can apply for the thousands of jobs that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is creating in the host city and the West Midlands region.
I hope that people in Birmingham and the region grab this opportunity so that they can help us to deliver a spectacular edition of the Games next summer
The training courses are the latest of several initiatives underway. Earlier this year the WMCA launched on-going training courses for a further 1,500 residents to gain new, higher level 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.
The Commonwealth Jobs and Skills Academy is an umbrella brand for all employment and skills programmes linked to the Games.
It was set up by the WMCA and includes Birmingham City Council, Birmingham 2022, the Department for Digital, 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.